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Artists Opportunites Featured

Weesageechak Begins to Dance 38

Weesageechak Begins to Dance 38

Submissions Closed

Submissions have been extended! They were due Sunday, March 23, 2025!

Weesageechak Begins to Dance is a two-week festival showcasing new works and works-in-development by Indigenous artists across Turtle Island and beyond, hosted in the heart of Regent Park in t’karonto. Every November, Native Earth Performing Arts is proud to welcome new theatricaldancemusic, and multidisciplinary works reflecting Indigenous experiences, offering a peek into Indigenous storytelling today and to come, and reflecting the richness of Indigenous arts. These curated works receive artistic and dramaturgical support, rehearsal time and space with actors, and public sharing. 

More details here.
There was a W38 Info Session on Thursday, March 6 from 3:00 – 4:00 PM.
Recording available here. 
Transcript available here. 

If you have any questions or require an alternate submission method, please email our Festival Producer, Yago Mesquita, at yago[at]nativeearth.ca.

*Native Earth Performing Arts uses the term Indigenous to encompass the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit of Turtle Island (North America). We also include Indigenous peoples from other regions including South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Greenland.

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Artists Opportunites Featured

Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators 24/25

Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators - 24/25 Season

Applications Closed

Information:

We are happy to announce that we are once again accepting applications from Ontario-based emerging and established theatre and multidisciplinary Indigenous* creators, artists, and collectives to develop new work.

Submission Deadline: January 10, 2025

See more details here

RGTC is supported by the  Ontario Arts Council.

For questions, please contact Joelle Peters, Artistic Director by phone at 416-531-1402, or by email at [email protected].

*Native Earth Performing Arts uses the term Indigenous to encompass the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit of Turtle Island (North America). We also include Indigenous peoples from other regions including South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Greenland.

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Artists Opportunites Featured

Call for Applications: Climate Play​

Call for Applications: Climate Play

Applications Closed

Climate Play is a one-day workshop for writers, artists, and environmentalists who want to explore creating verbatim theatre pieces on the climate crisis.

Facilitated by Yvette Nolan and Joel Bernbaum, under the name of their new larger project: “the wâhkôhtowin project”.

The workshop is free, however participants will be selected on an application basis.

Interested applicants can send their name along with a short bio and why they’re interested to joelle[at]nativeearth.ca .

After the Aug 17th workshop, some participants will be chosen to move on to one-week of specialized training to help bring their theatre pieces to life!

Interested?

For further workshop information, visit: https://www.nativeearth.ca/climate-play/

Applications CLOSED: Wednesday, July 31, 2024

If you have any questions, please contact Artistic Director Joelle Peters at joelle[at]nativeearth.ca .

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Featured

Employment Opportunity: Marketing Coordinator

Job Opportunity: Marketing Coordinator

Native Earth is seeking a part-time Marketing Coordinator to plan and execute the company’s day-to-day marketing strategies and initiatives.

Application Closed

Native Earth Performing Arts is an equal opportunity employer with a mandate to support Indigenous performing arts. We strongly encourage submissions from culturally diverse applicants. We especially encourage submissions from those who identify as Indigenous.

 

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Artists Opportunites Featured

Call for Applications: Rising Tides

Call for Applications: Rising Tides

Applications Closed

Native Earth is proud to be a partnering organization of the Rising Tides initiative. Rising Tides is a paid, multi-faceted skill development and mentorship platform designed for IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour) performing arts administrators and managers.

Through one-on-one pairings, seven pairs of mentees and mentors will meet online regularly from September 2024 to May 2025, supported by four full-cohort virtual meetings, culminating in an in-person event at PACTcon in May 2025.

This is a paid mentorship opportunity in partnership with Native Earth Performing ArtsBelfry TheatreBoca del LupoNightwood TheatreObsidian Theatre, and Persephone Theatre, supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and Metcalf Foundation.

Interested?

For program information & information on how to submit, visit nativeearth.ca/rising-tides

Apply: click here for the application form

Applications Closed

Have a question or need help with the application? Please contact Program Manager Zachary Moull at [email protected].

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Featured

Three Sisters Indigenous Craft Market

Event: Three Sisters Indigenous Craft Market

Native Earth is excited to partner with Three Sisters to bring you an Indigenous Craft Market on the last day of Women of the Fur Trade! The Three Sisters have organized several Indigenous Craft Markets in Toronto. They believe in buying Indigenous made not Indigenous inspired, and aim to create safe and fun spaces for peoples to be able to!

