“Get to Know” is a series that profiles Indigenous artists engaged in Harbour projects. Collective member Vanda Fleury connected with Naomi by Zoom in the Spring of 2022 to bring you this feature article.
The driving force behind Mik’maw film artist Naomi Condo is representing her community of Gesgapegiag, a First Nations community on the Gespe’gewa’ki, or the Gaspesia. This community is her life source, and she honours these relationships by taking on projects inspired by local stories. She is mindful of her place in community and humble about how she presents herself as an artist. She points out that her art is never directed at anyone personally or meant to hurt anyone. Naomi is a guarded person who is selective about what comes through her inner circle. She punctuates her own truths and makes the point, “I have to feel it to heal it.”
Naomi is most comfortable on the other side of the lens and cares genuinely for the people involved with a project. People’s strengths surface, as she is cautious to not embarrass or show anyone at their weakest. Her goal is to empower and make people feel good, and she takes her responsibilities to heart. Naomi has a dual purpose, she also serves her community as a court worker. Sharing, “I’m aware of what’s going on and see first-hand the impact of institutions on Indigenous people and families”, she responds to these entangled issues through film. Unraveling these threads allows her to focus on the positive changes community case workers make every day.
Naomi’s identity informs her practice, inspiring every angle. As she describes it, “I know who I am, but I am constantly learning about myself and as I grow and evolve, my practice changes.” Naomi has also struggled with perceptions of identity, and that was directly related to internalizing stereotypical representations of Indigenous women. The creative spectrum allowed her to rise above these struggles as she says, “I think like I’m Micmac, but I don’t look like it. I was raised in my community, and that is where I see myself.” These are the contemporary issues she touches on in her short film I Am L’NU[1] where she hits home what resiliency looks like in the modern-day. At the core of her Indigeneity is a fighting spirit that is a celebration of intergenerational strength.
Naomi’s creative path involves relationship building and collaborations with other artists. Networking is an acquired skill, and artists retreats offer supportive environments for learning and polishing these skillsets. Naomi attended the Meech Lake artist retreat in 2021 that was hosted by Harbour Collective, where 6 Indigenous artists from across Canada came together for a weeklong moving image lab that offered specialized and intensive seminars. Getting to know fellow artists and seeing how their unique interpretations shape their work made the opportunity unforgettable. Among her peers, Naomi felt inspired to move beyond her comfort zone with the video equipment. “The support from the mentors and the teachers are incredible. From sunup to sundown, it’s been amazing” says Condo in a video celebration of the event.[2] “I couldn’t ask for a better family away from family. This has been another community that I’ve been able to form, and I don’t get that very much at other residencies.” Following her intuition sparked creative productions, ideas, connections, and lasting friendships.
In September 2022, Naomi hosted a short film event for La Grande rencontre des arts médiatiques en Gaspésie, 7th Edition. The unifying themewas Every Child Matters and the selection of films featured creative works inspired by or produced by youth. New narratives were vocalized when for the first time, the festival recognized its unique and enduring relationship with Mik’maq people through a land acknowledgment. Mik’maq Filmmakers in Gespegewagi were honoured during the afternoon and through a FaceTime connection to Beverly Hills, Condo interviewed actor/screenwriter/producer, Raynold Gideon. Gideon is a member of Gesgapegiag and respected for his contributions to popular movies such as The Frog Story, Stand By Me, Kuffs, Mr. Brooks, Jungle to Jungle, and Made in Heaven. Gideon was also presented with a Recognition Award, and it was a momentous event for all in attendance.
Respected for her talent and thoughtfulness, Naomi’s constructive edge was always her angle to own. In her 30’s, Naomi was filming concert performances by Tesla, Salt and Peppa, DJ Capone, Rihanna, and Kiss and even toured with some of these musicians. Many of the videos are still available on her YouTube channel. She continues to film music and now enjoys concerts with her son, whose favourite was an Enrique Iglesias show. Precious moments become inspiration to follow the path she chiseled in film, and her son has already appeared on the popular tv show, Raven’s Quest.
Going the distance is in Naomi’s blood and she has a clear vision for her future. Moving away from shorter films and focusing her attention on script writing will afford her more control over what she creates and produces. “Writing is a process where I can let it out,” says Condo. As such, she plans to secure grant funding to write a script for television, centered on an idea that is uniquely hers. Naomi’s creative evolution is clearly in check and as a show of community resiliency, she is determined to provide new opportunities for all levels of artists by establishing a collective in Gesgapegiag, in Gaspesia. Finally, she’d like to bring back fish skin leather.
Presently, Naomi’s artistic projects provide an escape from what one may be feeling in their own trajectory, to tender moments of tears, to glimpses of hope. Speaking of lasting effects on friends, contemporaries, and the public she says, “I hope they get to know me better.”
[1] Naomi Condo (April 20, 2018) “I Am L’NU”. [Online]. Available:https://vimeo.com/265831938 [2022, August 2].
[2] Harbour Collective (October 12, 2021). Film by Howard Adler & Cooper.“Indigenous Film Retreat”, Meech Lake Retreat (2021). [Online]. Available: https://youtu.be/WF2ENQprh40 [2022, August 2].
Naomi Condo is a Mik’maw writer and director from Gesgapegiag First Nation. In 2018, Condo participated in a Master Class in The Director of Photography with Michel LaVeaux and attended the RIDM’s Talent Lab (Recontres International du Documentaire de Montreal). As a 2020 panelist on IM4, Immersed Matriachs 4Lab, she discussed VR and its place within indigenous storytelling. The webseries was a part of Vancouver’s International Film Festival and aired on September 29th, at 10 PST. In 2021, she was a participant in the Meech Lake Lab hosted by Harbour Collective from Winnipeg, Manitoba. That same year, she discussed the film I am L’nu, 2021 as an Artist Guest Speaker for Indigenous Day.
“Get to Know” series is made possible with support from the Canada Council for the Arts, Creating, Knowing and Sharing.
