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Portait of Derek Sands, Coordinator Saagajiwe

Derek Sands

Coordinator, Saagajiwe
EducationBA Graphic Design - Oakland University, MI. MFA Documentary Media, PhD student Media and Design Innovation - TMU

Derek Sands (Ojibway, Potawatomi, and Miami) is a Walpole Island First Nation member and an Indigenous filmmaker. His film journey started when he realized the teachings, language, and elders were disappearing and found purpose in documenting what remained. His first documentary film Ziidbaatogeng (2020), featured an Aamjiwnaang First Nation family teaching and sharing the Sugarbush traditions. The film also featured narration from the remaining fluent Ojibway speakers from Bkejwanong. His current project, All Sacred Things (2023), focuses on a group of indigenous college students and their journey of reconnecting to their culture, which inevitably leads them to experience the once almost-extinct Ojibway Spirit Horses. The short documentary has been nominated for the Art Film Spirit Award from Toronto Film Magazine. It has been selected in three film festivals since its first June 4, 2023 screening. Derek was recently accepted into the Media and Design Innovation Ph.D. program at Toronto Metropolitan University. Derek has been in a mentorship program with legendary documentary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin. He has worked as director observer/BTS and director for the upcoming Crave original comedy series The Trades.