Board of Directors Recruitment

Shape the Future of Indigenous Arts – Join Native Earth’s Board of Directors!

We are seeking passionate individuals to join our Board of Directors and contribute to the growth of Indigenous[1] arts in Canada.

Who are we?

Native Earth Performing Arts Inc. is a dynamic, not-for-profit organization based in Tkaronto, with our office and stunning Aki Studio Theatre in the vibrant Regent Park community. With a legacy of 40 years, we take pride in producing award-winning productions that elevate Indigenous voices.

Why join us?

By becoming a board member, you’ll play a vital role in:

  • Supporting Indigenous artists at all career stages.
  • Nurturing new work and collaborations within the arts community.
  • Embracing Anishinaabe 7 Grandfather Teachings as guiding principles.

What we’re looking for:

We welcome applications from individuals all across Canada, Indigenous and allies alike, who possess skills in areas such as finance, marketing, legal, arts administration, and more. We strive for at least 50% Indigenous representation on our board.

How to apply:

Email joelle[at]nativeearth.ca with the subject line “Board Recruitment” and let’s start the conversation!

Join us in shaping the future of Indigenous arts and promoting creative expression on Turtle Island!


Our History

Founded in 1982, Native Earth is Canada’s oldest professional Indigenous theatre company. In the early years, the company operated on a project basis, performing at The Theatre Centre and the Native Canadian Centre, as well as touring to reserves. The 1986 premiere of Tomson Highway’s The Rez Sisters went on to become the first North American, Indigenous written and performed production at the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival in 1989. Native Earth continued its growth and success into the mid-nineties with the award winning productions of Coyote City, Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing, Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth, Sixty Below and Huff.

More recently Native Earth has toured productions both nationally and internationally, including the prestigious Sydney Theatre Festival. We have created alliances with Indigenous communities in Australia, New Zealand and across the Americas. The emergence of many Indigenous playwrights in Canada and the development of many new plays and dance pieces continue to be facilitated through the annual festival Weesageechak Begins to Dance, and the Animikiig Creators Unit. In addition, the Mskomini Giizis is a unique late-stage development residency for Indigenous productions.

Native Earth has received nine Dora Mavor Moore Awards and twenty-eight nominations, two Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Awards and the 1997 James Buller Award for Aboriginal Theatre Excellence.

For the first time in our history, Native Earth is managing and operating our own vibrant venue: Aki Studio.  The 120 black box theatre is situated in Daniels Spectrum, the revitalized arts and cultural centre in Regent Park.  Aki Studio has been host to many Indigenous, multicultural, and independent theatre companies including fu-Gen, Cahoots, Obsidian, Acting Up Stage, Paper Canoe Projects and Agokwe Collective.  We look forward to the Aki Studio becoming a national and international Indigenous performance venue.


[1] We use the term Indigenous to encompass the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit of Turtle Island (North America), and also include Indigenous peoples from other regions including Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, and Greenland.