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Youth-created stories About

Critical Issues

We provide the next generation of creative change-makers with unique opportunities to MAKE and SHARE media that matters

About Us

What is
Access To Media Society?

AMES has been investing in the imaginations and skill sets of up-and-coming media artists, digital activists and creative change makers for over two decades.

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Acknowledging our shared territories

AMES is a bi-regional organization. Many of our projects take place on xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) territories, and that’s where lots of our collaborators and participants hail from too. But the birth place of AMES is the unsurrendered territory of the Penelakut people, and 12 other Hul’quim speaking Nations who hold rights and responsibilities in and around the place that’s come to be known as Galiano Island.

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500+
Videos Created
2,000 +
Youth Producers
50,000+
Students Reached

Programs

Stories that move: transforming ourselves and the wider world

DisPLACEment

DisPLACEment centres the stories, creative visions, and perspectives of indigenous and newcomer youth, models peer-education and helps build motivation for change by delving into timely and critical equity issues.

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HumanEYES

Bridging Cultures and Generations through arts-based migration and food-focused storytelling

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Digital Forage

Digital Forage is a wild-food focused intergenerational digital storytelling program that involves reciprocal knowledge-sharing between Galiano and Penelakut artists, elders, and youth.

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Social Channels

  • Photos from behind the scenes on an upcoming Ames film starring Nova Weipert and Beany John will be coming out in the near future! Beany aka @cjhoopdance was a brilliant teacher, guiding Nova, Sepideh, and Kim in the making of hoops. With each step, there was a decolonial teaching and Nova ended up with 7 beautiful hoops wrapped in accent colours of blue, pink, and white. This film is still in the making and the end scene will be a powerful one. Stay tuned. #culturalreclamation #hoopmaker #hoopmaking #indigenousfilm #twospirit #trans #coastsalish
  • !brainstorming for new 2020 films! Breaking down that vocab for the next generation. We planned 4 films today that will be rolled out into highshools! Thank you to the amazing: @sepideh.yadegar @5uper.nova @ayanmahmud @sometimestanvi @kimmortaltheartist & @cjhoopdance on the screen . . . #film #nextgeneration #highschool #media #filmmaking
  • This photo was taken by @kimikwe !!! who was present at this past AMES AGM gathering. These words written by Dr. Rosales Meza @dr.rosalesmeza were shared by emcee-activist @jbthefirstlady on Facebook and then suggested as a writing prompt by @kimmortaltheartist for people in the room to jump off or ruminate on. Every one ended up sharing one or two sentences or phrases from their poetry and it became a collective poem of words spoken. 15 minute writing and shared piece! Decolonization is an ongoing process we must continually work towards and hold ourselves accountable to. Much respect and love to everyone on their journeys. - Kim . . . #decolonize #socialjustice #landback #poetry #inclusion #diversity #classrooms
  • This past weekend Ames held their annual agm where @kimmortaltheartist talked about their work as an artist and youth facilitator, @jbthefirstlady performed poetry and music while her son Sequoia DJ’d, @sepideh.yadegar talked about her journey as a filmmaker, and director @deblekhaguin spoke about her vision for Ames. It was an inspiring space to see local artists and creative thinkers writing together in the room and learning about Ames. We will be sending out a survey soon on how you would be interested in bringing your creative skills to Ames. For ppl who couldn’t make it: don’t hesitate to reach out if you have ideas, thoughts, and questions on how to get involved in this important work! ✌🏽
  • Today we met to brainstorm a series of new films that will be used to spark convo amongst youth in schools around anti oppression. Super excited to start writing scripts, acting, and sparking change! Pictured here: Sepideh, Kim, Deblekha, Ayan, Angela. . . . #film #media #youth #art #acting
  • AMES is proud to host an afternoon featuring two amazing facilitators and performers to reflect on their experiences blending art, facilitation, activism, and the mentorship of youth change-makers. Join us on December 1st 2 - 4 pm at the Broadway Youth Resource Center
  • In this interview, Kimmortal talks with JB the First Lady @jbthefirstlady, on her start as an emcee taking hip hop workshops at her local Friendship centre to leading workshops with youth. She also shares her wisdom on youth facilitation including the importance of prayer and ceremony in both anti-oppression workshops as well as stage performance. We also talk about the responsibility of white settlers in this work and the importance of real relationships amongst qtibipoc. For the full audio link of the interview: check out the link in bio! This interview is supported by the work of Access to Media Education Society and was recorded on the unceded land of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, Coast Salish people. Illustration by: @kimmortaltheartist #youthfacilitation #facilitation #art #community #hiphop #poetry #jbthefirstlady
  • Wonderful to witness these 2 in action this weekend.  Creating and holding generative space as facilitators AND performers. So much appreciation Jillian Christmas and Lucia Misch <3. And thanks to the @Galiano Library (and all of the volunteers) for making the workshops and spoken word event possible!!
  • Letters for My Elders, a great work put together with the youth of Grandview Elementary as part of AMES's HumanEYES program. Youth showed great creativity and passion throughout the program working on rhymes, rap, and crafts! We've enjoyed every moment with them! Shout out to @kimmortaltheartist and @jbthefirstlady for their great educational skills!
  • The loveliest thank you card we've received! Thank you for having us as part of your day #OneWorldOneHeart