Curtis Peeteetuce - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Curtis is Cree from the Beardy's & Okemasis First Nation. He is an actor, writer, director and musician. Since 2001, he has had the honour of working with many talented artists in theatre, radio drama, music and film. Selected highlights include Persephone Theatre (2011 Youth Tour of Secret Life of the Octopus & Wrecked, Berlin Blues, Bannock Republic), SNTC (Rez Christmas Story Series, RRAP, Thunderstick) CBC (Out in the Cold, Red Moon) and Rabbit Fall Season 2. This Christmas SNTC will present his latest work, Kohkoms In Toyland. Curtis dedicates all his efforts and accomplishments to his beautiful son Mahihkan. Special thanks to family and friends for years of support! Nanaskimon.
Alan is an experienced Saskatchewan Artist who brings a wealth of experience and strong leadership to SNTC. Some of his favourite acting roles in recent years include: drums/Jerry Allison in Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story and drums/various characters in Fire, both at Persephone theatre. Alan has produced and toured his own work across Canada on the Fringe Festival circuit and has worked on many Saskatchewan productions as a stage manager and technical director. He was an important employee in the mentorship of youth at SNTC where he has taught acting and stage management workshops, directed plays and worked as production manager. He is excited to work with Curtis to usher in a new era for the company, built upon sharing their past successes at SNTC with the youth of the community.
Ruth Savage CMA - DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Ruth is a highly skilled Accountant with a reputation for helping her clients achieve their full potential. She has been managing accounting departments in Saskatoon for over 20 years, and completed her CMA in 2001, graduating at the top of her class. She is a respected member of the Saskatoon arts community where she was Treasurer of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra Board for four years, finance committee member of Persephone Theatre`s Board since 2007, and finance committee chair since 2010. Her dedication to putting the financial house in order at SNTC has been absolutely essential to the recovery of this important cultural arts organization.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Irene Oakes - CO-CHAIR
Irene is a member of the Nekaneet Cree Nation located near the town of Maple Creek, and has lived in Saskatoon for the last 12 years with her two daughters. She also has two married children who have blessed with her with grandchildren! Irene received her Masters in Educational Administration from the University of Saskatchewan, and presently is employed there as the coordinator of Field Experiences and as a sessional instructor with the College of Education. Her artistic passion lies in the dances of the powwow circle and she has danced and performed throughout North America and abroad. She has been directly involved with many Indigenous dance productions in the United States and Canada. Grounded in First Nations traditions, Irene is looking forward to bringing this experience and her arts and dance know-how to the youth who have the opportunity to share their talents with the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company.
Jeff Dumba - CO-CHAIR/TREASURER
Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Jeff completed his Masters in Economics at the University of Saskatchewan in 1995 and has been working in the banking industry for the past 16 years. He and his family recently returned to Saskatchewan after spending 13 years in Toronto and Montreal. Jeff is a proud father of three very active children and him and Chantal, his spouse of 20 years, are happy to be back home in Saskatchewan. His volunteer work focuses on coaching basketball and hockey as well as being a member of the Saskatoon Field Lacrosse executive committee. Jeff brings a wealth of financial and management experience to the board and this combined with his love of theatre are a welcome addition to SNTC.
Jennifer Bishop - SECRETARY
Jennifer has been involved with Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company since she was 13 years old, and was a participant in the first Circle of Voices program in 1999. During her years at SNTC Jennifer volunteered, worked as a facilitator with performers’ playhouse, was an Assistant Stage Manager and workshop facilitator. She was also a featured performer in several SNTC productions including as one of the kokums in the many installments of the Rez Christmas Story series. She is very excited to now be part of the Board of Directors for SNTC, and to share her past experiences to help revitalize the Company. Jennifer wants more youth to experience the life changing effect this company had on her.
Tantoo Cardinal - DIRECTOR
Tantoo is an accomplished and celebrated actress who has advanced Aboriginal performing arts throughout the world. Her 80 plus credits include North of Sixty, Shattered, Legends of the Fall, Dances with Wolves, Black Robe, Loyalties, Education of Little Tree, Luna, Spirit of the Whale, Unnatural and Accidental and Smoke Signals. A founding member of Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company, she serves as an inspirational role model to aspiring youth. To go along with her many awards and in recognition of her outstanding contributions, Tantoo was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2010.
Gary Beaudin - DIRECTOR
Gary is Métis from Saskatchewan. He grew up in Saskatoon and has been intimately involved in Aboriginal issues here for his entire professional career. A former director of the White Buffalo Youth Lodge, Gary is now the Aboriginal Employment Officer for the Saskatoon Health Region.
Donald Speidel - DIRECTOR
Donald is an experienced dancer, Waokiye (Traditional Helper) and currently the Cultural Resource Liaison for the First Nation Inuit Metis Education Unit in the Saskatoon Public School Division. The Speidel family started Buffalo Boy Productions in 1996, a First Nations dance company with a mixed repertory representative of Saskatchewan's Cree, Dene, Nakawe, Dakota, Nakota and Lakota song and dance traditions. Tatanka Hoksila, also known as Donald Speidel and the mother of the family, Kimimilaskawin or Darlene Speidel are Lakota Sioux from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, United States. They first immigrated to Saskatchewan in 1985 to help the dying culture of their Canadian Dakota brothers and sisters. The Speidel family is world renowned as artists of their culture. Prior to starting Buffalo Boy Productions, the Speidels were instumental in the development of the Wanuskawin Dance Troupe and stay committed to assisting in the preservation of traditional song and dance.
Angela Bishop - DIRECTOR
Roberta Bear - DIRECTOR
