2025 Pawâkan Tour
PAwâkan remains Inspired by the youth of Frog Lake First Nation on Treaty 6 Territory
Ages 14+
Length: 90 minutes, no intermission
The Métis Tour
Pawâkan works with three Indigenous languages: Plains Cree, Stoney Nakoda and Michif. This 2025 tour gives Akpik Theatre the opportunity to delve deeper into Métis culture and land and hopefully more language with the cast and company. This Community Telling tour brings us into Treaty 1 territory for the first time and has us developing an even deeper connection to the land and communities in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Check in with us as the tour comes together for May and June of 2025! Buy your tickets and see you soon! Marci!
Where we’re headed
Medicine Hat, AB | Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre; Main Theatre
Akpik Theatre will rehearse here with Barry Bilinsky leading the directing process and two new actors joining the company.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Prince Albert, SK | EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts (Olive & John G Diefenbaker Theatre)
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Camrose, AB | Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre (Cargill Theatre)
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 1:00 p.m. (ACTRA Livestream)
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Brandon, MB | Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium (WMCA)
Sunday, June 22, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, June 23, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
Monday, June 23, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Regina, SK | Darke Hall Society Inc.
Thursday, June 26, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 27, 2025, 1:30 p.m.
Pawâkan 2025 Company
Reneltta Arluk - Playwright, Producer
Barry Bilinsky - Director & Tour TD, Performer
Tallis Kirby - General Manager
Darlene Auger - Cree Language Consultant
Jhaik Windyhair - Knowledge Keeper
Leigh Kerr - Production Manager
Brianna Montour - Tour ATD
Cimmeron Meyer - Set Designer
Daniela Masellis - Lighting Designer
Carmen Braden - Sound Design
Elsa Orme - Stage Manager
Nathan Loitz - Fight Director
čačumḥi aaron wells - Performer
Mitchell Saddleback - Performer
Lisa Nasson - Performer
Cole Vandale - Performer
Nora Barker - Performer
Meet the Company
Reneltta Arluk
Playwright, Producer
Reneltta is an Inuvialuk, Dene and Cree mom from the Northwest Territories. She is founder of Akpik Theatre, a northern focussed professional Indigenous Theatre company. Raised by her grandparents on the trap-line until school age, this nomadic environment gave Reneltta the skills to become the multi-disciplined artist she is now. For nearly two decades, Reneltta has taken part in or initiated the creation of Indigenous Theatre across Canada and overseas. Under Akpik Theatre, Reneltta has written, produced, and performed various works creating space for Indigenous led voice. Reneltta is the first Inuk and first Indigenous woman to graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting program and Reneltta is the first Inuk and first Indigenous woman to direct at The Stratford Festival. There she was awarded the Tyrone Guthrie - Derek F. Mitchell Artistic Director's Award for her direction of the The Breathing Hole. Reneltta received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Alberta for her commitment to decolonization in institutions.
Barry Bilinsky
Director & Tour TD, Performer
Barry Bilinsky (he/him) is a multifaceted Artist from Edmonton, Alberta of Cree, Métis, and Ukrainian lineage. Primarily a writer and director for theatre, animation, and film; Barry pursues work focused on the support, proliferation, and creation of indigenous stories - often linked to the cultural intersections he embodies. Working in technical as well as artistic roles, Barry believes that collaborative and holistic practices are the best way to ensure that diverse perspectives are represented, respected, and heard.
It is through the web of beautiful friendships and connections that he owes the basis of his practice. Key credits: Indigenous Artist in Residence at the National Theatre School of Canada; Artistic Director of Taproot Actors' Academy; Creative Director of Media for Fort Edmonton Park’s “Indigenous People’s Experience”; Associate Director of Akpik Theatre; Writer and Co-director of Shumka’s “Ancestors and Elders”; and Production/Stage manager of Making Treaty 7.
