Jesse Wente facts for kids
Jesse Wente is a First Nations Canadian arts journalist. He is also the chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts. He is an Ojibwe member of the Serpent River First Nation.
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About Jesse Wente
Early Life and Education
Jesse Wente was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1974. His mother was Anishinaabe from the Serpent River First Nation. He went to a school called Crescent School in Toronto.
He received help from a group called Indspire to go to the University of Toronto. There, he studied cinema, which is about movies. He finished his studies in 1996.
Working in Media
Jesse Wente worked for CBC Radio One on a show called Metro Morning. For 20 years, he talked about films and pop culture. He also shared his thoughts on CBC Radio One's national program, Unreserved.
Supporting Indigenous Voices
Jesse Wente is a strong supporter of Indigenous rights. He also champions First Nations, Métis, and Inuit art. He works to make sure more diverse voices are heard in Canadian media.
He used to be the director of film programs at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. In this role, he helped choose which movies were shown.
In 2018, Jesse Wente became the first director of Canada's new Indigenous Screen Office. This office helps create and share Indigenous stories through movies and TV shows. It supports their development, production, and marketing.
Leading Arts and Film Organizations
Jesse Wente was appointed to the board of the Canada Council for the Arts in 2017. This organization helps fund arts across Canada. In July 2020, he became its chairperson. Before this, he also worked as a director for the Toronto Arts Council.
Books Written
Jesse Wente wrote a book called Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance. It was published in September 2021.
Awards and Recognition
- He received the Reel Activist Award from the ReelWorld Film Festival.
