Road To Your Name - Season 8, Episode 4: Visiting with actor and singer, Keris Hope Hill

Road To Your Name
Season 8, Episode 4
This episode was recorded in November 2025.
Guest:  Keris Hope Hill from Six Nations of the Grand River

Keris returns to the podcast (Season 4, Episode 8) and shares with us about her acting career and budding singing career.  She starred in the films Rosie (2022), Little Bird (2023) and Youngblood (2025) and talks about beginning her singing career with her first gig at Six Nations of the Grand River.
Keris shares about her love for 'old country' music and learning to play the guitar and read music.  She talks of movies she watches and her goals in acting when she gets older.

Keris will be performing at Paddlestock on July 19, 2026, 4-8 pm, located at Chiefswood Park, 1037 Brant County Hwy. 54, Ohsweken.  For more information, contact:  www.sixnationstourism.ca

Creators and Guests

Host

Lisa VanEvery

Lisa has worked for Aboriginal Legal Services for sixteen years. She began hosting the Road To Your Name Podcast in December 2020.

What is The Road to Your Name Podcast?

The Road To Your Name Podcast series grew out of a program started by Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) in 2016 that helped people going through the justice system and their families to strengthen and deepen their cultural connections. Host, Lisa VanEvery, examines many aspects of Haudenosaunee culture and teachings with a wide range of guests.

Road To Your Name Podcast
Season 8, Episode 4
Guest: Keris Hope Hill, Singer and Actor
This episode was recorded in November 2025
===
Intro:
[00:00:00] Lisa: greetings everyone. Welcome to our Yoha:te ne kahsen:na, the Road to Your Name podcast focusing on Haudenosaunee cultural topics recorded on Haudenosaunee territory.

[00:00:28] Lisa: The podcasts are produced by Aboriginal Legal Services with the technical assistance of True Seed Media. My name is Lisa VanEvery from the Mohawk Nation and the Wolf Clan. I'm the coordinator of the Yoha:te ne kahsen:na, The Road to Name program, and the host of the podcast.

[00:00:52] Lisa: This is the Yoha:te ne kahsen:na: The Road to Your Name podcast series[00:01:00]

[00:01:13] Lisa: On this episode of Yoha:te ne kahsen:na, The Road to Your Name podcast, we have a returning guest. Um, she was on our podcast in season four, I believe. So now we're in season eight, and she's back to visit us again. I'm so happy to see you, Keris Hope Hill.

[00:01:34] Keris: Hi.

[00:01:35] Lisa: Hi. Oh, we have a lot to talk about because you haven't been here in so long.

[00:01:41] Keris: Yeah. I barely even remember being here.

[00:01:43] Lisa: Yeah. Yeah, I said, "Do you remember being here?" "No." You've been so busy. You've been so many places probably, right?

[00:01:52] Keris: Yeah.

[00:01:53] Lisa: In the last little while. So let's catch up with you, and you can tell us all about your [00:02:00] career in acting. You're continuing your career, right?

[00:02:03] Keris: Yeah.

[00:02:04] Lisa: Okay. So when you were here last, you had done the film Rosie.

[00:02:08] Keris: Yes. And I starred.

[00:02:10] Lisa: Yes.

[00:02:11] Keris: I was Rosie.

[00:02:12] Lisa: And I went to see that, and it was so great. I love that film.

[00:02:16] Keris: Thank you.

[00:02:16] Lisa: And you were so great in it.

[00:02:18] Keris: Thank you.

[00:02:18] Lisa: And then you were talking about doing Little Bird. You hadn't done that yet.

[00:02:23] Keris: Mm-hmm.

[00:02:24] Lisa: So tell me about doing Little Bird.

[00:02:27] Keris: Little Bird is a six-part series. I think I was in, like, up to three episodes.

[00:02:32] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:02:32] Keris: And then it just, uh, just showed me a little bit. Like, I played a younger role of Star s- of Lee Begic.

[00:02:50] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:02:51] Keris: It's about the Sixties Scoop, so we were taken away from our families. I had a twin brother, his name was Nish. [00:03:00] Um, excuse me.

[00:03:03] Keris: I, I have a little bit of a cold, so I might sound a bit, um...

[00:03:08] Lisa: That's okay.

[00:03:09] Keris: And I was... I played a younger role of her. Like, so it showed me younger, getting taken away, uh, from the- people, and then it showed me older, and they changed my name to... I can't even remember. I'm not sure, but, um, and then I set out to look for my family, and my mom, and my sister- Mm-hmm

[00:03:42] Keris: and my brother. Yeah.

[00:03:44] Lisa: And they changed your name to, like, an English name?

