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Meet Devery Jacobs: Award-Winning Actress & Indigenous Rights Activist

Devery found her passion for the arts from a young age. While pursuing her acting career, she also studied to be a counsellor and worked at the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal. Her first big break came when she was cast as the lead role in the award-winning feature film, Rhymes for Young Ghouls (2013), since then Devery has gone on to amass a significant body of work in several film and television productions. Outside of acting and filmmaking, Devery’s other passion lies in Indigenous rights activism. She was the original founder of the Kahnawà:ke Youth Forum where she led and organized protests and rallies. Most recently, Devery has been focusing her activism through her art, hoping to create change within communities, and to alter the perspective of how Indigenous people are seen.


 

 

When I was younger I wanted to be a … An “actor in the movie theatres.”

Professionally I would describe myself as … an actor, writer, director and producer who was born and raised in Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Territory.

Working in front of the camera as well as behind it allows me to… help others tell their stories through performing or producing, but also share my own voice and perspective of the world through writing or directing.

I got involved in Indigenous rights activism because… I’m Mohawk – I am inherently political. I have such a profound love for my culture and community and I feel a strong sense of duty to preserve it, revitalize it and protect our land and waters.

My proudest accomplishment is… proving to myself that I can make a career out of doing what I love.

My boldest move to date was… being one of the my only family members to move away from my rez.

My biggest setback was… going on a soul-searching journey of discovering my dream roles for a director who ultimately quit the business.

 

I’m Mohawk – I am inherently political. I have such a profound love for my culture and community and I feel a strong sense of duty to preserve it, revitalize it and protect our land and waters.

 

I overcame it by… realizing that my voice is valid and that I can tell these stories my damn self. That launched the creation of my directorial debut.

I surprise people when I tell them… that I hate ketchup. I don’t eat it on anything; hot dogs, french fries — nothing. It’s all about that garlic mayo.

To me, social media is… an opportunity to share what you’re up to, what movements you believe in and art that inspires you.

If you googled me, you still wouldn’t know… how to pronounce my first name. (Kawennáhere is pronounced Guh-wen-NUH-hé-ré)

The person I look up to is… my mom. She’s the most resilient, and hardworking person I know.

The best advice I’ve been given is… Carpe that f*cking Diem.

I stay inspired by… visiting family and my community, reading books and graphic novels and watching movies not for research, but as a total fan-girl.

I would tell me 15 year old self… to quit tweezing your eyebrows, and stop hating on your body.

The future excites me because… we are only at the beginning of hearing from LGBTQ+ people and BIPOC! There are going to be so many amazing stories that truly represent all perspectives — and I’m here for it.