Theresa Cutknife
Theresa Cutknife (19/20 Indigenous Arts Program, Year 2) is a mixed queer 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 storyteller, actor, writer, curator, and director. She 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 in Bad Times Theatre. Prior to COVID-19 Quarantine Theresa was working with Young People’s Theatre as an Apprentice Resident Artist Educator.
Artist’s Statement
This is my third year with the Paprika Festival and my second year as an Indigenous Arts Program participant. Through this journey of being in the Paprika festival for the past few years I have gained the confidence and knowledge to discover, create, and nurture my creative process as an artist. I am always and forever eternally grateful for all of the opportunities that the Paprika Festival has given me. Introducing me to other artists and mentors such as Yolanda Bonnell. Yolanda has been my mentor this past year as I write my first play as a solo artist. With her guidance I have taken the first steps in developing my play about an Indigenous biker gang with supernatural powers.