Gavin John | Indigenous Journalist & Photojournalist

Gavin John is an Indigenous journalist and photojournalist based in Calgary whose work focuses on conflict, security, and the human impact of war. A graduate of SAIT’s Journalism program and currently completing his Master’s in Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary, Gavin has reported from Iraq during the war against ISIS, North Korea, the 2020 BLM protests in Seattle, and most recently, the Canadian Arctic, where he has embedded multiple times with the Canadian Rangers and Armed Forces. His work has been featured in outlets including The Globe and Mail, The New York Times, and The Narwhal.

He is also a mentor with Room Up Front, a national mentorship program that supports BIPOC photojournalists through training and editorial access, working to reshape who gets to tell stories and how. In Gavin’s words:

“The intersection of the academic understanding, on-the-ground journalism, and public communication of conflict and security has been a passion for me for well over a decade.”

We’re honoured to have Gavin join us at CJFF. His insight and experience bring powerful context to Family Album, a film that explores photography, war, and the duty of bearing witness across generations.