[00:03:47] Keris: Yeah.

[00:03:47] Lisa: Not a traditional name. Okay.

[00:03:49] Keris: Yeah. '

[00:03:49] Lisa: Cause it was the Sixties Scoop. And then you return to your family, right?

[00:03:55] Keris: Yes.

[00:03:56] Lisa: Oh, yeah.

[00:03:56] Keris: But sadly, my brother dies.

[00:03:58] Lisa: Yeah. I remember [00:04:00] seeing that after it came out. You were also great in that film.

[00:04:04] Keris: Thank you. It was hard.

[00:04:06] Lisa: Was it? What was so hard about it?

[00:04:08] Keris: Well, there was a lot of emotions. Like, in one episode, you were, like ... In one minute you were happy, and then in the next you were, like, crying and sad- Oh, yeah ... because- '

[00:04:19] Lisa: Cause that is really a heavy topic, the Sixties Scoop.

[00:04:23] Keris: Yeah.

[00:04:24] Lisa: And really, for a child to be, um, portraying a character in the film like that, that must have been really hard for you.

[00:04:31] Keris: Yeah.

[00:04:32] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:04:32] Keris: It was, it was difficult sometimes, but I just remember acting like I was crying. You know, they would say the word "cut," I would be laughing and, like, talking.

[00:04:42] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:04:43] Keris: Yeah.

[00:04:44] Lisa: But I'm so proud of you to do that, because we need actors to portray those stories, right?

[00:04:50] Keris: Yeah.

[00:04:51] Lisa: So we can get them out so other people can learn about what happened.

[00:04:55] Keris: Yeah.

[00:04:55] Lisa: Yeah. So that was really great that you were able to do that, participate in [00:05:00] that story.

[00:05:01] Keris: Thanks.

[00:05:01] Lisa: Yeah. So after that, what was, what were you doing after Little Bird?

[00:05:08] Keris: After Little Bird, Little Bird, it was quiet for almost two years. Mm-hmm. Just audition after audition. And then-

[00:05:20] Keris: Um, and then earlier this year, I, um

[00:05:30] Keris: I did a casting call for, I don't know if you've heard of the show Youngblood?

[00:05:37] Lisa: Um, no, I really haven't.

[00:05:39] Keris: It's a hockey movie, and it was, it was made a long time ago with Patrick Swayze.

[00:05:49] Lisa: Swayze?

[00:05:49] Keris: Swayze, yeah.

[00:05:50] Lisa: Oh, in the '80s maybe.

[00:05:52] Keris: Yeah.

[00:05:52] Lisa: Oh, okay. That was a long time ago.

[00:05:55] Keris: Yeah.

[00:05:56] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:05:56] Keris: So it's a hockey movie with, [00:06:00] um-

[00:06:03] Keris: Um, it's, it's just about this... Well, so what happened was they wanted to make a, um Forget what it's called every single time. Um

[00:06:16] Lisa: A remake?

[00:06:20] Keris: A reboot. Reboot. So it was with Keanu-

[00:06:24] Lisa: Keanu, Keanu Reeves? Keanu Reeves. Oh my gosh, I, I love Keanu Reeves.

[00:06:28] Keris: And Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze. And then after all this time they had a reboot.

[00:06:38] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:06:38] Keris: And it was, I think it was a four-week process- Yeah ... to make the whole movie. And I played a, an added character, like, from the last movie. I played Mrs. McGill's daughter, so, like, they're hosting the new hockey players. Like- [00:07:00] Oh, yeah ... they've been hosting them-

[00:07:01] Tro: Yeah ...

[00:07:02] Keris: like, at their houses if they're from far away.

[00:07:04] Keris: And, um, so that's who I played. And- There were, there was one sad part. It was just of me making something for the hockey player that was staying with us. And then, um, and then he broke it, like, somehow 'cause he got angry or something. And then there was other scenes where people said that they were, like, crying laughing because of how funny I was.

[00:07:33] Keris: Because-

[00:07:34] Tro: Really?

[00:07:35] Keris: Yeah. And, um- Yeah, so that, uh, first premiered the start of September. Mm-hmm. So close to the start of the school year. And for, for Youngblood - Yeah ... my mom was, um, so she played Mrs. McGill, and she [00:08:00] was, um, Tamara Podemski.

[00:08:03] Tro: Yeah.

[00:08:04] Keris: Um, if you know of Jennifer, Jennifer Podemski - Yeah ... Tamara Podemski is her sister.

[00:08:09] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:08:10] Keris: And she's super nice. She, um-

[00:08:15] Lisa: She played your mom?

