Two-spirit Black - Mi’kmaw Comedian Janelle Niles on Identity, Being Political and Funny

*Cover image by Double Curve Media

Janelle Niles is the creator and producer of Got Land?, a First Nations, Inuit and Métis comedy show based in Ottawa, Ontario that has gained praise and recognition since its inception in 2019, with fellow comedy community Yuk Yuk’s claiming: "We need more of this."

Sparking from an idea that came to life, and consequently snowballed to her humorous talents being featured on Amazon Prime, AAM.TV and CBC, she explains how her mixed cultural and Two-spirit background has shaped her journey whilst also addressing the challenges she's faced.

Speaking on comedy that not only entertains but also leaves audiences with a last laugh- that invites thoughtful reflection, we get into conversation with Niles.

As a Two-spirit Black - Mi’kmaw woman comedian from Sipekne'katik (seh-beh-gen-nehhgah-dii), First Nation, Nova Scotia how does your identity influence you?

I grew up on the Black side of my family for the first 18 years of my life, and I reconnected with my Mi’kmaw father’s side at aged 18- and never looked back. I like people to know that I was born political; my upbringing was full of politics and because of that I bring it to the stage. From the hardships my ancestors went through and to the struggles we still live in today, I feel that if I do not say anything about it, or take any steps towards change, I am prolonging our suffering.

As a Two-spirit person, I have an obligation to my community to bring something back in a good way. I do this through humour. Laughter is medicine, and I find that when we can laugh it takes away the power that our struggles have over us. Unfortunately, being an 2SLGBTQIA+ person from the east coast, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done for representation, and acceptance.

In Nova Scotia, it's like we're 50 years behind the times; our first ever Pride Walk on our First Nation (Sipekne'katik) was in June, 2024!

There's still a long way to go with representation. On that note, do you find your cultural identity, and upbringing slips into your humour naturally?

It slips in so naturally that I’ve been called schizophrenic because I jump from experience to experience; inadvertently giving my audiences whiplash!

My everyday life is chaotic, so instinctively I express that on stage. But, because it is my everyday, I need to explicitly help the audience understand what I am saying. It can come across a tad ignorant otherwise, because they don’t live in the same world I do. A place of constantly having to validate our existence (as Indigenous, Black and Two-spirit folks).

Championing Indigenous talent, can you share more on the origins of comedy show, Got Land?, and how you Got There?!

I started doing stand-up comedy in January 2019, and by April I had my own open mic at Eddy’s diner (Ottawa), a spot that my twin sister managed. It was by summertime I noticed a discrepancy in the Ottawa comedy community. There was only one Indigenous comedian booked on a show at a time, and that was seldom. Yet there were plenty of us around.

I felt that comedians within the many (First) Nations that are located in Ottawa were not being represented, and we had a unique style of comedy that people would want to hear. So, I asked all the Indigenous comedians living in Ottawa if they'd like to join a comedy show. Our group chat was where the name Got Land? came from!

I'd originally prompted everyone to give me an idea for the name of the show, and they had some long convoluted names. I got thinking and offered them the possibility of something short and sweet like Got Land?, and they told me that’s it, we had our answer. I was just making a joke about my milk addiction (Got Milk?), but the name stuck. The first show officially took place at Eddy’s at my open mic on September 10, 2019.

The plan was to have all the the Indigenous comedians (from Ottawa) in the lineup, and bring out the community. And that we did. APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) staffers were there, people were standing wall-to-wall, and mostly Indigenous folks- the room was packed. As the infamous quote goes “Every Indian in the world was there”. I was exhausted afterwords, there was lots of work and fun that went into this.

A patron came up to me that night and asked me when the next Got Land? was, and I hadn’t thought of it. I was so used to organizing one- off themed shows that it never occurred to me to have another. I told them I’d get back to them.

And two years later in 2021, Got Land? became its own entertainment business with me at the helm. Today, we have 35 comedians across Turtle Island who express solidarity through humour and make people laugh all ugly.

What a journey, Janelle! And you recently performed a live stream with Rez Comedy for Amazon Prime and AAM. TV, along with other Indigenous comedians. We’d love to hear all about the milestone- and how the roast went down!

There's lots to unpack here with Rez Comedy. In 2023, there was a post on social media looking for comedians to submit for a TV series about Indigenous comedians, and I was tagged in the comments. I reached out but they told me they already had me in mind! I was flattered to say the least. They told us to prepare 30 minutes of our best material, and we’d shoot in Vancouver once all the checks and balances went through.

Unfortunately we soon ended up receiving some troubling news, our sponsor had backed out after our initial green light. Out of respect for the sponsor and production team I will not go into the specifics as to why. And in representing the east coast of Mi’kma’ki, I feel the obligation to make our community proud in remaining diplomatic -got to stay humble.

With this curveball did come disappointment, but all was not lost. The director and producer, Quentin Lee decided to take money out of his own pocket to make the dream come to life. Quentin Lee alongside Keith Nahanee had a vision and no matter the bumps in the road, they’d work together to make Rez Comedy happen, regardless.

The effects of losing the sponsorship meant that some comedians left; we went from 13 down to 9. Our pay was drastically cut, and our time slots went from 30 mins to 10 mins; but we knew we’d pull through, and still gave it our all.

Rounding up to June of 2024, and it was finally our shooting date. A comedy documentary and special mixed into one. We were all so excited, and it was equal parts nerve-wracking. The second I got on stage I felt it was meant to be. The audience was on red hot fire, and they loved every second of our performances. I'm so glad to have performed alongside my close friends as well, comedians Denise B McLeod and Kevin Shawanda. Those two always have me in stitches every time they get on stage, and are also part of my comedy show Got Land? (we just recently added Drea Omer to the roster as well).

Honestly, to be part of the project is a dream come true. Rez Comedy is now available on Amazon Prime and AAM.TV and I couldn’t be happier. Two years in the making; and we finally see our hard work pan out.

Congratulations on the special! And in that sentiment, do you have any words of wisdom for Indigenous aspiring comedians?

Yes: even if no one thinks you’re funny, you do you. That’s all you really need to get into the industry. No one thought I was funny when I first started out, they thought I was cringy, and too dark. But I knew I had the ability to make people laugh; I just needed someone to give me a chance- and believe or not, that person was me! I took so many risks on myself, trusted the process and became who I am today.

What's good to know is that stand-up comedy is a very independent art form, you will make friends and lose some along the way. But in the end, as long as your intention is to make others laugh, you’ll get there. No one is perfect out of the gate; talent comes with time and practise.

Sage advice (pun intended). And last, but not least what's coming up for you that we should book in our calendars, Janelle?

Currently, I am booked for a few emcee gigs across Turtle Island, and for stand-up comedy I am performing at the Halifax Comedy Festival May 7-10 in Nova Scotia. These shows will all be televised as well. This festival is another milestone in my career, and I am so thankful and grateful for the opportunity. And next week, I’ll be performing for CBC Radio’s Ali Hassans Laugh Out Loud in Shenkman Arts Centre (Ottawa).

My online presence is everywhere too, on most social platforms. Feel free to follow me to stay up-to-date with my journey. I can’t wait to see how far I’ll go in the next 5 years!

Follow Niles' comedy across Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and LinkedIn. Check out her tour dates here, and the Rez Comedy special here. And if you're in Ottawa on February 28, 2025, get tickets for the CBC Radio’s Ali Hassans Laugh Out Loud!