The encouraging words of a Metis filmmaker helped kicked off Aboriginal Achievement Week at the University of Saskatchewan.

Marcel Petit spoke to a classroom full of students Monday afternoon about his journey to becoming a filmmaker.

Petit has worked on several short dramatic pieces and feature documentaries. His work includes Hookers. A DocumentaryThe PISIM Project and The Jim Brady Story.

During his talk, Petit shared stories from his life and talked about how he became a filmmaker.

He says he just wanted to tell everybody a story about who he was.

“I hope they got something out of, but I am not sure what,” says Petit. “As I tell people in film, I can’t tell people how to feel, I just give what I give and hopefully it does something for you.”

Petit’s talk is one of many events happening this week at the university during Aboriginal Achievement Week.

Other events include First Nations networking, an Aboriginal arts festival as well as other presentations on Aboriginal success stories.