Gary Farmer – A Change Has Gotta Come
Bioneers | Published: April 9, 2026 IndigeneityMedia Video
Introduction by Cara Romero, Executive Director, Bioneers and Director, Indigeneity Program.
Now in his 50th year working as a media creator, actor and musician, Gary Farmer has been a groundbreaking figure in prying open doors for Indigenous contributors to the performing arts, helping found a magazine and radio and TV networks in Canada highlighting Native creators and voices, as well as appearing in many TV series and several legendary films including Powwow Highway, Dead Man and Smoke Signals. Gary explores why it is more important than ever for Native people to control their own narratives, in an era in which our collective survival will depend on our learning to put the Earth first. It is time for Turtle Island TV!
This talk was delivered at the 2026 Bioneers Conference.
Gary Farmer, an actor and musician born on Six Nations land along the Grand River, Ohsweken, Ontario, is widely recognized as a groundbreaking figure in the development of Indigenous media in Canada. The founding Director of Aboriginal Voices Radio Network, he was also the Publisher of Aboriginal Voices Magazine from 1993 to 2003. As an actor Gary has been nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards for Best Supporting Male Actor in: Powwow Highway, Dead Man, and Smoke Signals, and, most recently, he is a regular on two popular television series—Resident Alien and Reservation Dogs.
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