Loyalist College Photojournalism

GATINEAU, Que. (28/02/19) — Sunshine Tenasco is Anishinabe from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg in Quebec. She is an entrepreneur, mother and water activist. She started Her Braids to raise awareness of the lack of clean drinking water in First Nations communities within Canada. Her own community has been without drinking water for 15 years. She also created Pow Wow Pitch, which in simple terms is Dragons Den for Indigenous businesses to create a space where Indigenous entrepreneurs felt a sense of belonging and support to fuel their entrepreneurship. Photo by Shelby Lisk.

Shelby Lisk is a multimedia journalist from Kenhté:ke (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, in Ontario). She is currently working as the Indigenous Hub Reporter for TVO, where she covers Indigenous issues and current affairs from across the province for TVO.org and The Agenda. As a part of her position, she also sits as the TVO Journalist in Residence in the school of journalism and communications at Carleton University. Through this position, she engages with students about reporting in Indigenous communities.

Prior to attending Loyalist College, she completed her degree in fine rts, with a minor in gender studies at the University of Ottawa (2015). While at Loyalist, she started a part-time certificate in Mohawk Language and Culture through Queen’s University and Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na, which she will complete this spring. She had the pleasure to be a part of the launch of a new initiative at TVO to translate articles into Indigenous languages.

Before starting her role with TVO, Shelby did internships with the Globe and Mail, APTN and with Loyalist advisory board member and alumna, Anne-Marie Jackson. Her writing and photography have been published in Red Rising Magazine, The Globe and Mail, APTN news, TVO.org, Watershed Magazine, In/words Magazine and “#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women.”

Shelby is the recipient of a Governor General’s History award in the Indigenous Arts and Stories category (Historica Canada 2018), News Photographer’s Association of Canada student multimedia award (NPAC, 2018), best “short short” in TVO’s Short Doc contest (TVO, 2019), Farzana Wahidy Premier’s Award in photojournalism (Loyalist College, 2018), and the Emerging Indigenous Reporter Scholarship from JHR (Journalists for Human Rights, 2017).

Loyalist photojournalism testimonial:

Looking back on my experience, the thing that stands out most for me is that studying photojournalism put me in so many new and unfamiliar situations. I went into college wanting to learn more about my Indigenous roots through telling stories with my community. I knew where I wanted to go and I didn’t take my eyes off it. If it weren’t for this program, there are so many people I wouldn’t have met, things I wouldn’t have learned and experiences I would have never believe I would be a part of. Journalism can be tough but if you know that’s where you want to be, this program and these teachers will help you get there. During my time at Loyalist, the teachers in this department believed in me while also pushing me way out of my comfort zone consistently. They care immensely about their students’success and create a community that exists beyond the walls of Loyalist College and into newsrooms around this country and beyond. I haven’t met a single Loyalist photo-j grad that didn’t have the time to chat with me about their experience, offer advice or help make connections. It’s like a little secret club that you definitely want to be a part of.

Links:

https://www.shelbyliskphoto.com/singles-1

https://vimeo.com/shelbylisk

Social Media: @shelbyliskphoto

Loud bangs and large flames were evident on Hiscock Shores Rd. in Carrying Place on an early November morning as a detached garage and a recreational vehicle burned  in an undetermined fire. (Desirée Decoste/Gazette Staff)

Desirée Decoste is a reporter with The Picton Gazette and The Napanee Beaver.

She’s lived in the Quinte region her whole life, starting in Trenton and now in Carrying Place. After going down a rough road after her dad passed away, she ended up at Loyalist in the Photojournalism program.

Loyalist photojournalism testimonial

I would like to start off with saying, when I picked the photojournalism program, I hadn’t really looked into what the course entailed and turned out to be not exactly what I expected.

Through my two years at Loyalist, which had to turn into three, I learned so much about myself and what I can overcome.

I had (and still do have) such bad anxiety (it’s gotten better) when I started the program, I could barely talk to people and I felt like I was in the wrong place/program.

Through my first year, I thought I would fail all my courses and not be able to finish my second year. Thankfully to my amazing teachers Patti, Frank, Scott and Dan, I was able to not only finish my first year, but also finish my second year (and technically third year) and graduate.

The reason I say third year is because, coming back for my second year in the program, I was seven months or so pregnant and the teacher strike was also happening at the time.

I went to school up until I went into labour early morning on Nov. 29 before school.

Right around that time, the strike ended and teachers went back to the classrooms.

Thankful to my teachers, they kept all my marks for the projects I had already completed so my return was a little smoother and not everything all at once.

If it wasn’t for the amazing teachers of the program and all they do for all their students, and for Frank and Scott who saw most of my tears and frustrations, I don’t think I would have graduated.

They truly and utterly want to see all their students succeed and they do all they can to see them accomplish just that.

And always thanks to Linda for her patience, loving nature and amazing cookies and treats!

For all the times I sat in Frank’s office, cried and said I don’t even know why I’m here or what I’m going to do after school, I’m so glad I toughed it out and stayed with the program because now I’m in a job I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Working for a newspaper has opened my eyes even more to what I can actually accomplish.

Just because something unexpected happened doesn’t mean you can’t finish what you started. Your hopes and dreams matter just as much as everyone else’s. You can always accomplish whatever you put your mind to.

They say you won’t work a day in your life if you love what you do, I definitely love what I do!

Don’t get me wrong, I still have my doubts some days if I’m really cut out for this field of work, but then I look at my colleagues and the work I’ve been doing and I know I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Links:

Website – http://www.pictongazette.ca/

Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/PictonGazette/