During our recent visit to Montréal, the Land Connects Us team had the privilege of participating in the AIRG Conference — an inspiring gathering centered on research, creativity, and social justice.
Among the many meaningful exchanges, one of the most powerful moments was our encounter with the brilliant team from the Participatory Cultures Lab, led by Dr. Claudia Mitchell at McGill University.
Their ongoing work with Cellphilm — short, personal films made using cellphones — opens up space for people, especially youth, to tell their own stories, challenge dominant narratives, and explore identity through visual storytelling.
One presentation that especially moved us was by Claudia Mitchell, Jen Thompson, and Michele Fu, who spoke about the use of transformative curation practices to engage young people in disrupting gender norms. Through a participatory approach, they demonstrate how creativity, care, and community can shift conversations and spark change.
We were grateful to share experiences and ideas that align with our own commitment to decolonial, participatory, and sensory methodologies, and we look forward to building bridges between our practices.
We encourage you to explore the incredible work of the Participatory Cultures Lab and the International Cellphilm Festival — a project that reminds us that the camera in our pocket can be a powerful tool for healing, resistance, and transformation.
👉 Learn more: internationalcellphilmfestival.com
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