b'STREAMING SERVICESWhen we got into the bargaining of the agreement [with Netflix], we realized that our goals around reconciliation, diversity, equity and inclusion actually aligned. Damian Petti, IATSEfor Indigenous content to be supportedpiece that works, and I havent seen it financially and socially, but for theanywhere else in our industry.content be available in Indigenous languages as well.In the past, the union membership qual-ification has often been a barrier to The CRTC acknowledges that creatingworking on film sets for underrepre-a space for Indigenous people andsented groups. What if you got rid of their languages on streaming plat- that and looked at it through a lens of forms is vital for a thriving streamingonly creating opportunity for recon-industry in Canada. It poses the ques- ciliation and diversity? Petti says of tion: How can Indigenous creatorsthe changes. What would that equity and storytellers best be supportedpiece look like?to ensure Indigenous stories are told and accessible on multiple platforms,GROWING UNDERSTANDINGincluding online services? It is a bigPetti was motivated to push for this question, and one of Albertas largestchange by his own growing under-media unions recently had an answer.standing of systemic racism. Ten years ago, Im not sure I even under-ARTICLE 28stood what equity meant, what systemic On March 7, 2024, the Internationalracism is, what the problem is, Petti Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employeessays. Today, that has changed and Petti (IATSE) Local 212, based in Calgary,credits an Indigenous professional to the Canada Media Fund (CMF),announced a landmark agreementfor his own journey of reconciliation in2023/2024over$68.5millionwith the streaming giant Netflix onand understanding: union member was allocated to support underrep- labour relations in the production ofand chair of the Diversity, Equity and resentedcommunities,includingfilm projects. The three-year agreementInclusion Committee for Local 212, Indigenous filmmakers.addresses compensation, expenses,Chase Cardinal. accommodations and working condi-tions for workers on filmmaking projectsCardinal is an Indigenous makeup and However, barriers and challengesin southern Alberta. Most significantly,prosthetic artist from Calgary; however, remain.WhilestreamingoffersArticle 28Reconciliation, Diversity,because he was self-taught, he was greater visibility and opportunitiesEquity and Inclusion, has a real-worldup against numerous obstacles in for Indigenous creators, obstacles toimpact on Indigenous workers in film.gaining employment in big-budget funding, flexibility and cultural repre- filmmaking. That changed in 2021 when sentation continue. Similarly, the film- The agreement ensures that Indigenousthe science-fiction movie Preya high-making industry remains bound bypeople are provided with employ- profile Indigenous-focused prequel outdated obstacles to access, which canment opportunities and have accessto Predatorcame to Alberta to film, prevent talented Indigenous creatorsto training that would allow such oppor- primarily on the Stoney Nakoda First from realizing their full potential. tunities. To facilitate this, there are newNation. The production team had a 60-day training blocks specificallymandate for Indigenous hiring and In2023,theCanadianRadio- designed for underrepresented groupsapproached IATSE about this. Cardinal television and Telecommunicationsto gain union membership, which iswas able to get his required days for Commission (CRTC) began mandatingvital for employment on large proj- membership and the movie went on that online streaming platforms oper- ects.The Netflix agreement is theto become a critical financial success. ating in Canada contribute directlyfirst ever agreement between NetflixIt proved to me that theres structural to the production of Canadian andand the Canadian union, IATSE Unionsystemic problems. Because in my Indigenous content. This modernizedLocal 212 president Damian Petti says.opinion hes one of our most talented contribution framework calls not onlyThis equity structure is absolutely amembers [and] the fact that he didnt Indigenous BUSINESS REPORT35'