Indigenous Arts Program

This program is supported by Native Earth Performing Arts.

About

The 24/25 Indigenous Arts Program is for emerging Indigenous performing artists of any experience, discipline, and skill level looking for personalized and flexible training. Two artists are offered space to gather with other Indigenous creatives to develop skills to grow their artistic practice.

Artists are provided the tools and guidance to create a draft of an original piece of performed art (could be theatre, dance, music, poetry, performance art…anything!) with public sharing (up to 45 minutes in length) as part of the festival. 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).

Facilitator

Brefny Caribou

Indigenous Arts Program Facilitator 2024/2025

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).

Commitment

Approximate time commitment: 12-15 hours per month in group sessions and training days, plus additional time spent rehearsing and creating your production for the festival showcase.

Support You Receive

Location

Toronto & Online

COVID-19 Considerations

The health and safety of artists, facilitators, and staff is our greatest priority. We encourage all Paprika artists, staff, facilitators and guest artists to maintain regular vaccinations, including additional doses/boosters. Masking will be required for all full-company meetings, and during group sessions, masking will be discussed and decided upon by each program. No one will be discouraged from wearing masks. Paprika will continue to provide KN95 or N95 face masks (or equivalent) upon request. Masking will be required throughout Paprika’s tech week in May 2025.

Accessibility

Paprika seeks to lower barriers for all its programs. This year, we are offering transportation support when requested, food and snacks at program events, as well as a $1,500 participant honorarium. The Indigenous Arts Program has an additional budget for accessibility, including funds to reimburse artists who are commuting to Toronto from outside of the GTA.

Company-wide Training Days take place in venues accessible to folks using mobility devices. The Paprika Festival tech and performances will take place at Native Earth Performing Arts’ Aki Studio, which is fully accessible for artists and audiences.

Paprika advocates for gender inclusive washrooms, and will negotiate for gender inclusive washroom signage whenever possible. We use and respect people’s pronouns. Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, LGBTQ2SIA+, Women, Trans, Non-Binary, Newcomer, Immigrant, Fat, Mad, and Neurodiverse people are welcome.

Internet access and a smartphone, tablet, and/or computer are required for participation in Paprika’s programs. Our programs are not accessible to Deaf or Blind artists at this time. Group meetings can be recorded and shared internally to accommodate schedule conflicts and emergencies with prior notice to program facilitators and Paprika staff.

For questions and comments about Paprika’s accessibility plan, please reach out to Amanda at amanda@paprikafestival.com.

Application support

We’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions about Paprika programs and answered them here!

We’re happy to arrange an application process that’s best for you. If you have any questions, require additional support or an extension, please email Aaheli (aaheli@paprikafestival.com). We will try our best to respond to emails within 48 hours.

Eligibility

The Indigenous Arts Program applications are open to emerging Indigenous artists who are 18+. There is no age limit to apply!

*APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

Click here to view the application questions in a separate document. Note that this is not the application form, but a way to preview the questions!