Talk Treaty to Me: An Alumni Reading
To wrap up our 2021 IndigArts Takeover Weekend, we’ve invited Theresa Cutknife, an Indigenous Arts Program alumni, back to the festival to share a reading of her new play, co-written with Samantha Fraughton, Talk Treaty to Me.
A Note from Theresa:
“Earlier in the year, we came together with the idea to write a play about Treaty 6 from our distinct perspectives as both women & “treaty people”. This is a collaborative theatre project that explores Treaty 6 relationships through the different perspectives of Canadian and Indigenous law. Our goals with this show are to inform, create dialogue, and foster deeply needed conversations about what it means to be part — or not — of the treaty within the settler state known as “Canada”, and to make legal terms accessible for an audience to engage with in a way that goes beyond the traditional western theatre narrative.”
Talk Treaty to Me: A Reading
- Playwrights: Theresa Cutknife & Samantha Fraughton
- Alexander Morris Puppet: Eric Smith
- Harvey Puppet: Jesse Wabegijig
- Max/Maxine : Tara Sky
- Kokum Lucinda White Crow & Old Woman: Rose C. Stella
- Adam: Dylan Rosychuk
Theresa Cutknife
Theresa Cutknife (she/her) is a mixed Nehiyaw (Plains Cree) and Puerto Rican Iskwew (Woman) from Maskwacîs, Alberta located on Treaty 6 Territory and is a member of the Samson Cree Nation. She has been living and learning in Toronto for the past four years and is a graduate of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre. Theresa is an emerging actor, playwright and director. This past February Theresa was one of five curators as part of a decentralized approach to curatorial decision making, led by Festival Director Clayton Lee, for the 2020 Rhubarb Festival at Buddies and Bad Times Theatre. Prior to COVID-19 Quarantine Theresa was working with Young People’s Theatre as an Apprentice Resident Artist Educator working with youth in an after school drama program.
Theresa Cutknife
Samantha Fraughton
Samantha Fraughton (she/her) is a recent law graduate and settler living in amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton) on Treaty 6 territory. Prior to studying law, Samantha graduated with a BA in drama. Some of her recent theatre credits include co-director of Bradshaw’s opera .Gabriel at the 2019 Edmonton Fringe by Eurotrumpet Productions, the role of Princess Fiona in Shrek: Law and Ogre in January 2020, and executive director of the 26th annual Law Show, Scooby Doo: Long Paw of the Law. In her spare time, Samantha works part time as a model in Edmonton and Calgary.