[00:08:17] Keris: Yeah. Mm-hmm. She played my mom. And yeah, it was, I was-

[00:08:22] Lisa: Did you have a lot of lines - Yeah ... to learn?

[00:08:26] Keris: Yeah. Well, not a lot. I mean, it was, it was pretty easy because, I mean, once you get used to reading the lines and then, like, just memorizing them -

[00:08:35] Lisa: Yeah ...

[00:08:35] Keris: it's a lot, uh, easier to do, so.

[00:08:39] Lisa: You must have a really good memory. Do

[00:08:42] Keris: you? Yeah. My, my mom said I have a photograph-

[00:08:46] Lisa: Photographic memory?

[00:08:47] Keris: Yeah.

[00:08:48] Lisa: Oh my gosh, I wish I had one of those.

[00:08:51] Keris: Yeah. I remember in Rosie when I would not only remember my lines, but if they got their line wrong, I'd be like, [00:09:00] "Wait, stop. That's not your line." Um-

[00:09:04] Lisa: And I bet they thought that was so funny.

[00:09:06] Keris: Yeah. Because I was sitting here like, "And just so you know, your line is not..." Um-

[00:09:14] Lisa: Well, that's pretty good.

[00:09:16] Keris: Yeah.

[00:09:16] Lisa: So four weeks, did you have to, um, uh, be out of school for four weeks?

[00:09:23] Keris: I was out of school for a while, yeah. Yeah. Um, they-

[00:09:29] Lisa: Do you get makeup work that you do when you're

[00:09:31] Keris: out of school? Yeah, they just put up, like-

[00:09:33] Lisa: Oh, yeah

[00:09:34] Keris: yeah.

[00:09:35] Lisa: Um, what's it like to be in the movie business where you're probably with adults a lot, right?

[00:09:44] Keris: Yeah.

[00:09:45] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:09:45] Keris: Yeah.

[00:09:46] Lisa: And what's that like? Do you like that? Yeah.

[00:09:49] Keris: I mean, I don't have a lot of, like... I mean, I definitely have a lot of... Well, I have, like, three other kiddie friends from- [00:10:00]

[00:10:00] Lisa: Yeah. In

[00:10:01] Keris: school.

[00:10:01] Lisa: From

[00:10:01] Keris: Little Bird?

[00:10:02] Lisa: Oh, from Little Bird.

[00:10:03] Keris: Little Bird.

[00:10:04] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:10:04] Keris: And, um, not from Rosie much because that was just, like, even just an adult movie. And-

[00:10:12] Lisa: Yeah, there were just adults in that one. Yeah. You were the only child.

[00:10:15] Keris: Yeah. Un- unless you count the kids in, like, one scene 'cause of the foster home that it showed me in.

[00:10:21] Lisa: Oh, yeah,

[00:10:22] Keris: I remember that.

[00:10:22] Keris: Like, just seeing them there.

[00:10:23] Lisa: Mm-hmm.

[00:10:24] Keris: There was another girl named Keris there, and I was like, I thought, well, I have- uh, a different name, like name you would hear it a lot.

[00:10:35] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:10:35] Keris: So when I found out her name was Keris, I was like, "Oh, hi. I'm Keris." Yeah,

[00:10:40] Lisa: Karis is an unusual name.

[00:10:42] Keris: Yeah.

[00:10:43] Lisa: It's a really pretty name.

[00:10:45] Keris: Yeah.

[00:10:46] Lisa: You like your name, huh?

[00:10:48] Keris: Yeah.

[00:10:48] Lisa: Yeah. And Hope's a nice name too. Yeah. Yeah. Um, so you did Youngblood, and that's out now. It's- Can people see that?

[00:10:58] Keris: Yes. It's, [00:11:00] um... I was hoping we could get back to that because I was like... Um, so it premiered start of September at the Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF.

[00:11:10] Keris: Mm-hmm. Um, I was, I wasn't there for that, but I was there for the, like, after party- Yeah ... I guess you could call it. It was at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

[00:11:22] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:11:22] Keris: And right now they're just kind of showing it around to... So just so that more people can see it.

[00:11:30] Lisa: Mm-hmm.

[00:11:31] Keris: So that when it comes out, it's just not like...

[00:11:35] Lisa: Well, it would probably be great for me to watch the 1980s version. Yeah,

[00:11:40] Keris: first.

[00:11:40] Lisa: And then- And then watch your version. Yeah. Right after. That would be really good.

[00:11:45] Keris: So yeah. The world premiere was TIFF, and now they're just going around showing

[00:11:50] Lisa: it, yeah. To theaters? Like live, like theaters where you see the movies?

[00:11:53] Keris: Mm.

