BIPOC Stories of Autism

This curated gallery features some of the stories of story makers on the Re•Storying Autism Project who are Indigenous, Black and other People of Colour. Through ableist, racist and settler colonialist logics, these groups have been historically excluded from Autism diagnosis/identity, supports and services. Re•Storying is working alongside Red River Metis, Cree, and other Indigenous collaborators from the land currently known as Manitoba as well as Māori collaborators in Aotearoa New Zealand to decolonize Autism and amplify Indigenous understandings of Autism and approaches to help and services.

unrestricted (2022, Dir. Claire Johnston, Manitoba, 1:21 minutes)

Claire Johnston is a Red River Métis Autistic 2 Spirit artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

HABITAT (2016, Dir. Gabriela Pineda-Aguierre, Toronto, Ontario, 2:31 minutes)

Gabriela Pineda-Aguirre is an Autistic activist of colour in Toronto, Ontario working for access and justice.

DEFIANCE (2016, Dir. Bridget Liang, Toronto, Ontario, 6:20 minutes)

Bridget Liang is a mixed race, queer, transfeminine, Autistic, disabled, fat fangirl. They're a PhD candidate in the Gender, Feminist, and Women's Studies Program at York University, a community researcher, workshop and group facilitator, performance artist, and fiction writer. Much of their work revolves around intersectionality and arts-based research.

CONNECTION (2020, Dir. Crystal Umpherville, Brandon, Manitoba, 4:30 minutes)

Crystal Umpherville is a resource teacher from Manitoba who brings an Indigenous perspective on disability and Autism that values all of our uniqueness.

WALKING SYNC (2016, Dir. Joan Yang, Toronto, Ontario, 4:38 minutes)

WALTER’S STORY (2022, Dir. Walter Wiebe, Manitoba, Canada, 3:47 minutes)

Walter Wiebe is an autistic Métis artist living in Manitoba, Canada. A gentle content warning - this video depicts bullying at school.

COLOUR OUTSIDE THE LINES (2022, Dir. Jan Hastie, Rotorua, Aotearoa, 5:28)

Jan and Bricharne Hastie. Jan is a Māori social work PhD and Bricharne (daughter) is a non-speaking Autistic artist who tells her stories through art.