Come by, bring cash, and support Indigenous vendors! Follow @threesistersmarkett.o for more updates!


Sunday, April 21, 2024
11am-5pm
Daniels Spectrum Lobby
585 Dundas Street E

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Artists Opportunites Featured

Call for Applications: New Pathways

Call for Applications: New Pathways

Call for Applications Closed

Deadline to Submit: April 22, 2024

Applications are open now for New Pathways! This project is designed to provide an alternate path of acceptance for Indigenous* candidates to the National Theatre School’s Production Design and Technical Arts Program!

If you an Indigenous creative interested in exploring a career in Production or Design for Theatre, check it out!

For more information on the Production Design and Technical Arts Program, click here.

Interested?

For criteria & information on how to submit, visit nativeearth.ca/newpathways

Deadline to submit: April 22, 2024

For additional questions, please contact Himanshu Sitlani, Managing Director, by email at Himanshu[at]nativeearth.ca.

*Native Earth Performing Arts uses the term Indigenous to encompass the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit of Turtle Island (North America). We also include Indigenous peoples from other regions including South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Greenland.

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Artists Opportunites Featured

Submissions for Weesageechak Begins to Dance 37

Call for Submissions: W37

Submissions Closed

Be part of Native Earth Performing Art’s Annual Development Festival of Indigenous Work, Weesageechak Begins To Dance. Going into its 37th year, this 2-week festival presents new works and works-in-development by Indigenous artists from across Turtle Island and beyond!

Dynamic and multidisciplinary art forms are highly encouraged, and we are continuing to welcome submissions for digital offerings. Eligible works include (but are not limited to) theatre, dance, opera, musical, standup comedy, burlesque, cabaret, music or spoken word sets, and radio plays. Please note that for a submission to be eligible, the primary artist (or artists) must identify as Indigenous.

Interested?

For more information on how to submit, visit nativeearth.ca/weesageechak

Submissions Closed

For additional questions, please contact Joelle Peters, Artistic Director by email at joelle[at]nativeearth.ca.

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Announcements Featured

Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators 23/24 Recipients

Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators - 23/24 Season Recipients

We are happy to announce the following recipients (L-R):

James Dallas Smith – Zhaabwii
Montana Summers – Conditions to Strike
Theresa Cutknife – Returned
Jessica Zepeda – mi historia que no es unica
Joeseph Recinos (batz) – Transmutation Project
Jennifer Murrin – To Go Home
Richard Comeau – Skeletons in the Closet
Zoe Marin – The Second Coming
Ethan Keyes – Gizaagin, the kit of god

More information on RGTC:

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators assists Ontario-based professional theatre creators, individuals and collectives, by funding them to develop new work.

Native Earth accepted submissions from emerging and established theatre and multidisciplinary creators who are residents of Ontario. This program provides funding for artists to create new work and does not fund creation of non-theatre work, workshop costs, or productions.

Native Earth prioritizes the funding of Indigenous artists. Black and Artists of Colour are also encouraged to apply.

Full details available HERE

Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators is supported by the Ontario Arts Council

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Announcements Featured

Welcome Yago!

Welcome Yago!

Native Earth is sad to announce the departure of Lucy Coren as our company Producer. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours and we miss her already.

With this departure announcement, we are delighted to welcome (back) Yago Mesquita as our Associate Producer! You may recall seeing Yago around in last year’s Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival, as our Assistant Festival Producer. In Yago’s words: “I’m happy to be returning, and looking forward to joining the NEPA team, or ‘the neeple’, as I call them. I’m a neep now, y’all! <3”

Yago’s Bio:
Yago Mesquita is a queer Brazilian-Canadian theatre artist from Tkaronto. He is a playwright and writer, producer, performer, and director who has worked with theatre companies such as Aluna Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Factory Theatre, fu-GEN Theatre, New Harlem Productions, Open Heart Surgery Theatre, Paprika Festival, and more.

 

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Announcements Featured

Big News Update!

Big News Update!

Update from the Native Earth Performing Arts Board:

Joelle Peters, our talented Anishinaabe playwright and actor, has officially transitioned from Interim to Permanent Artistic Director after successfully leading us with her award-winning vision since 2022! Hailing from Walpole Island First Nation, Joelle’s impressive portfolio includes theatre, film, and TV credits. We’re honoured to have Joelle lead Native Earth’s artistic direction. 

We’re thrilled to announce two incredible additions to our team: Carrol Edmund and Karima Jaffer.