[00:11:54] Lisa: Or is it going to, like, streaming where you can-

[00:11:56] Keris: I think it's just g- Oh, it's going to the other film festivals [00:12:00] first.

[00:12:00] Lisa: Oh, yeah.

[00:12:00] Keris: And then I'm not sure when the exact, like, theater, like, dates is, when it's, like, gonna be shown at actual theaters.

[00:12:10] Lisa: Well, we'll all look it up. Yeah. And we'll, um, you know, follow it and we'll find out.

[00:12:16] Keris: Yeah.

[00:12:16] Lisa: Yeah. For sure. Um, or you'll have to come back and tell us. Um, okay. So you did that movie, and then, um, that takes us sort of up to date. You know, it sort of... But I heard that you're branching out now to another form of the arts. Yes. Can you tell us all about that?

[00:12:40] Keris: Um, so right now I'm been doing a lot of singing.

[00:12:44] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:12:47] Keris: Um, all my singing that I've been doing right now is with my pal Jim Jacobs.

[00:12:53] Lisa: Oh, yeah.

[00:12:54] Keris: He's like, he's my source. [00:13:00]

[00:13:00] Lisa: Jim's from- And- ... our community too. Yes. At Six Nations, yeah. Mm-hmm. He's a musician. Is he a songwriter too? I think he

[00:13:06] Keris: is. Yeah.

[00:13:07] Lisa: Yeah? Okay.

[00:13:08] Keris: Um, so like, what, six years ago when I was four years old, close to that age, Jim asked if we could jam because, like, I was good-ish at singing, and- Yeah

[00:13:24] Keris: I-

[00:13:24] Lisa: You really like to sing.

[00:13:25] Keris: Yes.

[00:13:26] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:13:27] Keris: Um, I've been singing for, like, nine years. Um- Well,

[00:13:33] Lisa: what kind of music do you like to sing?

[00:13:36] Keris: I like old country. Like-

[00:13:39] Lisa: Old country like-

[00:13:40] Keris: Yeah ...

[00:13:41] Lisa: like, um-

[00:13:42] Keris: New and old country.

[00:13:43] Lisa: New and old country.

[00:13:44] Keris: I like Dolly Parton.

[00:13:45] Lisa: Oh, Dolly Parton. Really nice music, and she's a songwriter. Yes.

[00:13:51] Lisa: She writes a lot of her songs. Are you interested in that too, writing songs?

[00:13:56] Keris: Yeah, I've tried.

[00:13:57] Lisa: Mm-hmm.

[00:13:58] Keris: It's, they're not the best, [00:14:00] but- ... they're, they're getting there.

[00:14:02] Lisa: Well, you have to polish them over time, right?

[00:14:05] Keris: Yeah.

[00:14:05] Lisa: Yeah, they don't come out the best, but-

[00:14:07] Keris: Yeah ...

[00:14:07] Lisa: you put a little polish on them and, you know, they shine up.

[00:14:11] Keris: Yeah.

[00:14:12] Lisa: Yeah. Um, so you're, you're trying your hand at songwriting, and what about an instrument? Do you play any instruments?

[00:14:21] Keris: I'm, I've been in guitar lessons for a while now.

[00:14:25] Lisa: Mm. You like the guitar?

[00:14:28] Keris: Yeah. It's, it's getting a bit harder, but at the same time it's, it's, it's okay. Like-

[00:14:37] Lisa: Yeah ...

[00:14:37] Keris: I, I wanna be able to play guitar so that if I become a singer I'll be able to play guitar.

[00:14:44] Lisa: What do you mean if you become a singer? Aren't you already a singer?

[00:14:47] Keris: Well...

[00:14:50] Lisa: Yeah, you're already a singer. Yep. I heard you had a gig just the other day.

[00:14:54] Keris: Yes. On, on Saturday.

[00:14:57] Lisa: Yeah? I was singing. What

[00:14:59] Keris: was that

[00:14:59] Lisa: like? Was that [00:15:00] your first big audience?

[00:15:01] Keris: Yeah.

[00:15:02] Lisa: Oh,

[00:15:02] Keris: okay. I, I sang five songs.

[00:15:04] Lisa: Wow.

[00:15:05] Keris: Blue Moon of Kentucky by LeAnn Rimes, Coat of Many Colors, Dolly Parton, That's All Right by Elvis, Wondering Why by the Red Clay Strays- Mm

[00:15:14] Keris: and Golden Ring by Tammy Wynette and George Jones.

[00:15:17] Lisa: Oh, wow, you really are into old country, huh?

[00:15:19] Keris: Yeah.

[00:15:21] Lisa: Those are really good songs.

[00:15:23] Keris: Yeah.

