From Halifax and Toronto to Blood Reserve in Southern Alberta, here are five women making a name for themselves in Indigenous theatre.
The National Arts Centre and SHIFTER continue to spotlight Canadian women of colour in live performance with the April edition of Innovators & Icons. As a part of this groundbreaking article series, every month the NAC and SHIFTER will be honouring Canadian women of colour who align with the NAC’s various disciplines―Popular Music & Variety, Dance, Indigenous Theatre, English Theatre, French Theatre, and NACO (the NAC Orchestra). These women are not only stellar live performers, representing the geographical and ethnic diversity of Canada, but they are pushing the envelope and breaking barriers in their craft, on the way to becoming Canada’s future stars.
Next in the series, we are honouring Canadian women who are making a name for themselves in Indigenous theatre. They represent a number of peoples and First Nations, from Métis to Anishinaabe, Kanien’kehá:ka, Kainai Nation, and Couchiching First Nation.
So without further adieu, here are a list of outstanding women doing their thing in Indigenous theatre.
SANDRA LARONDE | PHYSICAL THEATRE AND DANCE
Home: Teme-Augama Anishinaabe (People of the Deep Water) in Temagami, Northern Ontario
Instagram: @redskyperformance
Previous work: Miigis: Underwater Panther, Trace, Backbone
Sandra Laronde, also known as Misko Kizhigoo Migizii Kwe, which means “Red Sky Eagle Woman” in the Anishinaabemowin (Ojibway) language, is an accomplished arts innovator, multidisciplinary artist, and leader who hails from the Teme-Augama Anishinaabe (People of the Deep Water) in Temagami, Northern Ontario. She plays a pivotal role in the ongoing Indigenous cultural resurgence of Canada and the world, having created an extraordinary body of work with celebrated collaborators that has led to powerful, transformational arts experiences.
As the founder and Executive and Artistic Director of Red Sky Performance, a leading company of contemporary Indigenous performance worldwide, Sandra has conceived, developed, produced, and disseminated many award-winning productions. Red Sky Performance’s vision and mission derive from Sandra’s vision and leadership, which explore the relationship between movement, live music, theatricality, media, and image. Her concept of performance is unique and has been praised for its ability to inspire audiences and challenge their perceptions of the world.
Sandra’s contributions to the arts have not gone unnoticed. She has been recognized as a highly accomplished arts leader, creator, and innovator. Her work has received critical acclaim and numerous awards over the years, including the 2021 Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize, 2021 Order of Ontario, and the 2020 Celebration of Cultural Life Award from the Toronto Arts Foundation.
Her impact on the arts industry has been significant, both in Canada and around the world. Her innovative approach to performance and leadership has inspired countless artists and audiences, and her work continues to be celebrated and recognized for its excellence and transformative power.
More about Sandra Laronde
How were you first introduced to your creative discipline (i.e. music, dance, comedy, etc.)?
“I was introduced to physical theatre and dance through sports. My family were all musicians so it was not unusual to hear three or four guitars being tuned simultaneously in my household in Temagami. My mother loved to dance and my father played multiple instruments.”
How has your city, region or places you were raised impacted you artistically/creatively?
“Hugely. I’m from a place that is extraordinarily beautiful with 1600 islands and 3,200 km of shoreline so I grew up in a huge place where there were more islands than people. My vision is definitely inspired from the land that I’m from. The deep water, the beautiful trees and land and the huge night and day sky. When I came to Toronto, the city and people have been very good to me, creatively. When I was the director of Indigenous Arts at the Banff Centre it also impacted me too. But, mostly where I’m from has had the deepest creative impact on me.”
What has been your biggest professional achievement(s) so far?
“My biggest professional achievement is yet to come. But, I have had many wonderful achievements from creating an original show and seeing it do extremely well such as my latest creation, Miigis: Underwater Panther. The show sold out Toronto, Montreal and Washington, DC, for instance. I took a lot of creative risk and as nerve-wracking as it was, it was embraced by audiences and media. Most recently, I’ve written my first novel, She Holds Up the Stars, which was a huge undertaking. Whew. I am now in discussion about where it’s going from here and that is very exciting. I’ve also worked with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra on some mega projects with about 85 people on stage. I’ve worked with six different orchestras in Canada and Mexico. Our children’s show has toured for 8 years and has been seen by over 1 million children in live performances across Turtle Island. My work has been performed on world stages at both the Beijing and Vancouver Cultural Olympiads.”
What’s something people should know about you?
“That I’m actually a very shy person. That I’m rather sporty 🙂 and like most of us from small communities. I can certainly see the athleticism in my work to this day. It’s one of my own personal ‘through lines’.”
