He’s always worked with the ebb and flow of the ocean and then he learned to ride the wave of the film industry. Pieter Romer is of Nisga’a and Frisian ancestry, a member of the Wolf clan and his traditional name means ‘wooden bowl’. On his father’s side, his family were traditionally seafarers. Romer grew up on a commercial fishing boat and his family fished on the west coast of Vancouver Island. They fished for salmon and cod until he graduated and his dad retired, remaining on the boat. He made his way ashore and moved to East Vancouver to see what else life had to offer.

These days, Romer works as the Indigenous community liaison for Ocean Networks Canada, building relationships between the organization and Indigenous communities. Many communities he already has connection to through his documentary work, something that evolved through a retraining initiative offered to him as a fisherman. He did a one-year program through Capilano University and turned it into a twenty-year career, even teaching Indigenous film.  

He got his start in television when his upstairs neighbour who worked for Vancouver Television told him the intern on the Indigenous tv show First Story wasn’t showing up. Romer landed the job as an intern, had the chance to share important stories about arts, lacrosse, and language revitalization. At one point, he wasn’t sure if he had work in the summer so he took a job on a cruise ship and had to quit when the host offered him more work. He was hired as a full-time producer and ten years later became the senior producer. The show went on to win multiple awards but was eliminated by Bell Media due to restructuring.

While First Story came to a close, Romer continues to be active in television, creating programming with APTN, producing two CBC documentaries, one about uranium mining in Saskatchewan and another about education during the pandemic. He’s got proposals in progress for new projects while he continues with his day job.

Once shy, Romer found his ability to connect with communities through his fishing experience. With the shared connection point and trust, there was an ability to speak openly and Romer was able to improve. His time exploring Europe also built his confidence. “I always encourage anybody, if they can get a chance to travel, you get out of your bubble and realize how many other places are so different, you know? They're all the same too,” he shares.

With his father’s natural storytelling ability, relaying what he knew about different points on a map, and after growing up listening to his elders and his grandmother, Romer’s family contributed to his professional success. Listening to fellow fishermen’s stories was also part of his life. Being part of the drama program in high school helped, too.

His advice for someone thinking about going into film or travelling is, “When you get these opportunities, you’ve got to take them. I was taught young to not say no, even though I knew it could be a challenge. When it's a challenge, it actually means it's good, and if you're terrified of it, it means you care. Those challenges will be some of the biggest moves you'll make in your life and sometimes they might not have been the right place, but it got you somewhere and got you thinking about getting to the next opportunity.” While he didn’t enjoy working on the cruise ship, he loved getting to see the Caribbean. At the same time, he was glad to be called back into film.

Working on documentaries on tight timelines while interning was a challenge and he wasn’t always sure if he would succeed but it worked out.

His advice to young people who don’t have the responsibilities of families or mortgages would be, “Go explore. Get out now, while you can, ask as many questions as you can, don't be afraid to share your fears and the challenges that you face, because you'll find that people are always willing to help and help steer you in a positive direction. Always stay positive and upbeat, and always have a good attitude.” He attributes his attitude for all the referrals he’s received and he pays those forward in referring others and bringing them into the business, too.

To maintain his mental health, Romer likes to hike, get out on the land and on the ocean. He enjoys meditating, and releasing things that don’t serve him. Biking and swimming are also enjoyable for him. Even when he starts feeling stuck, he tries to maintain perspective. “Things get stagnant, but that's okay, right? That's part of life, and just don't beat yourself up about any of that stuff. Life's too short. Life's too precious,” he advises.

Working with the ebb and flow of the ocean, connecting with communities alongside it and riding the wave of the film industry, Pieter Romer has found his footing on land and sea. Sharing stories as a fisherman, storyteller and community liaison, he has brought people together through narratives his whole life. With a positive attitude, willingness to take on a challenge and the way he keeps showing up, he’s built a reputation and a path forward even when doors close behind.

Thank you to Alison Tedford Seaweed for authoring this article!