Sarah Podemski - Celebrating Indigenous Content & Perspectives
As an actress, media entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Sarah Podemski is making her mark in Hollywood and in her local community. Most recently, Sarah has a recurring role in the new sci-fi mystery comedy-drama series Resident Alien airing now on Syfy. She also brings her passion making room for Indigenous perspectives with her new project, Shine Network, which is the first-ever digital platform celebrating Indigenous content from a female perspective. Outside of acting, through her business Totem Designs, she designs unique dreamcatchers which give back to her Indigenous communities. This past year, she was able to donate over 100 dreamcatchers to raise funds for charities including, Black Food Toronto, The Regis Korchinsky Paquet family, Six Nations Child and Family Services, and the Navajo nation. Sarah is truly a shining star as a professional and as a person. We’re so excited to share our interview with Sarah with you. Continue reading below!
To begin with, we would love to have you introduce yourself and your heritage.
My name is Sarah Podemski and I was born and raised in Toronto. My Mother is Saulteaux from Muscowpetung First Nation in Saskatchewan and my father was born in Israel.
There are a variety of words to describe Indigenous people or to refer to Indigenous people. Can you tell us a little bit of insight on the language and our use of the language and your thoughts on popular terms that you hear in relation to your heritage?
I don’t think we can please everyone, there are so many terms being used and for some non-Natives they feel confused about the terms and when to use them! For me, specificity is important. If you know specifically who you are referring to and you can use their nation, that’s great, because it reminds people what a diverse community we are. I use the term Indigenous if I am speaking broadly or if I don't know the specifics of a situation or a nation!
Where are you based now?
I hop around for work a lot, but my base is always somewhere near Toronto, that’s where my family and my husband's family are!
When did you know that you wanted to be an actor? Can you give us a picture of how you found your way to Hollywood?
I went to an audition with my sister when I was 11, my dad and I were waiting in the waiting room, and the casting agent came out and asked if I would audition. They were casting the same role my sister was auditioning for, but 5 years younger, which was our age gap! We ended up both working on the show, and I fell in love with set life. I took a break off for high school and started again in my 20’s. I love performing, and I love being part of projects that are pushing Indigenous representation forward and changing the usual narratives we have seen people get wrong all these years.
You have a new role on SyFy Channel’s Resident Alien. What can you tell us about your character?
Kayla is all heart, and a great support for Asta at a critical time. I love how funny and tough she is, and a mother too. It was the first time I read a Native character that was happy, and funny and fierce, and caring, and tough all at the same time. She is beautifully written and I can’t wait to get back to her in the second season!
Did you film during quarantine? If so, what was the experience like?
Surprisingly I have shot three projects during the last year, and it still feels surreal. Sets are a very safe place to be, everyone is wearing masks, and getting tested all the time. But at the end of the day, my brain goes through a panic, realizing I was with 100 people and hoping we all get through it safely!
From the formation of the US “Space Force” to the latest Mars rover landing, it’s safe to say that pop culture will more than likely keep up its fascination with space and alien life. Has the show sparked an interest in these topics for you?
I have always had a fascination with life on other planets. But the show does bring you into the idea of what it might be like, if there were actually aliens living among us. And I have met some pretty interesting people, so I have no doubt that there are some extraterrestrials living among us!
Outside of your new role on the SYFY channel, you’re involved in a new project, Shine Network, which is the first-ever digital platform celebrating Indigenous content from a female perspective. What can you tell us about this new platform?
Shine is an incredible platform that supports, elevates, and connects Indigenous women in the media industry. There are workshops, incubators, and interviews you can stream on the website, all shining a light on the Indigenous female perspective and experience. We represent less than 1% of the stories being told, and even less than that are told by our perspective. The goal is to provide a safe space to discuss our experiences, share our work, resources, and lift each other up, so we can move forward with strength and confidence.
Let’s go back to our question about language. The rhetoric of pop-culture has direct correlation with representation. What changes have you seen in the language (like use of the word Indigenous, Native American, or Indian) have you seen while working as an actress?
Working in the U.S. I notice people still using, American Indian, which in Canada we don’t use, so it really depends on the region, and who is using those terms. There has been so much appropriation with our image and our languages, you can see things changing slowly, but there is still a lot of work to do. What I try to do is be respectful, and ask people, what do you like being referred to as? Just straight up follow people's lead, that’s the only way we can all communicate in a healthy way, if you are unsure just ask! Don’t go by society's standards, because they are wrong, and they have been wrong for 500 years!
