Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
Joel D. Montgrand was raised by his mom, moshom, and his kokum, surrounded by five aunties, an uncle, and more cousins than he could count in La Ronge, Saskatchewan — the northernmost end of the longest highway in the province. He is Rocky Cree, a member of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. His dad is of white settler descent.
In a pivotal moment during his final year of high school, a sardonic and jesting audition thrust Joel Montgrand into the world of theatre, sparking an unexpected passion despite initial doubts and a less-than-stellar performance. Opting out of university due to financial constraints, Montgrand set off on a journey of pivotal self-discovery, diving into volunteer work before seizing a daring opportunity to teach in Korea with a degree purchased on the black market in Hong Kong. Despite finding success in the classroom, his escapades were marred by reckless behavior and excessive drinking, leading to perilous situations and moments of profound introspection.
Amidst the chaos of Joel’s nomadic existence, he traversed the globe, from New Zealand to South Africa and later England. He grappled with poverty and heartbreak but found solace in the transformative power of theatre. Montgrand’s art has only benefitted from his continued resilience and reinvention. Eventually returning to Vancouver, Joel embraced the stage once more, navigating through a series of menial jobs until serendipity led them to the doorstep of opportunity, a testament to his unwavering pursuit of passion against all odds.
Beyond the camera, Joel takes the spotlight as the creative force behind “Actors and Ancestors.” This groundbreaking podcast is a testament to his commitment to uplifting Indigenous actors and providing a platform for their voices to be heard. Through insightful conversations, Joel explores the intersections of identity, culture, and the entertainment industry, making “Actors and Ancestors” a must-listen for cinephiles and advocates of diverse storytelling.
Joel now resides on the ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations in Vancouver, BC. His connection to the land and dedication to cultural representation are woven into the fabric of his work, adding an extra layer of significance to his performances and endeavors.
Joel’s impactful performances, and a dedication to diverse storytelling, Joel is not just an actor but a luminary shaping the future of entertainment. Watch as he continues to break barriers and redefine industry norms.
Hi Joel welcome to OLC! Can you share your experience working on HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country” and how it has impacted your career as an Indigenous actor?
–Thank you, honestly, it was the biggest on screen role I’ve had the honor of working on. It finally gave me an opportunity, after a decade of doing this, to showcase my abilities as an artist and I couldn’t have dreamed of a better group to do it with. Actually having a cast of so many talented Indigenous actors from so many different areas and backgrounds was beautiful and there’s such an ease when you’re around other Native actors. The heavy lifting of knowledge is done and an inherent understanding is there.
Your role as Hakoda in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” showcases your versatility. How did you approach portraying such a beloved character in a new medium?
–By respecting what the original work was. The roadmap was made, we know who Hakoda is already, but it’s just a matter of polishing it now and making it more “real” and not a cartoon while still keeping that soul in him. I really hope there’s more seasons coming so we can see his journey alongside his children.
“Beans” has received awards and acclaim. Can you discuss your journey and challenges in bringing the character Kania’tariio to life in this impactful film?
–Beans was the root of any success I’ve had in film, and I believe it was the most important story I’ve had the pleasure of taking part in since it was based on real events that took place in 1990. I knew going in that it was a story highlighting the strong women in our communities, not only leading but growing up to be future leaders. So I knew that the focus wasn’t on Dad, or the men involved in the standoff, but I wanted him to be as real as possible, he was overworked and pulled away from his family from these community changing circumstances that he had to take part in as a responsible, proud mohawk man. Sometimes protecting your family means that you might not get to spend as much time with them as you’d hope, but you still want them to be safe. I’m always filled with pride when I watch that movie and also outrage, there is actual news footage of Canadians saying horrendous things about Indigenous people, people still around today, I can only hope they’ve stopped living with such hate in them.
Tell us about the inspiration behind creating the “Actors and Ancestors” podcast. How do you see this platform contributing to the representation of indigenous actors in the entertainment industry?
–It was born from a need to listen to a show like this. I wanted to find a podcast that spoke with indigenous actors and learn about their journeys and experiences in the business. However, when I looked online I couldn’t find anything like that. I found myself in a never dreamed of space where I was suddenly on the rise and I had an opportunity to not only bring people that were curious about the same thing as me but highlight other actors and perhaps give them a bit of a boost as well. I’m sure that out there somewhere there will be other natives or just curious people that will feel inspired themselves and maybe willing to take a chance on their own abilities. I think the fact that I’m just moving out of struggling actor mode and into a bit more success will help gain an understanding of what it’s like to be in this industry and the many challenges that you’ll have to face.
Living on the ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, how does your connection to the land influence your work and artistic choices?
–I’m always aware that I am a guest here. My own people are far away in other treaty lands, so as much as I feel at home I never treat this as my home. I take care of it as best I can and show respect as a guest should.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your early life that ignited your passion for acting, especially considering the unexpected journey from a high school audition to becoming a prominent indigenous actor?
–I was basically peer pressured into something I had no natural talent or business being in. Everyone in my grade 12 circle decided to audition for this musical in our final year and I took a shot too because my fear of being the one person that didn’t audition outweighed my fear of standing up in front of people and talking. My high school drama teacher foiled my plan of getting detention by auditioning with an expletive laden song by actually giving me a lead role. Bless her for getting me started, even though I sucked. In fact, being terrible at something is the first step to being great at it, and finally, I feel I’m not crap. In fact, I’m pretty good at what I do.
Your global journey included teaching in Korea and traveling through various countries. How did these experiences shape you both personally and professionally?
— Living a real life before I pursued acting professionally really rounded me out and armed me with experience that not many actors have if they’ve only stuck to study I think. I wandered many years trying to find some meaning in life and something that I could really sink my teeth into and in that time I learned a lot of lessons the hard way. Korea really taught me that I was good at entertaining. If you can keep a group of kids entertained for 8 hours a day at one hour time blocks, you’re probably pretty personable.
Facing financial constraints and opting out of university, you embarked on a journey of self-discovery. How did this unconventional path contribute to your growth as an artist?
–I grew up poor. In fact, I’ve never had money, I grew up knowing the pain of having sleep for supper sometimes. Not having much can make you feel like you’ve got nothing to lose, so you’ll take some bigger risks with yourself. I’ve always been good at living within meager means, even when doing pretty insane things like traveling around the world without cash. Sometimes that meant not eating properly or at all, sleeping rough, or not being able to enjoy much of a social life. I had dark times, but even in the dark there were bits of light and I gravitated toward it. My light turned out to be art. My love and appreciation for acting only grew stronger and since I was unafraid of not having much in material wealth and I was already a poor human, why not be a poor artist? At least I could chase a dream.
Your dedication to diverse storytelling is evident. How do you envision the future of entertainment, and what role do you see yourself playing in shaping it?
–There’s always going to be stories to be told and I think I’m well situated to be an everyman, someone to relate to, because of my life, my mixed history, I’m armed with an arsenal of experience and a willingness to embrace the absurd, big risks that this field calls on you to do. I’m not afraid of putting it all out there to tell a tale that will connect with people in a real way. I want the audience to watch something I’m in and have a real connection, not just feel like they’re watching an actor act.