Tallis Kirby
General Manager
Tallis Kirby was raised in the tall trees of a company of Clydesdales on the long winding road from the back field down to the riverside, and the great blue beyond. He is proud to be the Production Manager for Pawâkan Macbeth. Tallis has been working on the outside since birth, a veteran of many aspects of the arts, finding purpose where utility finds him; as a mariner, technician, rigger and an engineer. From one Caravan to another, the knowledge remains strong and vibrant. Here’s to bringing the knowledge back for us all.
Darlene Auger
Cree Language Consultant
A Cree woman originally from Wabasca, Darlene Auger lives in Edmonton, Alberta, (Amiskwâci Wâskahikan). She is a fluent Cree speaker and is passionate about passing on her language through song and story. Darlene is an educator, researcher, entrepreneur, holistic practitioner, actress and singer. Darlene has a psychology degree from the University of Alberta and a doctoral degree from the University Nuhelotine Thayotsi Nistameyimakanakm Blue Quills in “Iyiniw Pimâtisiwin Kiskeyihtamowin” (Indigenous Life Knowledge). She has created a healing method modeled on an ancient Indigenous parenting tool for the healing benefit of all people, and she developed this language learning kit so that she could share her knowledge with the world. Darlene is an accomplished speaker and facilitator, having presented locally, nationally and internationally.
Jhaik Windyhair
Knowledge Keeper
Jhaik WindyHair is from Cowessess First Nation in Southern, Saskatchewan. Jhaik has two daughters and one son, three granddaughters, four grandsons and one great grandson. Jhaik loves his family as well as his culture. He enjoys adventures with family. Also enjoys learning languages of other First Nations, and is fluent in Plains Cree and Saulteaux. He attended University of Regina in the late 1990s earning a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics. His love for languages and teaching, sharing life lessons, and stories continues each day. He has participated as a storyteller for RIIS From Amnesia, a feature documentary, on the Regina Indian Industrial School, and for The Beacon Project: Stories of Qu'Appelle, a documentary to screen on CBC. He was also a language consultant for the National Film Board short documentary, Stories are in our Bones.
Brianna Montour
Tour ATD
Kahentanó:ron Bri Montour is a Kanien’kehá:ka theatre artist from Kahnawà:ke who aims to bring more opportunities to her community to tell stories and to strengthen our connection to each other. Bri has diverse skills and interests in theatre design and management but is especially drawn to lighting design, programming, and technical work. Bri loves collaborating within teams that are passionate about process, healing, and inspiring change and disruption. She is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada in Production Design and Technical Arts, New Pathways, John Abbott College's Professional Technical Theatre program, and is an associate artist at Geordie Theatre. Bri is so grateful to work and create with this incredible team.
Cimmeron Meyer
Set Designer
Cimmeron Meyer's work has been seen on stages across Canada and in Europe. Her latest design was created for Andrea Maynard’s Metis Cabaret “Rubaboo” in 2024. It premiered at The Grand Theatre in London Ontario, The Citatdel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta and is on tour in Canada 2026. The design was realized in collaboration with Metis visual artist Leah Dorian and brought to life by scenic artists Richard Lawler and Craig Guthrie. Cimmeron is grateful for the opportunity to work with these talented artists and acknowledges their invaluable contribution to the design. Other recent work includes set design for The Guardsman at Bluebridge Rep Theatre in Victoria BC in 2024. Pawakan 2019 to present (still on tour across Canada) (Akpik Theatre, Set); Kaasinooniks (Making Treaty 7, Set, Lighting, Projection); Iceland (Theatre Calgary, Lighting); The Unplugging (Gwaandak Theatre, Lighting); Twelfth Night (Theatre Calgary, National Arts Centre, Lighting); Bakkahi (Stratford Festival, Lighting). Cimmeron is a Graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada. She is indebted to her daughter, Eve Marie, a talented theatre artist in her own right.
