About Us

born to tell Indigenous Stories.

Amplifying Indigenous voices.

Founded in 2022 by Nate Gaffney (Wolastoqey) and Desmond Simon (Mi'kmaq), Wabanaki Media is a production company rooted in the traditions and identities of the Wabanaki Nations. We create documentaries, commercials, and video narratives that are thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

Storytelling has always been at the heart of Indigenous culture, and it's at the heart of everything we do. We are driven by a deep respect for heritage and an unwavering commitment to honouring, preserving, and amplifying Indigenous voices.

For indigenous, by indigenous.

NATE GAFFNEY

FOUNDER |
DIRECTOR

Rooted deeply in his cultural heritage, Nate’s work is driven by a profound commitment to preserving and illuminating Indigenous stories, language, and identity. His storytelling is grounded in lived experience and guided by a responsibility to carry forward the voices of his community.
Nate is currently leading Native Tongue, an ambitious unscripted 8-part series exploring Indigenous language revitalization across nations, weaving together personal journeys, cultural knowledge, and the urgent need to reclaim language. Alongside this, his documentary Gerry offers an intimate portrait of a man navigating homelessness, addiction, and survival, capturing the complexity of human resilience. His upcoming film PLAMU turns its lens toward the declining salmon populations of the Wolastoq and the communities working to restore them, blending environmental urgency with deeply personal and cultural connections to the river.
As a director and scriptwriter, Nate has also shaped the past three Indspire Awards broadcasts, crafting cinematic host segments that celebrate Indigenous excellence while bringing a bold, contemporary storytelling approach to one of the country’s most prestigious Indigenous stages.
Through collaborations with organizations such as the Government of New Brunswick & Canada, Ulnooweg Education, AFN, and others, Nate continues to build a body of work that is both culturally grounded and widely resonant. Across all projects, his work is defined by authenticity, strong visual language, and a deep respect for the stories being told, leaving a lasting impact on audiences and communities alike.

DESMOND SIMON

FOUNDER |
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

After retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces, Desmond turned his attention to his love of filmmaking. What began as a mere hobby, quickly evolved into an all-consuming passion for storytelling through the lens of a camera. Growing up in Elsipogtog First Nation, Desmond's deep-rooted connection to his Mi'kmaq culture fuels his commitment to showcasing it’s essence through the powerful medium of documentary filmmaking.
His poignant short film, Mitata - Grandfather, earned acclaim with a Best Cinematography award at The Atlantic Film Festival, while his latest work, Indian Braves, earned a coveted screening at the Silverwave Film Festival and now streams on CBC Gem. Desmond's cinematography, and talent as a Director of Photography has led to collaborations with esteemed organizations such as The Government of New Brunswick, Community Forest International, Ulnooweg Education, Indigenous Geographic, and many more, crafting impactful films that resonate with audiences on a profound level.

Wabanaki means people of the dawn, and our logo brings together our heritage and professional offering in a meaningful way.

The wabanaki Double curve

The swirl within our logos “eye” is inspired by the Wabanaki double curve. It’s a symbol used by the Wabanaki Confederacy representing the union between the Wabanaki Nations.

Wabanaki Media’s vision

The second metaphor and symbol in our logo, the eye, represents the vision we bring to every project. Our goal is to understand the context of the story deeply and translate that to meaningful and compelling narratives.

People of the dawn

As Wabanaki means “people of the dawn” the half circle and rays are a metaphor for the dawn rising above the horizon. Together, the metaphors create a strong symbol to capture our origins and the work we do best.