Education & Training

Custom programs for skills, confidence, and career pathways

InnoNative designs and delivers custom, tailored education and training programs for Indigenous Nations, communities, organizations, and businesses seeking to build real, usable skills in media, storytelling, design, and communications.

Programs are shaped in close conversation with partners and adapted to specific goals, participants, and contexts. Rather than offering off-the-shelf workshops, this work responds directly to the needs, interests, and realities of each community or organization.

The focus is on practical skill-building—skills that participants can use immediately, build on over time, and apply in real-world settings. Training supports confidence, creative autonomy, and clear pathways into meaningful work.

Education & Training is well suited for:

Indigenous Nations and First Nations communities with funding dedicated to skills development

  • Organizations and businesses looking to build internal media, communications, or design capacity

  • Communities investing in youth and older youth who are exploring careers in media, design, or storytelling

Programs can be designed for a wide range of participants, from beginners to those with some experience, and can be adapted for different age groups and learning styles.

Who This Is For

What the Training Focuses On

Depending on the context and goals, training programs may include:

  • Filmmaking and visual storytelling

  • Photography and visual communication

  • Branding and marketing fundamentals

  • Graphic and web design basics

  • Practical media workflows and creative tools

All training is hands-on, accessible, and grounded in real-world application. The emphasis is on learning by doing, developing confidence through practice, and understanding how creative skills are actually used outside the classroom.

A key strength of this work is its career relevance.

Programs are often designed to support participants who may:

  • Go on to build their own creative or media businesses

  • Pursue education or careers in film, media, design, or communications

  • Take on communications, media, or storytelling roles within their Nation, community, or organization

This approach allows communities to invest in skills that both circulate outward—supporting individual opportunity—and strengthen internal capacity over time.

Career-Oriented Outcomes

Experience & Approach

Lead facilitator Patrick Shannon brings extensive experience delivering education and creative training across Indigenous communities and institutions.

This includes long-standing work with the University of Victoria’s Indigenous social entrepreneurship programming (IACE), where Patrick has taught extensively in the areas of marketing, branding, and communications for Indigenous-led businesses and initiatives.

Alongside this work, Patrick has a deep track record delivering filmmaking and media programs for older youth—supporting entry points into creative careers through practical, confidence-building instruction rooted in real-world experience.

Education & Training at InnoNative is not generic. It is contextual, relational, and shaped around real opportunities and realistic outcomes.

Begin a Conversation

If you’re interested in co-creating a program for your organization, community, or business, please reach out by email with an overview of your needs, ideas, and goals. Our team will follow up to explore fit and next steps.