Patrick Shannon
Nang Ḵ’uulas Patrick Shannon is a Haida award-winning film director, social entrepreneur, and university instructor from Haida Gwaii, BC. Named Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the BC Aboriginal Business Awards, he has founded over a dozen start-ups and initiatives, earning recognition as one of Canada’s top 15 Emerging Innovators (Ashoka Changemakers) and one of the world’s top 50 Young Cultural Innovators (Salzburg Global Seminar).
Rooted in his Haida upbringing, Patrick focuses on storytelling through film, using media and education to empower remote and Indigenous communities. He runs the film production company InnoNative, co-founded Indigenous agency Supernaturals Modelling, leads the Haida Gwaii Media Collective, and is a co-founder of the Precious Culture Society.
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Featured Projects & Initiatives
Feature Documentary
Saints and Warriors
Writer and Director
Arts & Culture Organization
Precious Culture Society
Director and Co-Founder
Media Resource & Training Initiaitve
Haida Gwaii Media Collective
CEO and Co-Founder
Theatrical Performance
HOME
Writer and Actor
Nang K’uulas Patrick Shannon
Filmmaker, Storyteller, and Community Builder on Haida Gwaii
Nang Ḵ’uulas Patrick Shannon has always had a fascination with stories—the kind that make you see the world differently, that feel both close to home and like a window into somewhere new. Growing up in Skidegate on Haida Gwaii, he spent his childhood surrounded by the beauty of the land and the strength of his community, raised by Haida women whose teachings centered on respect, reciprocity, and accountability. These core values became the backbone of everything Patrick does today, shaping not just the stories he tells but how he approaches his work and the people he works with.
Patrick’s journey into film started early and unexpectedly. At 16, he got a taste of the industry as an extra on the set of X-Men 3 in Vancouver, a surreal experience for someone from a small island community. That first step onto a bustling film set was more than exciting—it sparked a passion that he couldn’t ignore. Over the next decade, he worked on more than 100 TV shows and movies, learning the ins and outs of the industry from different departments. This hands-on approach, combined with his curiosity, turned him into a true student of film. He didn’t just want to “make it” in the industry; he wanted to understand it, to shape it, and eventually, to use it to tell stories that mattered to him.
But in the middle of this journey, Patrick faced a turning point. His grandmother’s health began to decline, and he felt a non-negotiable pull to return to Haida Gwaii to be her primary caregiver. For Patrick, family and community are everything, and he never questioned what he had to do. Moving back home, however, came with a weighty fear—that this decision might mean giving up the career he’d worked so hard to build. He wrestled with the idea of setting aside his creative aspirations, believing he might have to let go of his passion for film altogether.
Yet, returning home revealed something new and unexpected. During his time as a caregiver, Patrick began teaching local youth his skills, mentoring them in photography, filmmaking, and storytelling. This shift from pure creation to sharing his knowledge unlocked a new sense of fulfillment he hadn’t anticipated. “I realized that giving back, sharing what I’d learned, was just as powerful—if not more so—than working on my own projects,” he reflects. What began as informal guidance blossomed into a calling, one that ultimately led him to found InnoNative, a production company dedicated to telling Indigenous stories from the perspective of those who live them.
Patrick’s impact goes beyond just the stories he’s telling—he’s building pathways for others to tell theirs, too. Through the Haida Gwaii Media Collective, Patrick is helping to shape the next generation of storytellers and media makers on the island. The Collective is open to all Haida Gwaii residents, but it focuses especially on Indigenous people and youth, providing equipment rentals, training, and workshops to those who want to explore media and storytelling. Patrick’s vision for the Collective is rooted in his belief that creativity and media skills should be accessible to everyone, no matter where they live. “You shouldn’t have to leave Haida Gwaii to make a film,” he says. “And you definitely shouldn’t have to leave to feel like your story matters.” The Collective is more than just a resource; it’s a way for people on the island to discover their voices, find confidence, and build skills they can carry forward, whether they’re crafting a short film or simply learning to capture the beauty of their surroundings.
Then there’s the Precious Culture Society, which Patrick co-founded with Indigenous textile artist Lo'lus Brianna Rose-Julian. Another extension of Patrick’s vision for a vibrant arts scene on Haida Gwaii, the Precious Culture Society is dedicated to supporting artists of all kinds, helping them not only manage and fund their projects but also envision and create the spaces they need to thrive. While the Haida Gwaii Media Collective focuses on media production, the Precious Culture Society champions the arts more broadly, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous and Haida-specific culture. Its current mission? To establish the Precious Culture House—a future gathering space where island artists can share, learn, and grow together, in a space built specifically for their needs and visions. Patrick sees this as a cornerstone for Haida Gwaii’s creative future, a place that will give artists from all walks of life the foundation they need to bring their work to life.
Patrick’s recent work also includes his debut as a playwright in the collaborative project HOME, which he co-wrote and starred in alongside comedians and playwrights Tom Hill and Devin Mackenzie, with direction by Marie Farsi. A heartfelt and humorous exploration of the places we love, HOME takes audiences on a journey through time and across regions, from Haida Gwaii to Vancouver, the Okanagan, Edmonton, and everywhere in between. It’s a story about connection to place, the push and pull of leaving and returning, and the deep impact that changes in our environments have on us. The play debuted at The Cultch in East Vancouver in Fall 2023, followed by a two-week run at the 2024 Edmonton Fringe Festival, where it was selected out of 216 shows as one of the top performances and invited to a prestigious festival holdover—a true honour for the team.
Patrick’s extensive film and television career also includes directing and shooting numerous short films, TV episodes, and dozens of music videos, blending his passion for creativity with technical skill and a deep connection to his subject matter. His latest feature documentary, Saints and Warriors, exemplifies his community-driven storytelling style. The film explores the role of basketball in Indigenous communities along BC’s northwest coast, a sport that’s more than just a game; it’s a source of pride, unity, and resilience. For Patrick, Saints and Warriors is a chance to tell a story that feels personal and collective all at once, a story about the way communities find strength and joy in shared experiences, even amid adversity. His approach is thoughtful, allowing the voices of those involved to shine through without imposing a narrative. “I want people to see themselves in these stories,” he shares, “to see the strength, beauty, and complexity of their own lives on screen.”
Patrick’s dedication to his community and values extends into his role as an ambassador for Vancity Credit Union. Since 2024, he’s partnered with Vancity not just as a financial institution but as a shared mission for responsible, values-based support for community projects. Vancity’s focus on ethical practices and social responsibility aligns seamlessly with Patrick’s approach to storytelling and community work, making the partnership a natural extension of his commitment to creating positive, lasting change.
For Patrick, filmmaking is more than just a profession—it’s a way of connecting people, honouring traditions, and nurturing future generations. He’s not interested in fame or personal accolades; his goal is to leave something meaningful behind for Haida Gwaii, to make sure his community sees itself represented and celebrated in ways that feel genuine and lasting. “At the end of the day, it’s about creating something people here can feel connected to and proud of,” he says. His hope is that every story, every workshop, and every project he’s part of will inspire others to see their own potential and the power of their voices.
Even as his work gains attention outside Haida Gwaii, Patrick’s heart and focus remain with his community and culture. His quiet dedication, humour, and respect for those around him have become his signature, building not just a career but a legacy grounded in integrity, creativity, and a deep love for Haida Gwaii. For Patrick, the most powerful stories are the ones that honour the people and places that shape us, stories that stay true to where it all began.