At the Toronto International Film Festival, I sat down with acclaimed filmmaker Darlene Naponse to discuss her stunning new film Aki. More than a documentary, Aki is a poetic meditation on land, memory, community, and our relationship to the natural world. Together they explore narrative sovereignty, Indigenous storytelling, mining and environmental responsibility, truth and reconciliation, and the power of listening more closely—to the land, to one another, and to ourselves. Naponse reflects on how making the film transformed her as an artist and why hope, connection, and responsibility remain at the heart of her work. A thoughtful conversation about belonging, beauty, and finding our way home.
Darlene Naponse is an award-winning Anishinaabe filmmaker, writer, and community advocate from Atikameksheng Anishnawbek in Northern Ontario. Widely recognized as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Indigenous cinema, her work explores themes of land, identity, language, sovereignty, community, and the enduring relationships that connect people to place.
Over the past decade, Naponse has built an acclaimed body of work that includes the feature films Falls Around Her, Stellar, Every Emotion Costs, and Aki. Her films have screened at major festivals around the world, including the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), imagineNATIVE, and the American Indian Film Festival, earning praise for their poetic visual style, emotional depth, and commitment to authentic Indigenous storytelling.
Beyond filmmaking, Naponse has spent years working in community development, governance, and nation-building initiatives within her own community. That lived experience informs much of her creative work, which often bridges personal stories with broader questions about history, reconciliation, environmental stewardship, and cultural resurgence.
Her latest film, Aki is a striking visual meditation on community, memory, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Created through a process rooted in respect, observation, and Indigenous ways of seeing, the film reflects Naponse’s ongoing commitment to narrative sovereignty and storytelling that emerges from community rather than speaking for it.
Whether working behind the camera, mentoring emerging artists, or engaging in conversations about Indigenous futures, Darlene Naponse continues to challenge audiences to look more closely, listen more carefully, and reconsider their relationship with the land and with one another.
David Peck is a writer, speaker, and award-winning podcaster who works at the intersection of storytelling, social change, and meaningful dialogue. As the host of Face2Face and former host of Toronto Threads on 640 AM, he has published over 800 in-depth interviews with some of the world’s most compelling thinkers, artists and storytellers, including Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Polley, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog, Chris Hadfield, David Cronenberg, Jason Issacs, Gillian Anderson and Wade Davis. With a background in philosophy and international development, David brings a thoughtful, globally aware perspective to every conversation.
He’s a published author and experienced keynote speaker, known for creating spaces where complexity is welcomed and ideas come alive. Whether moderating panels, hosting live events, or speaking on issues ranging from ethics to media, David’s work is grounded in a deep curiosity about people. At heart, he simply loves good conversation — and believes it’s one of the best ways we grow, connect, and make sense of the world.
For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.
F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck and Face2Face. Used with permission.
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