About
Across Canada, an epidemic of drugs and addiction are disproportionately harming Indigenous people, nowhere more than in British Columbia where this crisis is fuelling a tragic increase in overdose deaths. THE CONVERSATION is an empowering docuseries where substance use survivors, their families and friends, engage in a raw and emotive ‘conversation’ about their life, addiction, and how they found a pathway to healing.
Aided by the participation of acclaimed First Nations actor and physician, Dr. Evan Adams, THE CONVERSATION discovers critical insight into this health and social crisis, providing hope and understanding for families of those affected. Every episode showcases the efforts of local agencies whose compassion and services support those struggling under the weight of addiction. As they courageously bare their hearts and souls, diverse Indigenous survivors share an empowering message about love, addiction, and life after drugs. These conversations are difficult and painful but for many families, they may be the difference between life and death.
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Our Host
DR. EVAN ADAMS
DEPUTY CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)
The Producers
RealWorld Media Inc is an international producer of documentary content based in Vancouver, Canada. Established by filmmakers Carmen Henríquez and Denis Paquette, RealWorld incubates a growing slate of character driven docuseries, feature films and branded content. Focused on the creation of Indigenous inspired content, RealWorld’s recent credits include the adventure docuseries Northern Air Rescue (season 2 in production), the clean energy series Power to the People, and the international environmental series Native Planet.
Visit RealWorld’s websiteThe Funding Partners
The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is working to transform and reform the way health care is delivered to First Nations people in British Columbia. It is a first-of-its kind organization and is a champion of First Nations health. The FNHA’s vision is “Healthy, Self-Determining and Vibrant BC First Nations Children, Families and Communities”.
Find out moreDr. Evan Adams
DEPUTY CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Dr. Evan Tlesla II Adams is a Coast Salish actor & physician from the Tla’amin First Nation near qathet/Powell River, BC, Canada. Evan stars as Thomas Builds-The-Fire in Miramax’s SMOKE SIGNALS and won a Gemini Award for co-hosting the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards. Recently, he starred in the acclaimed series BONES OF CROW and hosts the RealWorld docuseries, THE CONVERSATION.
Aside from his career in the arts, Evan completed a Medical Doctorate in 2002 and a residency in the Aboriginal Family Practice program at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, BC. Dr. Adams has a Masters of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He was the Deputy Provincial Health Officer for BC from 2012 to 2014. He served as the Chief Medical Officer of the First Nations Health Authority (2014-2020) and the Deputy CMO at Indigenous Services Canada (2020-2023). He is currently the Canadian Harkness Fellow for 2024/25 and will spend a year at the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Honolulu conducting research on Indigenous health leadership.