INTERVIEW Samuel Te Kani
EDITED BY Christy Quilliam
PHOTOGRAPHY AND FASHION David K Shields
Julian Brave NoiseCat has rapidly become one of the most vital voices of his generation. A writer, filmmaker, and advocate for Indigenous rights, his work is deeply rooted in truth-telling, cultural restoration, and confronting the legacies of colonial violence. His debut documentary feature, Sugarcane – co-directed with journalist and filmmaker Emilie Kassie – was nominated for a 2025 Academy Award and has resonated globally for its power, its intimacy, and its urgent relevance.
J’AKE STUDIOS shirt, vest & trousers. ED ARCHIE NOISECAT jewellery.
At the heart of Sugarcane is the story of Julian’s father, Ed NoiseCat, a last-minute survivor of infanticide at the St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School in British Columbia – a place meant to erase Indigenous identity, language, and spirit. Through personal testimony and historical investigation, the film exposes not only what was done to generations of First Nations children, but also how those wounds echo through families and communities today. It is a story of devastation, but more importantly it is a story of survival.
Delving into the shared cultural and historical impact of colonisation on Indigenous communities highlighted in this powerful debut, Samuel Te Kani got to speak with Julian about this experience, and how both Māori and Canadian First Nations cultures maintain a holistic understanding of existence: where humans, the land, ancestors, and the spiritual realm are deeply interconnected, expressed through whakapapa (genealogy) for Māori, and lineage traditions among Native American tribes which guide identity and purpose. While this happened, we also managed a trip to the wild West Coast beach of Muriwai for a photoshoot with his dad, the film’s major protagonist and celebrated artist, Ed Archie NoiseCat.
KIRI NATHAN jacket & kākahu. JASON NATHAN pounamu.
Sugarcane the film, does a deep dive into Canadian regulations, and in particular the Indian residential schools. Further exploring these themes in his recently released book We Survived The Night, Julian weaves together memoir, reportage, and cultural analysis. The book gives voice to those whose stories have too often been silenced, challenging readers to confront uncomfortable truths, and to imagine a future that is rooted in justice, memory, and repair.
“It was exposed that not only were there babies buried in the school’s property, but that one baby was rescued from a garbage incinerator. This information makes one assume that many other babies were not so lucky..”
RORY WILLIAM DOCHERTY jacket. TRIBAL FIBRES by MAAKARITA PAKU shirt. J’AKE STUDIOS trousers. HOUSE OF SUTAI by PESHAWN BREAD jewellery.
Together, father and son stand as witnesses to history, and as reminders that the movement for Indigenous truth, healing, and sovereignty is not a chapter closed, but is indeed, a rising tide.
This meeting of minds and stories from the farthest sides of the world, reinforces the power of connection across lands shaped by parallel histories of colonisation. And it reminds us: the work of recognition, redress, and renewal must continue – through storytelling, through art, and through those who carry the courage to speak.
Ed wears KIRI NATHAN vest, paki & kākahu. RORY WILLIAM DOCHERTY shirt. JASON NATHAN pounamu & earrings. His own hat. Julian wears KIRI NATHAN vest, paki & kākahu. JASON NATHAN pounamu & earrings. His own boots.
Featured in It’s Interval BREAKOUT – view the complete, expanded story here!