Nang K’uulas Patrick Shannon
Filmmaker, Storyteller, and Community Builder on Haida Gwaii
Rooted in Story and Community
Nang Ḵ’uulas Patrick Shannon is a Haida filmmaker, storyteller, and social entrepreneur whose work is deeply rooted in the land, culture, and people of Haida Gwaii.
Raised in Skidegate by strong Haida matriarchs, Patrick's worldview was shaped early by values of respect, reciprocity, and accountability. These teachings continue to guide his life and career, informing the stories he tells and the way he collaborates with others. Whether behind the camera, in the classroom, or in community spaces, Patrick sees storytelling as both a responsibility and a way to build lasting strength within Indigenous communities.
Patrick’s journey into film began at age 16, when a chance opportunity landed him as an extra on the set of X-Men 3. For someone from a small, remote island, stepping onto a massive Hollywood set was surreal—but it lit a spark that never went out.
Over the next decade, he immersed himself in the film industry, working across more than 100 productions and learning the business from the inside out. That hands-on experience taught him not just how to make films, but how to navigate a system not built with Indigenous creators in mind. He carried that knowledge back with him when he returned home to care for his grandmother—an act of love and responsibility that changed everything.
Building Homegrown Storytelling
Back on Haida Gwaii, Patrick feared that stepping away from the film industry might mean giving up his career. But in giving care, he also gave mentorship.
He began teaching photography and filmmaking to youth in his community, and quickly realized the impact of sharing his knowledge. That shift—from creating for the industry to creating with his community—became the foundation for everything that followed.
He launched InnoNative, a production company rooted in Indigenous storytelling, and co-founded the Haida Gwaii Media Collective, a local initiative providing equipment, training, and space for youth and community members to learn media skills and tell their own stories.
For Patrick, success means ensuring no one has to leave home to feel seen or to create something meaningful.
Patrick’s creative work continues to reach broader audiences while staying rooted in the Northwest Coast.
His debut feature documentary, Saints and Warriors, tells the story of the Skidegate Saints basketball team and the transformative power of sport in Indigenous communities. The film has screened across North America at festivals like Big Sky, Cinequest, Hot Docs, and more—earning standing ovations, critical acclaim, the Colin Low Award for Best Canadian Director at DOXA, and four Leo Award nominations. For Patrick, it’s more than a film—it’s a love letter to his community, a tribute to resilience, and a reminder that Indigenous joy and excellence deserve to be celebrated on screen.
His recent work includes HOME, a theatrical production co-created with comedians Tom Hill and Devin Mackenzie and directed by Marie Farsi. The show explores the complicated, emotional relationship we have with place—how it shapes us, holds us, and sometimes pulls us back when we least expect it. Debuting at The Cultch in Vancouver and earning a festival holdover invitation at the Edmonton Fringe Festival, HOME resonated with audiences across territories, blending humour, nostalgia, and deep heart.
Teaching and Economic Empowerment
In addition to his creative and entrepreneurial work, Patrick serves as an instructor for the University of Victoria’s Indigenous Advancement of Cultural Entrepreneurship (I-ACE) program.
This award-winning initiative, delivered in partnership with the Gustavson School of Business and Tribal Resources Investment Corporation (TRICORP), supports Indigenous entrepreneurs in launching and sustaining businesses grounded in cultural values.
Patrick has taught hundreds of students across British Columbia since 2015, blending business training with storytelling, identity work, and community-building. His involvement with I-ACE reflects his core belief that creative and economic sovereignty go hand in hand—and that entrepreneurship, when led by community values, is a tool for empowerment and long-term change.
In 2025, Patrick was named an ambassador for Vancity Credit Union—a natural alignment with his values-driven approach to community building.
Vancity’s commitment to ethical banking and social impact mirrors Patrick’s own ethos: that every project, every partnership, and every story should move us toward greater connection, sustainability, and respect.
A Future Shaped by Story
For Patrick, filmmaking is not about prestige or spotlight. It’s about community. It’s about creating the conditions for stories to flourish, voices to rise, and youth to feel their potential.
His work exists in the space between tradition and innovation, always returning to the same question: how can this story help us move forward, together?
From the edit suite to the classroom to the frontlines of community action, Patrick Shannon is building more than films—he’s building a legacy.