Carrol Edmund is a Carrier woman, frog clan, and a member of Nee Tahi Buhn from the Wet’suwet’en Territory in British Columbia. She is the Diversity Sourcing Partner – Indigenous Peoples at TD Bank Group with the Global Diversity & Inclusion team. In Carrol’s role, she has the privilege of advocating and connecting external talent from the Indigenous community with career opportunities across TD’s footprint in Canada. 

Karima is a neurodivergent mixed-race and ethnic woman of colour who was born and raised on Treaty 13, dish and one spoon. She is passionate about social innovation and creating change in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Karima has experience working with BIPOC populations, including research and community development work with Indigenous children and youth in care.

Please join us in congratulating Joelle and welcoming Carrol and Karima to our board. 

-Native Earth Performing Arts Board of Directors   

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Featured

Join Our Board of Directors 23/24

Join Our Board Of Directors!

 Join Native Earth’s Board of Directors and make a difference in the Indigenous arts community! 

Are you passionate about supporting Indigenous* art and artists? Do you want to play a vital role in promoting the Indigenous experience on Turtle Island? Look no further! Native Earth Performing Arts is seeking enthusiastic individuals to join our Board of Directors.

 As Canada’s oldest professional Indigenous theatre company, we take great pride in producing award-winning productions that celebrate Indigenous voices. Now, we invite you to be a part of our journey!

 What we’re looking for:

  • Individuals with a passion for Indigenous performing arts
  • A commitment to fulfilling our mandate with Anishinaabe 7 -Grandfather Teachings
  • Diverse skills and expertise in areas like finance, marketing, arts administration, legal, and more.

More info: learn more here

To apply or learn more, email [email protected] with the subject line “Board Recruitment”. We invite individuals of all experience levels to apply- if you’re interested, we’d love to hear from you!

*Native Earth Performing Arts uses the term Indigenous to encompass the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit of Turtle Island (North America). We also include Indigenous peoples from other regions including South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Greenland.

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Artists Opportunites Featured

Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators 23/24

Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators - 23/24 Season

Applications Closed

Information:

We are happy to announce that we are once again accepting applications from Ontario-based emerging and established theatre and multidisciplinary Indigenous* creators, artists, and collectives to develop new work.

Submission Deadline: January 12, 2024 (now closed)

See more details here

RGTC is supported by the  Ontario Arts Council.

For questions, please contact Joelle Peters, Artistic Director by phone at 416-531-1402, or by email at [email protected].

*Native Earth Performing Arts uses the term Indigenous to encompass the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit of Turtle Island (North America). We also include Indigenous peoples from other regions including South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Greenland.

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2022/2023 Season Featured

#NIHM 2023

#NIHM 2023

Throughout the month of June, for National Indigenous History Month, Native Earth spotlighted Indigenous Artists from our 22.23 Season on Social Media. Join us in offering appreciation to these amazing artists!

We started off our spotlight series with artists from Weesageechak 35.  We want to recognize all of the artists involved in the Festival and their hard work For a complete list, take a look at the Festival page.

 

Alexa Black – creator Ne temikilis pal ne kuyut papalut
Brian Solomon – multidisciplinary artist
Samantha Sutherland – creator and performer kaqwiⱡȼi
Lindsay Lachance – former director of the Animikiig Creators Unit
Aria Evans – interdisciplinary artist, mentor W35
Jeremy Proulx – Playwright of Fallen Feather
Pesch Nepoose – Creator and Performer of The Bridge
Katey Wattam – Mentor W35
Lacey Hill – Indigenous Folk and Soul singer/songwriter
Jesse Wabegijig – actor, Fallen Feather

Spy Dénommé-Welch – Composer and Director of Transpositions
Tara Sky – Actor, And Then They Came
Cole Alvis – Creator and Performer of And Then They Came
Justin McLean – Bass Trombone & Tuba, Transpositions
Jennifer Alicia Murrin – Creator of To Go Home
Elder Whabagoon – Ojibwe Elder, sits with the Loon Clan
Montana Adams – Creator and Performer of As The Ice Floats By
Caleigh Crow – Creator and Performer of Superparamagnetism

Indigibabes Burlesque
Creator and Performer: Denise B. McLeod/ Madam Ode’miin Surprise
Performers:
Krysta Williams
Kahsenniyo Kick
Red Wolf
Neno Freebird
Salty Bay

We continued our spotlight series with artists from 40 Seeds For 40 Seasons!

