“Pivotal moment” for local actress as latest film gets picked up by Cineplex

The 29-year-old believes this is a pivotal moment for both her and Indigenous cinema following the work done on Monkey Beach. She plays the lead role of Lisa in the film, a young First Nations woman in Kitamaat, British Columbia who is coming to terms with the mysterious disappearance of her brother.

“Monkey Beach is directed by an Indigenous woman, written by an Indigenous woman, and led by an Indigenous woman. That is one of the first of its kind. I’ve been an actor for ten years now and this is the biggest opportunity I’ve had to properly represent Indigenous peoples and to really show up in such a big way and show Canada who we are when we are in our strength and are in charge of our representation.”

The movie has since been picked up by Cineplex to run in select theatres across BC, including right here in PG!

“The work that I do, it starts at home. I really want the impact to hit Indigenous communities. Prince George, The North, BC, that’s where I think I’ll have the biggest impact. That’s where, for me, all of my growth started. No matter how far away I travel, no matter where I live, I always have in my mind where I started because I really want Indingneous youth around BC that anything is possible.”

Local TV viewers got to know Dove on a then PG-TV show called Splatterday, where she made a lasting impression on those she worked with, eventually also working as the stations Funchaser.

“Coming from where she has come from in Salmon Valley, not a big family or anything like that, and making her way to the red carpet in Hollywood, but also along the way portraying her own indigenous background,” said Colleen Smith, the former director and producer of Splatterday on CKPG.

“That is something I am so proud of her for being able to do that, and for any actress to be able to do that is so amazing.”

Smith recalled Dove’s ability to take anything she would write for her and making it into her own. Smith said it was impressive considering she was just an 11-year-old at the time.

Attending Kelly Road Secondary and graduating in 2009, Dove’s drama teacher admits its a tear-jerking moment seeing the success that her former student has found.

One of the things I’m the most proud of is she’s embraced this so much. From those little tiny productions in Bear Lake and a little drama class in Northern British Columbia, she’s basically sent a message to all young women, and all youngsters from Northern British Columbia, and definitely the Indigenous students, that there is a possibility that you can succeed no matter where you’re from as long as you put hard work in,” said Audrey Rowell, Dove’s former drama teacher.

“I love the fact that she’s working so hard that Indigenous people have a voice, and they have a face, in Hollywood and in the movies, and that it’s a very authentic experience.”

Rowell admits she already has tickets to the first showing of Monkey Beach this Friday, with shows also scheduled for Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday at Famous Players 6 in Prince George.

by Ethan Ready

“Pivotal moment” for local actress as latest film gets picked up by Cineplex

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