[00:15:24] Lisa: Yeah. Those are your... Are those your favorite songs?

[00:15:27] Keris: Yeah, those are the ones that I've been singing for the longest now.

[00:15:31] Lisa: Mm-hmm. Okay. So Saturday was your, was your first big gig.

[00:15:36] Keris: Yes.

[00:15:37] Lisa: And how many people were there, would you say? 100?

[00:15:44] Keris: Maybe like a... I don't know. Maybe like 80 to 100

[00:15:50] Lisa: was there. Oh, wow. That's a big crowd.

[00:15:52] Keris: Yeah.

[00:15:53] Lisa: Yeah. And so you, and were you nervous? Yeah. Like, this is your first gig.

[00:15:58] Keris: The more people that walked in- ... [00:16:00] the more I got scared.

[00:16:01] Lisa: And how do you, how do you, um, kind of calm yourself when you're nervous?

[00:16:08] Lisa: I

[00:16:08] Keris: drink a lot of water.

[00:16:09] Lisa: Yeah, that's good for your voice.

[00:16:11] Keris: And I just, I just like warm up and just try and keep moving.

[00:16:17] Lisa: Yeah. '

[00:16:17] Keris: Cause, uh, I mean, if you stand still, you're, that's all you're gonna think about is just like-

[00:16:22] Lisa: Yeah ...

[00:16:22] Keris: and I like to talk with people. So just anything to keep my mind off of it.

[00:16:27] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:16:28] Keris: And then w- when I go up, it's just like ev- it's just like all my nervousness just goes away.

[00:16:37] Lisa: Mm-hmm.

[00:16:38] Keris: Like, I even started dancing on Saturday.

[00:16:42] Lisa: Yeah. It w- 'cause that was natural. You were like moving to the beat, right? Yeah. Moving to the music. Yeah.

[00:16:50] Keris: Um, a lot of my family was there, actually. I was surprised how many came.

[00:16:56] Lisa: They pro- they wouldn't have missed that.

[00:16:58] Keris: Yeah.

[00:16:58] Lisa: Your first time [00:17:00] up there. And so did you have to sing, um, all your songs together one right after the other?

[00:17:06] Keris: Yeah.

[00:17:07] Lisa: Oh, yeah? Okay, you didn't get a little break or anything?

[00:17:10] Keris: No.

[00:17:11] Lisa: Wow.

[00:17:12] Keris: On the last one, my voice started to get really raspy, and I got scared that it was just gonna, like, fail on me.

[00:17:21] Lisa: Some singers would pay to have a raspy voice, though. And you're a natural at it. Uh-huh. So when you were, um, doing your set... I guess that's what they call it, right?

[00:17:33] Lisa: Your set. Mm-hmm.

[00:17:34] Keris: Yeah.

[00:17:35] Lisa: When you were doing your set, um, was there a lot of applause after each song?

[00:17:41] Keris: Yeah.

[00:17:42] Lisa: Oh, wow.

[00:17:42] Keris: There, there was a random, like... just, like, a random, like, yell or cheer- ... like, while I was singing.

[00:17:52] Lisa: Yeah. And, and plus, our community really embraces old country.

[00:17:57] Keris: Yeah.

[00:17:58] Lisa: Yeah, we really like old country.

[00:17:59] Keris: [00:18:00] Mm-hmm.

[00:18:00] Lisa: So that was good. So where do you see your musical career going? Were you playing the guitar, too, or just singing?

[00:18:07] Keris: Just singing.

[00:18:08] Lisa: Okay. Yeah, yeah. Where do you see your musical career going? Like, w- you know, are you gonna eventually play music and sing at the same time? Like, play the guitar and sing?

[00:18:22] Keris: I mean, I think I'll, like, maybe be able to sing a few songs with my guitar.

[00:18:30] Keris: Like, know how to play with my guitar with all of it, but just sing a few with my guitar, and then, like, most of them will be without.

[00:18:40] Lisa: Oh, yeah, okay. All right. So, um, I mean, was there a whole band behind you? Or, like, was there- Yeah ... drums and everything? Mm-hmm. Oh, my gosh. That must have sounded great.

[00:18:53] Keris: Yeah. Yeah.

[00:18:53] Keris: I, I was afraid that, um, that [00:19:00] the band was drowning me out, because when, when you're up there, you can't, you can't hear yourself at all when you're singing.

[00:19:08] Lisa: Oh, really?

[00:19:08] Keris: Like, I could hear myself here and there, but I could barely even hear, and I was scared that no one could hear me. But then when I came off, they were like, "You were loud."

[00:19:20] Lisa: You... they didn't have those little earbuds that-

[00:19:23] Keris: No ...

