Cleo Reece facts for kids
Cleo Reece is an important Cree and Métis leader. She is an activist who works to protect the environment and stand up for Indigenous peoples' rights. Cleo is also a filmmaker. She is currently a councilor for the Fort McMurray #468 First Nation.
Cleo is the mother of artist Skeena Reece. She has even been part of some of Skeena's art projects. One example is a performance called I Still Know. This was part of Skeena's art show at the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery in 2019.
Standing Up for the Environment and Making Films
Cleo Reece works hard to protect the environment. She often talks about how taking resources from the land, like oil, harms nature. She also highlights how this affects the lives and lands of Indigenous peoples.
Because she has a background in filmmaking, Cleo often uses films in her activism. In 1998, she produced a film called Red Power Women. This film showed a lively group of Indigenous women in North Vancouver. It looked at how they formed a strong group in the 1970s to empower themselves. Cleo also helped make No Turning Back in 1997. This documentary followed a big study about Indigenous peoples across Canada.
In 2010, Cleo helped organize the first "Healing Walk" for the Keepers of the Athabasca group. This 13-kilometer walk aimed to show people the harm caused by development in the Fort McMurray area. This included the environmental effects of digging up oil from the tar sands.
Cleo Reece also helped start the Indigenous Media Arts Group (IMAG). She was the director from when it began until 2005. IMAG was a group of Indigenous media artists. Their goal was to help artists get equipment and show more Indigenous art in places like artist-run centers in Vancouver. IMAG was active from 1998 to 2007.
IMAG grew from an earlier group called the First Nations Arts Performance group (FNAP). This group was started by Margo Kane and operated from 1992 to 1995. IMAG not only provided equipment but also offered mentorship. Experienced Indigenous filmmakers like Dana Claxton and Loretta Todd helped guide new artists. IMAG also held an annual film and video festival called IMAGeNation Aboriginal Film and Video Festival. Cleo stepped down as director in 2005, and IMAG closed in 2007.
