CHERISH VIOLET BLOOD | ACTOR, STORYTELLER AND ACTIVIST
City: Blood Reserve, Southern Alberta
Instagram: @bloodcherish
Previous work: Scarborough, Material Witness, Making Treaty 7, Deer Woman
Cherish Violet Blood is a talented and accomplished actor, storyteller, and activist. She is a proud Blackfoot woman from the Kainai Nation, also known as the Blood Tribe Reserve #148, located in Treaty 7 territory in southern Alberta, Canada. Currently based in Toronto, Ontario, Cherish is a professionally trained and well-recognized performing artist with active followings in the national Indigenous and international theatre communities. She has performed all over North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Scotland, and has been involved in a variety of productions, such as Material Witness, Making Treaty 7, Deer Woman at the National Arts Centre in 2021, and most recently, Scarborough, for which she won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards in 2022.
Cherish is a natural comedian and has hosted various album release parties, community events, and fundraisers. Her talent and abilities as an artist extend beyond acting, as she is also a skilled storyteller and activist. Cherish’s birthdate is significant to her family, and her name was chosen before she was born. She comes from a large family and is a direct descendant of Natoyikiyoaakii, their hereditary Great Great Great Sacred Bear Woman, who survived Baker’s Massacre. Cherish’s work in the arts and activism is an important contribution to the Indigenous cultural resurgence in Canada and beyond.
Currently, Cherish can be seen in Gloria: A Life presented by Harold Green Jewish Theatre at the Meridian Arts Centre. With her extensive experience, talent, and recognition in the performing arts community, Cherish Violet Blood is a trailblazer for Indigenous artists in Canada and an inspiration to many.
More about Cherish Violet Blood
How were you first introduced to your creative discipline (i.e. music, dance, comedy, etc.)?
“My mother is an amazing actress and writer. I grew up watching her. My sister and I have always grown up with art in our lives because of my Mother. At the age of seven she started a children’s theatre group and I would perform in plays she wrote about our Blackfoot trickster Napi. At the age of 12, I started to do stand up comedy. Around my 20’s I had started to experience crippling stage fright so I quit performing to go to university. I was not happy so I decided to move by myself to Toronto to attend theatre school. I learned the tools to be able to do my craft safely and now I am a big beautiful Blackfoot Rezbian actress living my best life.”
How has your city, region or places you were raised impacted you artistically/creatively?
“I am from the Blood reserve located in southern Alberta. The land and the people from that land influence my work on the daily. I was raised with ceremony, family and community so all of those things definitely have influence over my artistic practice.”
What has been your biggest professional achievement(s) so far?
“In 2022, I won a Canadian screen award. performance by an Actress in a supporting role. for my portrayal of Marie in Scarborough.”
What’s something people should know about you?
“Cherish lives in a very expensive walk in closet in the beaches. She sometimes teaches youth theatre and other arts. Cherish is a die hard Raptors fan, and loves Basketball in general.”
