“Answering the call”: CMF unveils Indigenous Action Plan to grow Indigenous screen-based storytelling in Canada
Toronto, September 14, 2026 — The Canada Media Fund (CMF) is proud to share our 2026 – 2029 Indigenous Action Plan, Answering the Call, a strategic roadmap outlining our continued commitment to institutional allyship and Indigenous narrative sovereignty. The plan aims to strengthen Indigenous participation in Canada's screen-based industry and foster long-term structural support for Indigenous-led content creation and Indigenous-owned companies.
“Our Indigenous Action Plan is the culmination of a nearly two-year process and is shaped by dialogue with key industry partners, independent consultants, and an industry engagement phase,” explains Valerie Creighton, CMF President and CEO. “It reflects what we heard during focus group consultations, follow-up discussions, and through a dedicated Indigenous Industry Participation survey: to advance narrative sovereignty and economic prosperity for Indigenous creators we must move toward flexibility, long-term capacity-building, and increased participation and visibility for Indigenous creators and their works.”
Our Indigenous Action Plan is built upon seven priorities:
- Prioritize Indigenous ownership and narrative sovereignty
- Strengthen Indigenous production and creation capacity
- Enhance CMF responsiveness and Indigenous participation in CMF programs
- Amplify visibility of Indigenous content in Canada and internationally
- Demonstrate institutional allyship across the screen sector
- Advance Indigenous data sovereignty
- Increase Indigenous engagement and representation across the organization
The plan builds on nearly three decades of investment in Indigenous storytelling, including the co-creation of the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) in 2017, the fall 2024 CMF-ISO partnership on the ISO’s Interactive and Immersive Program, the 2025–2026 transfer of the CMF’s Indigenous Program administration to the ISO, and sustained growth in Indigenous representation across CMF-funded productions. It also responds directly to findings from the CMF's Indigenous Industry Participation Survey, which identified funding access, application complexity, mentorship, and regional and market-access barriers as priority areas for the sector.
About the Canada Media Fund
Supported by the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors, the Canada Media Fund (CMF) is a not-for-profit organization that invests in Canadian creators and companies to tell stories that reflect and connect us all. We fund audiovisual and interactive digital media content—across all platforms—that builds a stronger cultural identity at home and on the world stage. The CMF puts stories front and centre, opening pathways to domestic and global markets and promoting a screen-based sector that is more resilient, more inclusive, and fuelled for growth. Visit our website to learn more about what we do.
Media contact
Jared Morrow
Director, Communications
[email protected]
