Who We Are

Monique Manatch - Executive Director

Monique Manatch is Algonquin from the Algonquins of Barriere Lake. After graduating from Radio Broadcasting at Humber College, Monique spent several years as a creative writer working at radio stations across Ontario and the Atlantic provinces. For many years she was the Program Manager of the Aboriginal Media Post Secondary Diploma Program at First Nations Technical Institute in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Monique Manatch was one of the founding members of ICMI. In 2004, she became ICMI’s Executive Director. In this role, Monique Manatch is working towards the goals of creation and access for Aboriginal/Inuit people into multi media arts and the preservation of traditional knowledge.

Joanie Mendowegan - Digital Technician

Joanie Mendowegan is the newest full-time member of ICMI's team, having been working here for just under a year. Through ICMI, she has learned photoshop, illustrator and premiere; and has taught herself how to use Adobe Flash, making several short animations used by ICMI. She has integrated social media with ICMI by creating a facebook group to keep us up to date. She is most valued for her creative talent for editing multiple videos for ICMI and their affiliates, and is the main person in charge of "Insert Media Here: Indigenous Youth in the Nation's Capital", ICMI's new cable television show on Roger's Television, channel 22.

Tyler Compton - Digital Artist/Cooperative Student

Tyler has been working with ICMI for over two years and has helped bring his audio and video talents to many of the projects that ICMI has worked on. He was also the director and main editor for the Zombie film entitled "The Last Weekend".

Digital Artists

Students from the Urban Aboriginal Alternate High School who work after school hours for ICMI. These students include Zoe Trudeau, Tyler Sackenay, Amber Trudeau; and they each perform differents tasks based on their skill level and media field of interest.

IIMMP Facilitators

Abdulla Al-Ogail

Abdulla Al-Ogail, (b. 1987 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) is an emerging Yemeni director, writer, and producer. Through his love for film noirs, mysteries and modern dramas, Abdulla seeks to find his unique style and film-maker signature. Alfred Hitchcock, Martin Scorsese, and J.J. Abrams are Abdulla's sources of inspiration. His search for the unique signature is driven by adopting Hitchcock's wisdom and personality, following Scorsese's classical filming style, and incorporating J.J. Abrams' take on mystery. Abdulla hopes to bring back the times when cinema was a magical place and a powerful communication tool.

In June 2010, Abdulla founded Blue Wave Motion Pictures, an Ottawa-based film boutique company, where he produced his first professional-quality short film, Bridges. The film has captured various local organizations and individuals including CBC Ottawa. Abdulla graduated with a Bachelor of Information Technology from the Interactive Multimedia and Design program at Carleton University and an advanced diploma from Algonquin College. In addition to his degree and diploma in multimedia and design, Abdulla is due to join a film production program at Vancouver Film School in October 2011. Abdulla likes watching movies, but likes eating nachos more.

Candace Black

Candace Black graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor's of Information Technology in the Interactive Multimedia Design stream with a goal of entering the game industry. Before pursuing her passion to create engaging video games, she completed the first two years of a Bachelor's in Journalism at Carleton. Her experience in Journalism has honed her communication skills and offered her a strong appreciation for storytelling. As a result, Candace believes that a strong component to any successful game is a story that will engage players and cohesive and intriguing design.

Grant Moore

Grant Moore is a 2009 Interactive Multimedia and Design graduate from Carleton University and Algonquin College. He has entrepreneurial goals in independent media production. Since graduation, he has started his own business - Shameless Plug Media - wherein he produces 3D animation and interactive media.

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ICMI Board of Directors

Darlene Laforme - Mississauga of the New Credit

Board President

Darlene Laforme is a mentor and lifeskills coach to women of the Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississauga of the New Credit territory. Darlene’s cultural work and social development creates ongoing support to women artists in southern Ontario.

Peter Crass

Treasurer/Secretary

Peter Crass is an independent photographer and consultant, who has worked in government, CBC and institutions of further education, in television production, training, and media project development. He works extensively with and for Canada's Indigenous production industry. He was a member of the northern communications group that developed the northern Aboriginal television network, Television Northern Canada (TVNC) and its expanded successor, Canada’s national Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). He also developed the first accredited Canadian Aboriginal film and television production diploma program at Capilano College in North Vancouver. He lives in North Vancouver, B.C.

Annette Francis - Mississauga Ojibwe - Alderville First Nation

Board Member

Annette Francis has been reporting for APTN National News for the past three years from the Ottawa bureau. Prior to her work at APTN, she worked as a freelance print and video journalist for Windspeaker and Anishnaabek News. Annette is an active member of Alderville First Nation in Ontario, where her family and two new grandchildren reside. She obtained her Print/Broadcast Diploma from First Nations Technical Institute ten years ago and is proud to share the stories of her people.

Marie Burke - Dene

Board Member

As a reporter in print and broadcast since 1998 some of Marie's earliest video work as a writer and director emerged in her work with The Sharing Circle. In 2002 she began writing and directing documentaries including her first documentary with the National Film Board of Canada: Spirit Doctors. Recipient of the 2001 Alberta Aboriginal Role Model Award in Media, she also produced other films including 4 part limited series "The Quest of Buffalo Spirit" and "The Gladue Decision.