Jesse Wente appointed Indigenous storyteller-in-residence at The Creative School

When Jesse Wente walks into a room, stories follow. They arrive not just in his words–but in his presence, his history, and the pathways he’s carved through Canada’s media and cultural sectors. Now, The Creative School is proud to welcome Wente as its new Indigenous Storyteller-in-Residence, a role based at Saagajiwe, the Faculty’s hub for Indigenous creative practice and storytelling, where he’ll help shape tomorrow’s leaders today.

Bridging academia and industry

A seasoned broadcaster, writer, and arts leader, Wente’s career spans more than two decades across CBC Radio, TIFF, the Indigenous Screen Office, and the Canada Council for the Arts, where he served as Chair. But for Wente, storytelling has always been more than just a profession–it’s a calling rooted in community, truth and the urgent need to reimagine the systems that shape culture.

“I hope to bring a perspective from outside academia,” says Wente. “A view from the industry side, but also from a different understanding of the world altogether.”

In his new role, Wente will mentor students into professional storytellers, share his own vast catalogue of work, screen films as a tool for learning and help “unwrap storytelling from colonial thoughts.” It’s a mandate that aligns with the spirit of Saagajiwe: a space designed to honour Indigenous knowledge systems while pushing the boundaries of creative education.

Raised in Toronto, Wente’s Anishinaabe heritage has informed many aspects of his practice but his work is not focused on telling traditional stories. His storytelling has often been personal, deeply reflective of both his heritage and the ways in which identity is perceived, projected and politicized in Canada’s media landscape. 

His national bestseller, Unreconciled: Family, Truth and Indigenous Resistance, is a sharp lyrical meditation on belonging, Indigenous sovereignty, and cultural reckoning. It earned him the Rakuten-Kobo Emerging Writer Prize in Non-Fiction and was named one of the best books of 2021 by Indigo, Apple Books, and the Globe and Mail.

“In this role, I’m hoping to interact with students, mentor emerging storytellers, and bring others from the community to share their knowledge,” says Wente. “It’s about collaboration–and expanding what we think storytelling can be.”

Making space for the storytellers of tomorrow

For students that will be learning under Wente’s leadership, his presence will be both a resource and a reminder that stories don’t just entertain or inform, they have the power to shift minds, opinions and culture. And for Wente, storytelling is its most potent when it’s paired with authenticity.

“The most important story you will tell is your own,” says Wente. 

As The Creative School continues to expand its global and interdisciplinary programming, Wente’s appointment signals a deeper commitment to indigenous knowledge, community-engaged practice, and the kind of learning that doesn’t just prepare students for industry but to change it.

The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University

The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.