Jesse Wente

Issues of diversity and inclusion are front and centre in today’s culture. As our population diversifies, it’s important to prepare for culture shifts and to engage empathetically with a diverse group of people. Looking at the hurdles towards inclusion, this talk looks to break down those barriers and encourage inclusion on all levels. This presentation positions inclusion as a benchmark and pathway to success for business, institutions and the broader culture. Jesse offers up key strategies to increasing inclusion and diversity.

In this explosive talk, Jesse Wente brings his national bestselling book Unreconciled: Family Truth and Indigenous Resistance to life. Using stories from his life and his family’s history Jesse takes stock of the current state of truth and reconciliation in Canada, the challenges that exist to achieving both truth and reconciliation and what can be done to further the process. Using his experience advocating for and creating space for First Nation, Inuit and Métis people in the arts sector, Jesse will explore how companies, organizations, institutions and governments can create meaningful change for Indigenous people and themselves. Jesse will touch on themes of sovereignty and self-determination, systems change, and decolonization. This talk is appropriate for those looking to take a deep dive into truth and reconciliation, to have their ideas challenged, and those willing to face the challenges ahead.

In this unique and moving talk Jesse Wente explores themes of trauma and healing, history and the future, and truth and denial. Using stories from his life, his family’s history, the history of Canada and the Covid pandemic, Jesse takes you on a personal journey to explore how trauma is passed down, carried through time and spread beyond ourselves. He examines how the very systems humans have created also harm them and the world around us. He looks at the need to focus the future on healing, and how our histories, both personal and societal influence our present and provide a window on the opportunity of the future. This talk is for those looking for a unique storytelling experience, as Jesse performs this talk as a monologue, with humour and sadness. It’s appropriate for those looking to explore trauma and healing, truth and reconciliation, and learning from the Covid pandemic to inform our future. This is a truly dynamic storytelling experience from one of Canada’s most compelling storytellers and public intellectuals.

Jesse synthesizes the trends he sees happening across the country and shares a vision for what is possible.  As a self-described ‘Ojibwe dude’ with a national and international lens, he encourages audiences to consider diversity and inclusion into their future view of their organization, industry and country.  He specializes in representations in pop culture, film and education.

In this presentation, Jesse offers up a look at the history of Indigenous representation in popular culture, from movies, television and video games to sports mascots. He shows how representations in popular culture have been largely skewed by political/colonial ideology and continues to harm Indigenous people. In an age of reconciliation it’s important to understand how representation shapes our point of view and our actions so that we can avoid the problems caused by misrepresentation. Audiences leave this presentation inspired, informed and ready to make change.