Avonlea Collins says she didn鈥檛 know what kind of show it was that she was applying to when she saw the advertisement last spring, but decided to give it a go anyways.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 hear any specifics about the show, you just applied if you considered yourself to be an adventurous, outspoken Canadian, which I think I am, so I signed up,鈥� said Collins from her home in Chilliwack.
The show she was applying for, Collins would learn, was for the , and it was going to be a reality, documentary-style show, although the final details weren鈥檛 delivered until after cast members had agreed to be a part of the project.
鈥漀one of us knew what the show was going on until the end, as (the show鈥檚 producers) weren鈥檛 informative about the specifics (at the start),鈥� explained Collins.
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Once selected for the show鈥�First Contact鈥擟ollins says cast members were filled in on its purpose and the stories producers were hoping they鈥檇 have the opportunity to tell through 28 days of shooting in various locations across the country.
鈥淎t first, I was a little worried at the beginning because you鈥檙e (always) a little (scared) about how you鈥檙e going to be portrayed,鈥� continued Collins.
鈥淏ut I took that risk, jumped in two feet first, and I鈥檓 really happy I did,鈥� said Collins emphatically. 鈥淚 feel like I have received a really positive outcome from the whole experience.鈥�
However, as they headed into the taping of the show, Collins says she struggled accepting the notion that she possessed stereotypes about Canada鈥檚 indigenous population.
Avonlea Collins (centre) tries seal for the first time. Collins, along with five others, spent 28 days travelling across Canada with a camera crew meeting Indigenous people from a variety of different cultures. APTN's "First Contact" airs Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. (Submitted)
鈥淚 grew up in Pemberton, and all my high school life I was in school with indigenous kids and white farm kids,鈥� said Collins. 鈥淭here wasn鈥檛 a lot of diversity, but it didn鈥檛 matter. We all grew up together (and) had slumber parties. I didn鈥檛 think I had stereotypes, but through this I learned that I do.
鈥淭he biggest (stereotype I had) was believing indigenous people are receiving things from the government that I wasn鈥檛, and it felt unfair. (But) through my journey I learned that wasn鈥檛 the case what so ever: the money they receive comes from their bands from a trust that鈥檚 (not) created (from our tax dollars).
鈥淏ut now I have a (more complete) understanding of the situation and a drive to learn more,鈥� added Collins.
A exploration into indigenous culture in Canada, is a three-part series narrated by George Stroumboulopoulos, a well-known Canadian TV personality and social justice activist.
Following the personal journeys of Collins and five other Canadians as they tour indigenous communities from coast to coast, First Contact illustrates the dichotomous relationship still surrounding indigenous communities in an attempt to challenge the perceptions and prejudices about a culture few get to fully experience.
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However, for Collins, shortly after the cameras started following her around the communities they were visiting, she experienced an epiphany: 鈥淲e became able to ask nearly any question we wanted the answer to 鈥� so it made it so I was able to learn more freely, and (the stereotypes fell away) pretty quick when those questions started getting answers.鈥�
Travelling throughout B.C., the show also went into the heart of indigenous communities in Winnipeg, Nunavut, Alberta, and Ontario.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 thank the communities more for (their openness and acceptance of us),鈥� said Collins. 鈥淭hey truly opened up about their hardest times, which is one of the hardest things to do.鈥�
Taping for First Contact took place over the course of 28 days earlier this spring, and during that month, Collins was not only away from both her husband and two small sons, but her contact with them was limited due to the regions they were visiting, and the director鈥檚 desire to have them live their experiences on camera, not on the phone talking to their families back home.
However, Collins says it was worth sacrificing that time with her family.
鈥淚t was bigger than me and them,鈥� said Collins of her decision to join the show鈥檚 cast. 鈥淣ow they鈥檒l be able to look back and say, 鈥楬ey! That鈥檚 my mom and she did that for us!鈥欌��
More-so, Collins says it was also an incredible personal journey and she鈥檚 glad for the experience. 鈥淲e went to a community in Nunavut that I was in awe of,鈥� said the stay-at-home-mom of two.
鈥淭he beauty of it and their community, and the way they interacted with each other: it鈥檚 not about trading for money or anything, it was about uplifting each other.
鈥淭hey only looked at their neighbour鈥檚 plate to make sure they had enough, not to see what they can take. They鈥檙e all incredible human beings, and I hope others can see their culture for what it truly is, not what they may think it is.
鈥滻 really just hope other people can see (the show) and see something of themselves in me and apply my learning and experience back to themselves and ask, 鈥榃ould I have gained the same thing?鈥欌��
First Contact is a three-night television event, starting Sept. 11 at 7 p.m., comprising three episodes and a two-part reunion special featuring three of the show鈥檚 indigenous hosts along with the cast members who will reflect on their experiences before a live studio audience.
Sarah.Gawdin@theprogress.com
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