Harsh winters, competitive canines and a young sled dog named Ellesmere who finds her place in the pack.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 an underdog story SA国际影视传媒� steeped in themes of resilience and harmony between Indigenous mushers and their dogs SA国际影视传媒� that Miranda Currie has long wanted to tell.

Now, with industry insight and the financial backing to boot, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 doing just that.

Currie, a Yellowknife writer and musician, is one of four budding filmmakers recently awarded $16,000, plus an additional $10,000 of in-kind services, after being selected by a jury following a two-week bootcamp in Winnipeg as part of the National Screen InstituteSA国际影视传媒檚 IndigiDocs training program.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 super excited,SA国际影视传媒� Currie said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e got stuff supporting this now and I donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to work so hard to find different supports in order to do the film,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Currie, an artist of Cree heritage known for her music and her Anna Up North childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 book series, joined seven other fledgling filmmakers in ManitobaSA国际影视传媒檚 capital in February. They attended an immersive mentorship workshop and learned the tools of the trade from industry professionals. From storytelling theory and technical training to entertainment law and insurance, it was all covered.

Usually someone who creates in solitude SA国际影视传媒� alone in her room or by herself out on the land SA国际影视传媒� Currie quickly learned how important collaboration is in filmmaking.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not that ISA国际影视传媒檓 not a team player, itSA国际影视传媒檚 just that you have to involve so many people and that was a change and a shift for me,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Having more people on board means more time to focus on the creative process, said Currie.

SA国际影视传媒淐ollaboration makes it happen.SA国际影视传媒�

At first, Currie found the experience a bit intimidating. She was learning alongside participants with experience in the industry.

SA国际影视传媒淚 havenSA国际影视传媒檛 really worked in the film industry at. I thought: my filmSA国际影视传媒檚 never going to make it,SA国际影视传媒� recalled Currie.

But it did. Currie thinks her projectSA国际影视传媒檚 strong and unique storyline made the difference.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a story thatSA国际影视传媒檚 maybe not as commonly told. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 see a lot of stories from a Northern Indigenous perspective,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Since her foray into filmmaking, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 been CurrieSA国际影视传媒檚 goal: to bring family and children-friendly Northern Indigenous content to the big screen.

With her in-the-works project Tails on Ice, Currie captures the tale of Ellesmere, a yearling who trots alongside sled dog team members, Niyanin and Newo.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a coming-of-age story centred on Ellesmere; finding her place in the packSA国际影视传媒檚 hierarchy.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 also a story about female empowerment,SA国际影视传媒� said Currie.

She said male Canadian Inuit sled dogs are usually the most sought after; theySA国际影视传媒檙e perceived to be able to pull more weight. The three strong female dogs featured in Tails on Ice challenges that notion, said Currie.

Covid-19 has disrupted production plans for the film projects that advanced following FebruarySA国际影视传媒檚 bootcamp, but Currie SA国际影视传媒� practising physical distancing while adhering to government guidelines SA国际影视传媒� has been hitting the trails with her dogs out on Yellowknife Bay before the season winds down.

Some of the dogs are becoming videographers themselves SA国际影视传媒� Currie is harnessing GoPros to the animals to give audiences a point-of-view look from the dogsSA国际影视传媒� perspective.

She's aiming to wrap up post-production by the fall.

Projects nurtured through the IndigiDocs program will be aired on APTN following next yearSA国际影视传媒檚 deadline.