The Indigenous Arts Program is for emerging Indigenous performing artists of any experience, discipline, and skill level looking for personalized and flexible training. Three participants are offered space to be unapologetically Indigenous and develop skills to re-Indigenize and grow their artistic practice. Participants are invited to apply to the Indigenous Arts Program in addition to any other Paprika program stream that suits their interests and artistic practice.
In the first year, participants are provided the tools and guidance to create a fully original piece of performed art (could be theatre, dance, music, poetry, performance art…anything!). Mentors and guest artists help connect participants with the community and the Indigenous arts scene in Tkaronto and beyond (including Paprika partner company, Native Earth Performing Arts).
Participants have the opportunity to return for a second year in this program to further develop their training and their original work and deepen their relationships with new collaborators and mentors in the community.
This program is presented with support from Native Earth Performing Arts and TO Live.
Cheyenne Scott
Cheyenne Scott (she/her) is Straits Salish of the Saanich Nation/Norwegian settler descent and an actor, playwright, and emerging creative producer with a focus on new works. Having learned theatre through a colonial lens, she is working to Indigenize her process through personal expression, land-based methodology, and storytelling. She is a Dora Mavor Moore nominated artist for co-creating Now You See Her (Quote Unquote Collective/Nightwood/Why Not Theatre). She was a Creative Producer in training with the Theatre Centre working with the Residency Artists in the exploration and development of their projects. Additionally, she was mentored in artistic direction and producing as Artist-in-Residence with Urban Ink alongside the development of her new play Wolf Cull. Cheyenne was named as the protégé of Lori Marchand for the Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award. Select Acting Credits include: Children of God (Urban Ink/NAC, Citadel/WCT, Segal Centre) The Drowning Girls (WCT), Squawk (Geordie Productions), Sidewalk Chalk (Geordie Productions), Savage (Native Earth). Additionally, she has been teaching drama with inPath for several years working with Indigenous youth across Turtle Island.
