Jennie Williams
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jennie Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1981 (age 43–44) Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Photographer, filmmaker, throat singer |
Jennie Williams (born 1981) is a Canadian Inuk photographer, filmmaker and throat singer from Newfoundland and Labrador.[1] She is most noted for her short documentary film Nalujuk Night, which won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Short Documentary at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards in 2022.[2]
Originally from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Williams moved to St. John's in early adulthood, and later to Nain.[3] After moving to St. John's at the age of 21, she joined what was then called St. John's Native Friendship Centre, now called First Light, an Indigenous community hub.[4] Williams says that First Light played a major role in her desire to connect with her Inuit identity, and to learn more about different Indigenous communities.[4] She is currently the facilitator of the arts and culture programming through First Light, teaching throat singing, dance-drumming and leads various activities like sewing workshops.[4]
At the age of 25, after saving up money, she bought her first professional camera.[4] In Nain, she began researching and documenting the cultural traditions of the region's Inuit population, becoming known as a documentary photographer for her series of black-and-white photographs of the community.[5]
In 2022, she was the recipient of the annual Indigenous Advocate Award from First Voice, a cultural organization for indigenous people in Newfoundland and Labrador.[3]
Jennie Williams is the mother of 6 children who range from the ages of 4-25 years old.[4]