[00:19:23] Lisa: singers wear? No?

[00:19:24] Keris: No.

[00:19:24] Lisa: Oh, you gotta get yourself some earbuds, I guess, eh?

[00:19:27] Keris: He mentioned those, but I thought they're, they're probably gonna be a bit more expensive, so.

[00:19:33] Lisa: Oh, tell him to throw them in. You gotta put that on your list when you go have a gig. You gotta say, "I need earbuds."

[00:19:40] Keris: I'll pay for them.

[00:19:42] Lisa: Oh, wow. So do you have another gig lined up?

[00:19:47] Keris: Um, yes, for the summer. Mm-hmm. Jim... So Jim Jacobs was the one that invited me to sing there.

[00:19:55] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:19:55] Keris: Um, he was just having a barbecue, [00:20:00] like, with his... He made all the stuff, and he sang there, and that's when he invited me to do five songs. So he told me the five songs he wanted me to do.

[00:20:08] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:20:09] Keris: And then after, this is what got me really pumped, is when he came up to me after and told me in the summer he's gonna have another thing like this, where he wants me to sing 10 to 15 songs.

[00:20:21] Lisa: Oh, my gosh. And- That's like a whole album. Wow. One right after the other. You better, you better start practicing.

[00:20:30] Keris: Yeah. Definitely.

[00:20:33] Lisa: Well, that's exciting. Yeah. And what about maybe in the future incorporating your singing into your acting?

[00:20:40] Keris: Yeah.

[00:20:41] Lisa: Yeah. Is that what you wanna do? Or-

[00:20:43] Keris: I, I wanna be in more movies like Youngblood, where I don't have to be taken away. Because if you watch Rose and Little Bird, I've been... Those have both been sad.

[00:20:55] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:20:55] Keris: And I kinda wanna be in more happy ones. Yeah. [00:21:00]

[00:21:00] Lisa: Yeah, that would be good. Yeah, change it up a bit, huh?

[00:21:03] Keris: And I don't just wanna be in, like, like Indigenous movies because- Mm ... like, as an Indigenous actor, I mean, we c- we can be in, like, any movie we want, right?

[00:21:17] Lisa: So. That's true. That's true. And I mean, you're an actor who happens to be Indigenous, right?

[00:21:24] Lisa: Yeah. Yeah. That's right. So I think, yeah, I think you could be in any movie you wanted to be in, because I've seen you in a couple movies already. And you are an absolutely amazing actor.

[00:21:39] Keris: Thank you.

[00:21:40] Lisa: Um, what about even, I mean, when you get older, what do you wanna do as a career? Do you wanna incorporate and be in the acting field when you get older?

[00:21:54] Keris: That, um- I mean, my career could [00:22:00] start, like... I mean, it has kind of already started.

[00:22:02] Lisa: Mm-hmm.

[00:22:03] Keris: And but, I mean, it could be, like, big when I'm 15, or it could be, like, small. So I've definitely been thinking about that a lot. And I've, I've honest- I honestly don't really know. Like, I mean, I definitely wanna act, but I also wanna sing.

[00:22:27] Keris: Like- Yeah ... so I kinda... I mean, as I'm doing right now, like I'm singing at a few... I've sang at a few places already. Uh, during the summer I sang at Sitting Bull for their, like, I don't know what it was.

[00:22:45] Lisa: Appreciation Day?

[00:22:46] Keris: Yeah.

[00:22:47] Lisa: Oh, yeah.

[00:22:48] Keris: And-

[00:22:48] Lisa: Yeah, that's huge down there, Appreciation Day ... mm-hmm. So little things like that in the community maybe you'll do, right?

[00:22:57] Lisa: And then branch out. [00:23:00] And there's so many things that you could do in the field of acting. Some actors such as, um, Jodie Foster, she was a child actor, and she grew up, and she decided she wanted to direct movies.

[00:23:15] Tro: Mm-hmm.

[00:23:15] Lisa: Yeah, so I mean, there's that kind of path you could take.

[00:23:19] Tro: Yeah.

[00:23:20] Lisa: Or, um, lots of other different paths.

[00:23:23] Lisa: Yeah. Well, being a child actor, um, when you go on a movie set you have to really leave school, right? Yeah. And go do your job. But I mean, school's important, right?

[00:23:34] Keris: Yeah.

[00:23:34] Lisa: Yeah, I mean, you have to get an education. So what's your, what's your thoughts on that?

[00:23:39] Keris: Um, so I... Well, I wanna be an actor.

[00:23:48] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:23:48] Keris: Also, like I wanna incorporate acting and singing.