In celebration of the 40 years of Native Earth’s history, the 40 Seeds for 40 Seasons program was created to give back to the community who made NEPA what it is today!

We are thrilled to have supported these talented, incredible creators in the development of their new projects. For a complete list of artists, take a look at the Creators page.

Amanda Trapp – Half Breed Vaudeville
Bruce Sinclair – Kuska Wahkamin
Celeste Sansregret – 23 Beds
Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone – Water Hunters
Colin Wolf – Coywolf Development
Dillan Chiblow – The 7 Fires: A New Musical
Hailey Verbonac – The Dragonfly Prophet
Deneh’Cho Thompson – Re-Uncovering (Working Title)
Jp Longboat – 40 Seeds For 40 Seasons

Rebecca Cuddy – Finding William (John)
Pj Prudat – The Crown Vs Oke-Mas-Kwe (Boss Woman)
Nyla Carpentier – Almost Powwow Time! (Working Title)
Rylee Nepinak – A Ride For Tataskwayak
Reneltta Arluk – Grandpa Stories
Shandra Spears Bombay – Ganawenjigaazo
Summer Bressette – The Rum Runner
Waawaate Fobister – Miskwiin
Zoey Roy zoeyroy.thepoet – O-Tip-Aim-So-Win

We concluded our spotlight series with artists from productions in our 22.23 Season!

We are so excited to have presented these amazing shows as part of our season! To see the full list of cast & creatives, please visit the show pages for Firewater Thunderbird Rising, Chapter 21, Aalaapi, and Niizh.

Christine Friday from Firewater Thunderbird Rising, which ran February 16 – 19, 2023 in the Aki Studio. Concept, Choreography & Performance by Christine Friday. Co-presented by Friday Creeations and Native Earth Performing Arts. 

Nancy Saunders & Olivia Ikey from Aalaapi, which ran June 8 – 10, 2023 at Ada Slaight Hall. Original Idea by Laurence Dauphinais and Marie-Laurence Rancourt, Production by Collectif Aalaapi. Presented by Native Earth, Le Théâtre Français de Toronto, in association with Luminato Festival.

Artists from Chapter 21, which ran March 23-26, 2023 in the Aki Studio. Produced by Raven Spirit Dance, Presented by Native Earth. This dance/theatre piece explored what happens when a vibrant, active artist comes face to face with a crippling collision of events.

Starr Muranko – Choreographer & Performer
Yvette Nolan – Director
Michelle Olson – Mentor

We finished our spotlight series with artists from the Dora-nominated production, Niizh!

Niizh, written by Joelle Peters, and produced by Native Earth Performing Arts, ran April 12 – 30, 2023 in the Aki Studio. This coming-of-age comedy, set on a reserve in Southwestern Ontario, followed the youngest of the ‘Little’ family, Lenna Little, as she prepares to leave home for the first time.

Jessica Campbell-Maracle – Stage Manager
Jason Macdonald – Actor
Theresa Cutknife – Actress
Richard Comeau – Fight Director
Nishina Loft – Costume Designer

Check out the hashtag #NIHM on Social Media to see what other organizations did to celebrate National Indigenous History Month!

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Artists Opportunites Featured

Weesageechak Begins to Dance 36 Open Call

Call for Performers: Weesageechak Begins to Dance 36

Applications Closed

Click here for the call for performers for Weesageechak 37!

Weesageechak Begins to Dance festival is a celebration of new works and works-in-development which fosters the development of Indigenous work and artists from across Canada and around the world.

Each November, Native Earth selects theatredanceopera and multidisciplinary works reflecting Indigenous performing arts to be presented, or to receive development support and a workshop production or reading during the two-week festival. We encourage national and international Indigenous performing artists of all disciplines and at any stage in their career to apply.

As we begin to plan the 36th annual Weesageechak Begins to Dance festival, we are looking to widen the submissions to include works that can be presented digitally, and are also interested in programming shorter multidisciplinary, experimental works and acts to further showcase the wide range of Indigenous Arts across Turtle Island and beyond.

Working on a new stand-up or spoken word set? Are you a singer, musician, or perhaps a clown? We’d love to hear from you!

Curated by a committee, select pieces receive dramaturgical support, rehearsal time and a public showing in November. In order for a submission to be eligible, the primary artist or artists must identify as Indigenous.*

*Native Earth Performing Arts uses the term Indigenous to encompass the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit of Turtle Island (North America). We also include Indigenous peoples from other regions including South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Greenland.

Past Festivals