What sort of stereotypes do indigenous people face that broader audiences may not be aware of?
So many! It’s still so crazy people believe the propaganda that has been spread about Inidgenous people. The assumption that we don’t pay taxes, the assumption that we go to university for free, the assumption that other people’s taxes pay for us to go to university. There is such a complicated history that we are not told. Stolen land, genocide, Residential schools, loss of language and culture, medical experimenting on children in Residential schools, intergenerational trauma, the 60’s scoop, assimilation. There is a lot of history to correct so we can all move forward in a good way, with understanding and empathy for each other.
As a follow-up: What can writers do to be more responsible with representation?
Let us tell our stories. Support us. Finance our projects. Trust us. Train us. Share resources. Too many non-Indigenous people think they are doing us a favour by telling our stories. But our narratives won’t change until they can be told authentically through our lens. I see a lot of non-Indigenous writers say, but this is so interesting and no one has done it yet. And I say, maybe the community isn’t ready to talk about that, maybe someone did make it, but no one distributed it, or watched it. There is so much content being made right now, by Indigenous creatives, it’s a really exciting time, we have to keep pushing forward, and we need allies and supporters. We need the usual gate-keepers and people who are constantly getting funding to step aside and share the resources with underfunded creatives.
What sort of roles and plot lines would you like to see in the future for better representation of your heritage?
Variety! Sci-fi, thriller, comedy, romance, everything and anything. As long as it's told from an Indigenous perspective!
Jejune loves that you make dream catchers to benefit your local community. This past year you were able to donate over 100 dreamcatchers to raise funds for charities including, Black Food Toronto, The Regis Korchinsky Paquet family, Six Nations Child and Family Services, and the Navajo nation. That’s amazing! What inspired the idea?
Thanks so much! Giving back is always on my mind. I have been so privileged to work, and have a loving supportive family, simple things like that we take for granted. Privilege isn’t just money. It includes growing up in a safe environment, being able to drive your car and go to the store without being shot by the police. These are simple things so many people don’t get to experience, and I think it's our responsibility to support where we can, in any way we can.
How has your project of making dreamcatchers impacted your buying habits? Are you more likely to buy homemade goods?
I’ve always been very conscious of shopping local and handmade. I’ve always been an artist, so I love knowing where my products come from. I understand how supporting a small business can change someone’s life.
The pandemic has disproportionately impacted BIPOC communities- whether it be through poverty, education, isolation, or racism. How has your local community been impacted?
On a positive note, all of these injustices are being exposed. Inequality, racism, police brutality, a broken justice system. If anything positive came out of this year, it’s that people are being heard and seen and the non BIPOC community is feeling what it’s like to be isolated and scared, and uncertain of the future, wondering if the government is taking care of them. But we lost many elders and language keepers to Covid, many communities were hit hard. And too many kids in foster care lost their lives this year due to lack of resources and overworked staff. It will take a long time to evaluate what our community lost this past year. But we are incredibly resilient, and we stood up to injustice this year, and let our voices be heard, and for that I am incredibly grateful.
What can be done to help moving forward?
Educate ourselves, social media is a powerful tool. Follow people in marginalized communities, listen, be open, follow leaders who are working in their community and reach out, help in any way you can. Be open, have empathy, continue to do the work.
What are you looking forward to in the next year?
I’ve been working a lot, so I would love to take a break and be with my family safely. I miss people. I hope we can get to a safe place with Covid and gather again. I look forward to seeing my family, and friends.
How are you staying positive during shelter in place?
I’ve been working in Oklahoma, so I’ve been very lucky. Things are open here, and people are getting vaccinated, and I brought my husband out here, so I have no complaints!
What is your motto in life?
I don’t really have a motto, but I do believe in keeping the faith. We have a choice to move through this life in a good way or a bad way, you can make it hard on yourself or you can fill it with joy. I choose joy and faith even in the darkest times. Whatever that means to you, religion, spirituality, faith in yourself, whatever you connect to!
To learn more about Sarah Podemski, please follow her via the below platforms:
www.totemdesigns.ca
Instagram: @_totem_designs_
Twitter: @sarah_podemski
