Niki Thorne

Writer

Niki Thorne is the lead writer for Season 2 of Wild Archaeology and a PhD candidate in anthropology at York University.

Originally from the east coast, Niki lived on a Mi’kmaq reserve in Nova Scotia as a child. She was completely oblivious to the colonial threads that shaped her childhood. Niki attended school in Shubenacadie, but didn’t learn about the Shubenacadie residential school until perhaps a decade later in a second-year anthropology class, with the accompanying realization that some of the people she loved and considered family must have gone there. A few years after that,her grandfather disclosed his Mi’kmaq heritage after decades of silence. (Click below to read more)

Niki’s doctoral research explores the process by which colonial violence is silenced or downplayed in dominant representations of the Canadian past, as well as implications for the present and connections to racism, power, and identity. Her research on colonial silences and commitment to decolonization is deeply personal, shaped by her childhood experiences and family history.

Mikelle Virey

Co-Director

MIKELLE VIREY is an actor and director with an Honours degree in Theatre and Classics from the University of Toronto. He spent several years acting in plays, films and commercials before deciding he wanted to play a larger role in the stories he was helping to tell. After graduating Sheridan College’s Advanced Television and Film Program, Mikelle went on to direct several award-winning series including Kid’s Town, 2nd Generation, and the comedy pilot Coming Distractions,awarded best Comedy/Dramedy Short and best Ensemble Cast at the Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival. In addition to these achievements as well as his contributions as co-director on APTN’s Wild Archaeology, Mikelle has a number of projects in development, and he is currently focused on directing his own original screenplay.

With over 15 years’ experience in post production, Mike Patterson is a Canadian editor who has worked on a number of series across a variety of genres. Mike began his career in advertising before making the switch to documentary and non-fiction television, where he is able to play a larger role shaping narrative and bringing stories to life. Passionate about storytelling, Mike is drawn to working with remarkable people to tell insightful stories with creativity, suspense, and stunning visual style.