[00:23:52] Keris: But my parents told me that, you know- [00:24:00] I could go to university for something. Because when acting's not there, I need to have something to like fall back on.

[00:24:11] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:24:12] Keris: So like, if my acting business gets slow like it has been for like the past three years - Mm-hmm ... um, or I d- don't have any singing gigs, I need something.

[00:24:25] Keris: Like, I could study something in university, um, because I've been told that... Well, uh, in school I have like a reading level of a grade seven, and- Mm-hmm ... um, I love math. Yeah. So I feel like, um, just in case anything happens like this when I'm older, if I go to university and study on something, that I'll have something to fall back on if things don't work out the way [00:25:00] I planned.

[00:25:00] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:25:01] Keris: Or if it just gets slow for a little bit.

[00:25:04] Lisa: Well, that's a good way to think about it. Your parents are right. Mm-hmm. You should, you should have a gig to fall back on. Um, and, and a lot of actors have done that, like I mentioned Jodie Foster. Jodie Foster, when she was a child actor, when she got older she went to Harvard.

[00:25:23] Lisa: Mm-hmm. But she still stayed in acting. Mm-hmm. But she had a Harvard education. And- Like- Yeah?

[00:25:28] Keris: Sorry. Um, I don't want, whatever my job... Like, if I do study something in university, I, I don't want it to take over my acting career or my singing career. I just want it to be there in case, like-

[00:25:43] Lisa: Yeah ...

[00:25:43] Keris: it gets slow.

[00:25:44] Keris: What

[00:25:44] Lisa: do you think you'd study? What would you be interested in studying?

[00:25:47] Keris: I don't know, because like I mean, there, there's different types of doctors. I'm, I'm not really into, like, um, like [00:26:00] blood is no. And, um- A

[00:26:04] Lisa: doctor that doesn't deal with blood. Or a dentist because-

[00:26:05] Keris: Or a dentist. Because they s- Mm-hmm

[00:26:10] Keris: sometimes that can get-

[00:26:11] Lisa: Well, you can, you can... You never know what technology's gonna bring.

[00:26:15] Keris: Yeah.

[00:26:16] Lisa: Maybe by that time, blood will be totally eliminated. Um, okay. Well, that's good that you're thinking like that, to go to school- Mm-hmm ... and study something.

[00:26:28] Keris: Yeah.

[00:26:29] Lisa: But I can really tell that you're passionate about singing.

[00:26:33] Lisa: Yes. And you're passionate still about acting.

[00:26:36] Keris: Yeah.

[00:26:36] Lisa: Yeah. Um, so I'm, I'm sure there's gonna be a lot more roles as you get older.

[00:26:43] Keris: Mm-hmm.

[00:26:43] Lisa: Um, you'll get different kind of roles, and you'll grow up and learn more about the craft of acting.

[00:26:51] Keris: Yes.

[00:26:51] Lisa: They call it the craft of acting. Yeah. And learn about, uh, the other jobs that you see people doing when you're on a movie set, right?

[00:26:59] Keris: Mm-hmm. '

[00:26:59] Lisa: Cause [00:27:00] there's lots of people around doing all kinds of thing, things, and that's their career, right?

[00:27:05] Keris: Mm-hmm.

[00:27:05] Lisa: Yeah. Yeah. So anything else happening besides your flourishing career in the arts?

[00:27:18] Lisa: How's school?

[00:27:20] Keris: School is good.

[00:27:21] Lisa: Good.

[00:27:21] Keris: I'm in grade five.

[00:27:22] Lisa: Oh, that's good.

[00:27:23] Keris: I've been doing s- lots of grade six work.

[00:27:26] Lisa: Mm-hmm.

[00:27:27] Keris: Just 'cause

[00:27:30] Lisa: To keep up on things?

[00:27:32] Keris: Yeah.

[00:27:32] Lisa: Oh, right. Yeah. '

[00:27:34] Keris: Cause I like, um... I know I don't have to, but I like playing around with my brain and like- Um, that doesn't sound right. Do you do

[00:27:45] Lisa: brain teasers and stuff like that?

[00:27:47] Lisa: Yeah. Do you like mysteries, solving mysteries, reading about mysteries?

[00:27:52] Keris: Yeah. Yeah. I, I definitely love reading. Yeah. Um, I used to read every night, but now with guitar I've been doing that [00:28:00] sometimes, and then we've been busy lately, so.

[00:28:04] Lisa: Are you learning the guitar by reading music or do you just re- or just play by ear?

[00:28:11] Keris: Um, I'm reading music right now.

[00:28:13] Lisa: Oh, that's good.

