Behind the lens with content creator Sara Cornthwaite: Focussing on stories that matter
By Kelly Anne Smith
NIPISSING FIRST NATION — People all over the world trust Sara Cornthwaite with their special moments. The Nipissing First Nation content creator is busy with assignments as a professional cinematographer, photographer, editor, and producer. Though incredibly successful, Sara remains humble, graceful, and especially grateful to work in her own territory surrounded by her culture and loved ones.
In conversation, Sara talks of organizing the Nipissing First Nation Virtual Pow Wow’s livestream in 2020 and 2021, and photographing portraits for dancers and community members, too. And in March, along with Matthew Penasse, she photographed the 2023 Little NHL for the host community Nipissing First Nation.
Sara’s artistic skills expand beyond the lens — she is a mixed-media artist, too. Her work is featured as the new cover art of the 2023 Great Lakes Pow Wow Guide. She explains the vision behind her piece.
“When prompted for the Great Lakes Pow Wow Guide, the first thing I imagined was the Great Lakes. I really wanted to show that visual in the art and then I thought it would be so cool to include the different dancers throughout the water and have them represent the different categories— Jingle, Grass Dancers, Men’s Traditional, etcetera. I really wanted to create an image that encompassed all of the Great Lakes pow wows. I started there and as I was drawing, I thought it needed something more. I begin to create the background that surrounded the imagery and just very naturally, it sort of formed a turtle. I thought how appropriate and followed with the four directions colours to complete the image.”
Sara loves telling stories that matter through her work. She is currently working on a few different TV and documentary projects across Canada, highlighting different First Nations and the work they are doing.
She thoroughly enjoyed working on what she calls a passion project, the documentary Biidaajwan, Force of Water, which premiered last year. Sara collaborated with two Nipissing First Nation women, Mindy Lariviere, the Culture and Heritage Manager at Nipissing First Nation, and Katelynn Goulais, who Sara advises is an up-and-coming camera operator to watch for.
“It definitely mattered a lot to Nipissing. With the subjects, it mattered what they were sharing. It was very reciprocal but very important. Even the people who were shy still felt it was important for them to show up and have a seat. It was a lot of fun,” she explains. “Together, the three of us, we just understood the importance of the project. And we moved through COVID-19, a very challenging time to be interviewing people and Elders. It was really our vision together. We have this dream together of being Hummingbird Productions and telling more stories that matter, as we are able to.”
Creating imagery of Nipissing First Nation and representing the community is something that Sara does not take lightly.
“My mother is from Nipissing and my father is not. For me, the importance of representing Nipissing in a good way has been always something I cared deeply about. I’m just so grateful to be a part of that big, wild, McLeod family and to have so many aunties, [uncles, and cousins] to learn from. My mom, Kelly McLeod, plays a big role supporting me. She reminds me that I’m okay to continue as long as I continue to tell my story and speak from my experience. It’s amazing.”
Sara has travelled the world to photograph Indigenous Peoples from all walks of life and grew a bigger appreciation for her roots at home.
“I’ve spent a lot of my career working with Indigenous populations around the world. I’ve spent a lot of time in Africa, in Asia, and in South America. After a few years of going really deep into that work, it really popped up into my mind on why I wasn’t focusing that attention on home. And definitely, working with Indigenous People globally, there are so many similarities and strengths across different nations around the world. It made me feel very inspired and proud to have a community at home that I can explore and learn more about. It was part of my journey in encouraging me to focus on those stories at home. Bring what I’ve learned in film and photography in the world to my own communities and tell those stories because they matter.”
Photography and videography began as a passion in high school, says Sara. Youth who are interested in that same career path are encouraged to go out and gain experience, she adds.
“I loved discovering the power of storytelling through a lens. In my opinion, every career path will have its challenges. Choose a path that you are willing to continue down even when it inevitably gets bumpy and follow your heart. Our time here is precious and you will shine your brightest when you spend your time doing something you love. For photography specifically, just get out there— take photos of your loved ones and friends, wildlife, and home,” she shares. “For Indigenous youth to tell their own stories is really important. I feel so honoured that I’ve had the opportunity to tell stories. It gets to a point where I feel as though it should no longer be me— it should be them. To have Indigenous youth empowered to advocate for themselves and share the stories that matter to them is really important for me… In the future, I’d like to continue to just give it back to teach what I’m doing so that more young people can share their own stories. I think a lot of empowerment and growth comes from that.”
Sara loves to photograph and film people, feeling the power and privilege of capturing an image of a person doing their favourite thing and preserving that moment in an image that they adore. She prefers capturing life as it’s happening.
“I have always preferred to be the one taking the photos. I give directions throughout and follow with positive reinforcement. I’ll speak slowly as I click the camera, allowing them to focus on my voice rather than getting nervous. Being goofy or playful always helps a subject be at ease. I’ll show them some of the first captures and often it sparks their excitement. They like what they see and can settle into the rest of the photos with confidence,” she explains. “Photographing dancers can be a lot of fun… There are some technical details, like you would want a fast frame rate/a higher frame rate… I really like to put something in front of the lens, whether it’s another person, a person’s regalia, or sometimes even grass that’s along the sides of the circle.”
Sara notes that even the smallest of detail can be so impactful and meaningful.
“… I like to focus on details of regalia. If you can zoom in and get feet, zoom in and get hands, zoom in and get some of the stitching and the beadwork— all of those pieces are made with love and mean a lot to those dancers. So, to capture them in a beautiful way, it’s often a very reciprocal thing to have dancers that you can photograph but to also share your photos back with them so they get that art themselves. It’s really special,” she adds. “I danced as a child and have not formally since. That said, I am currently working on my regalia for the next Nipissing Pow Wow.”
Sara’s cat is vocal trying for attention. She calls him Mnidoons, short for Mnidoons Giizoons meaning Little Spirit Moon. Her heart is full of love and her face radiates as she explains her pride and the honour of her work.
“There is so much incredible work happening at Nipissing First Nation and so many community members are leaning in to keep our Nation vibrant and strong. It is because of our community that I am able to do my work in the first place. I am grateful that I can highlight their work via mine,” she expresses. “Cameras can be intense. I understand the privilege that I have in being allowed to photograph and I’m just so grateful for that because I could not do any of my work without the communities themselves. I am grateful to be welcomed with my camera.”
Explore her talent and skill showcased in her portfolio at saracornthwaite.com.
To view the 29th Annual Great Lakes Pow Wow Guide click here