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
Brefny Caribou
Brefny Caribou is a performer, writer, and educator of Cree/Irish-settler descent based in Tkaronto. Holding an MFA in Acting from York University she loves telling Indigenous stories and making people giggle. She has worked across Turtle Island on productions of The Tempest (Theatre Rusticle), Otîhêw (Shakespeare in Action), and completed 3 seasons at the Stratford Festival in Little Women (Beth March), and The Rez Sisters (Zhaboonigan Peterson). Most recently she played Susan Blackbird in the Canadian Stage/Belfry production of 1939. Brefny has worked as an Acting Tutorial teacher at Sheridan College since 2019 and is entering her 3rd year facilitating the Indigenous Arts Program at the Paprika Festival. Her writing has been featured in many festivals including Groundswell (Nightwood Theatre), Brave New Works (Theatre Aquarius) and the Weesageechak Begins to Dance festival (NEPA).
Working with the IAP as facilitator this year has presented me with an opportunity to expand my
knowledge base and consider how the tools of my practice can translate to other modes of creation. Music, movement, writing. In my mind, I was working with storytellers across the board. Though completely unique in their voices and styles, what connected the group was a desire for a deeper understanding of self and identity, and how, directly or more abstractly, our cultures, our experiences as Indigenous peoples, bring us closer to the truths we hope to share with audiences. As I continue to gather tools and grow as an artist, I am inspired by our time together. It has been an absolute pleasure to get to know these artists over the past year. What I admire most about these artists and their work is that their ideas are big, their questions are big, and I look forward to watching their continued
development.
— Brefny Caribou, Indigenous Arts Program Facilitator (2023/24)