[00:28:14] Keris: I'm learning how to read music,

[00:28:16] Lisa: I should say. Is that

[00:28:17] Keris: difficult? Well, I'm... I only worked up from the first to third string.

[00:28:24] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:28:25] Keris: And I, I kept telling my guitar teacher, "This is easy." Like, I, I went from the first string to the third string and this is, this is easy.

[00:28:34] Keris: He's like, "Once you get past the third string, you won't be saying that anymore."

[00:28:40] Lisa: How many strings are there on your guitar, 12?

[00:28:43] Keris: Six.

[00:28:44] Lisa: Oh, six. Okay.

[00:28:45] Keris: Six, yeah.

[00:28:45] Lisa: Well, you're halfway there.

[00:28:47] Keris: Yeah.

[00:28:48] Lisa: Okay. Anything else we should talk about that we've missed? Let me see. Can you think of anything? [00:29:00]

[00:29:00] Keris: Um

[00:29:01] Lisa: Oh, I know. I wanted to ask you, what kind of movies are you watching these days?

[00:29:10] Keris: Oh, my favorite movie right now is Fantastic Four.

[00:29:15] Lisa: Oh, yeah. What's that about?

[00:29:17] Keris: It's Marvel.

[00:29:18] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:29:18] Keris: Um, it's, it's the newest one. I'm not a big fan of, like, the older Marvel movies 'cause, like, I like Spider-Man. Mm-hmm. And, um, I mean, it's not like I watch it every day, but-

[00:29:32] Lisa: Not so much the vintage r- ones, right? Yeah,

[00:29:34] Keris: yeah.

[00:29:35] Lisa: But the newer ones.

[00:29:36] Keris: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And I like... I'm not a huge fan of movies. Like, I love watching series.

[00:29:44] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:29:44] Keris: I like watching stuff like Sam & Cat, iCarly, um, Victorious.

[00:29:52] Lisa: Mm-hmm. Are those Disney shows?

[00:29:55] Keris: They're Netflix.

[00:29:56] Lisa: Netflix, okay. All right.

[00:29:57] Keris: They're, like, with [00:30:00] Ariana Grande and-

[00:30:01] Lisa: Oh, yeah ...

[00:30:02] Keris: Victoria.

[00:30:03] Lisa: Well, those are kind of vintage.

[00:30:05] Keris: Yeah. Yeah.

[00:30:06] Lisa: They were made, like, in the '90s, I think. Weren't they?

[00:30:10] Keris: Mm.

[00:30:10] Lisa: Or the 2000s.

[00:30:11] Keris: Yeah. Yeah. Like, early 2000s,

[00:30:14] Lisa: yeah. Oh, okay. Well, it just seems that you are such a busy girl- Doing all kinds of things.

[00:30:23] Keris: Mm-hmm.

[00:30:23] Lisa: Yeah. Well, I hope you do well in your musical career that's just starting out.

[00:30:29] Keris: Thank you.

[00:30:30] Lisa: And you get more movie gigs.

[00:30:34] Keris: Yes. Yeah. Definitely more. Yeah,

[00:30:36] Lisa: I like to see you in more movies. And you do well in school.

[00:30:43] Keris: Yes.

[00:30:44] Lisa: Okay. Hopefully

[00:30:45] Keris: it stays that way.

[00:30:46] Lisa: All right. Well, thanks for coming and stopping by and visiting us at the Yohaadé: Niganaasina Podcast.

[00:30:53] Keris: Um, thank you for having me, and I hope I'll, I'll be back soon.

[00:30:57] Lisa: Oh, you're so welcome.

[00:30:59] Lisa: [00:31:00] And we can't wait till you come back and share with us what you're doing next.

[00:31:03] Keris: Yes.

[00:31:05] Lisa: Okay. And we'll see you in another four episodes.

[00:31:08] Keris: Yeah.

[00:31:09] Lisa: No, we'll see you in another four seasons. Um, okay. Onakiwa:hi, Keris. Oniwiara.

[00:31:19] Lisa: Nya:weh, than you for listening to this episode of the Yoha:te ne kahsen:na, the Road to Your Name podcast, which has been produced by Aboriginal Legal Services and hosted by me, Lisa VanEvery. There are 10 podcast episodes in each season. Let's meet again on the next episode. If you would like to learn more [00:31:51] about our organization, Aboriginal Legal Services, and the programs and services we provide, please visit us at our website, www.aboriginallegal.ca.

[00:31:58] Lisa: And if you feel inclined and would [00:32:00] like to make a donation, you can click on the word Donate located at the top of the homepage of our website. You can also [00:32:12] Lisa: visit us on Facebook at Road to Your Name. This has been the Yoha:ten ne kahsen:na: The Road to Your Name podcast.