Daniela Masellis
Lighting Designer
Daniela Masellis is a theatre designer and artist born and based in Treaty 6 Territory in Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta). She works mainly in the areas of set, lighting, and projection design for theatre, dance and live events. Her training includes a B.F.A. of Theatre Design from the University of Alberta, a Grant MacEwan Diploma of Fine Arts, and a design apprenticeship in Italy at ‘Teatro alla Scala Milano’. Daniela has designed across Canada collaborating on over 65 productions with companies such as The Stratford Festival, the Arts Club,The Citadel Theatre, Workshop West, Akpik Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects and Maggie Tree among many others.
Carmen Braden
Sound Design
Carmen Braden is a genre-blurring creator and performer of new, beautiful and sometimes weird music. She is a Juno-nominated composer, two-time winner of the Western Canadian Music Award for Classical Composer of the Year, and has worked with internationally renowned ensembles and performers. Her fourth album “A Hard Light” was released in December 2024 where, in her singer-songwriter craft, she gently shifts the focus away from genre-bound expectations to craft a journeying arc with moments of 90’s electro-pop, folk, jazz and country. Whether it’s for solo classical players or her own songwriting projects, Carmen’s writing delves into the beauty and struggles of the everyday: reflecting relationships, parenthood, and the environment with joy, stark realness, and undercurrents of quirky humour.
Elsa Orme
Stage Manager
Elsa Orme (she/her) is a stage manager and designer currently living on the ancestral and unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) First Nations. She is passionate about supporting processes and projects that are non-linear, iterative and center collaboration, curiosity and empathy. Elsa is so grateful to be a part of this amazing team!
Select credits include Attempts in Flight (Dai Bao Productions), Morag, You’re A Long Time Deid (Touchstone Theatre), The 39 Steps (The Grove Theatre), Future Mythologies (re:Naissance Opera), Inheritances (Music On Main), Confluence (Raven Spirit Dance), and Keepers of the Salish Sea (Holy Crow Arts).
Nathan Loitz
Fight Director
Nathan is a Fight Director and Stunt Actor who is absolutely overjoyed to be working on this wonderful production again. There is something special about this show, the writing, the directing, the cast and crew, that I have never experienced. This unique beauty has come together to form such a beautiful show which I hope you enjoy as much as I have being apart of it. I just wanted to say to thank you to Renellta Arluk for standing by me and always supporting me. Love to my Pawakan family. Thank you for welcoming me home once again.
čačumḥi aaron wells
Performer
čuu ʔuukłaasʔiš čačumḥi, aaron wells ʔuukłaasƛaḥ. Hello, my name čačumḥi - aaron wells is what I am also called. I am an indige-queer actor, singer and storyteller from the nuučaan̓uł and ts’ymsyen nations as well as English settler heritage and I was born and raised on Vancouver Island. I studied acting and musical theatre at the Canadian College Of Performing Arts in Victoria, BC. I have been involved in many workshops and world premieres of new Indigenous works across the country and none of this would have been possible without the love and support from my mułmumc, my roots. My friends and family. I have to give Big Love to Reneltta, I auditioned for her in 2017, at the start of my career, and has brought me into many a project over the years. A director/mentor turned friend, thank you! And a Big Love to Barry, our director, and to all who have made sharing this story with you, possible. čuu.
Mitchell Saddleback
Performer
Mitchell Saddleback is an actor, writer, and comedian from the Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, Alberta. Mitchell’s experience includes films Cold Pursuit, the Gotham Award-nominated First Cow, and theatrical productions Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish, Keepers of the Salish Sea, Talk Treaty To Me and Pawâkan Macbeth. Mitchell co-wrote and stars in The Bannocking, a horror comedy series on CBC Gem. Performance highlights include The Drum is Calling Festival, a comedy showcase for First Nations Health Authority, a comedy special for Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association, and YVR Funny season 2. Mitchell brings a unique blend of education and humour to his artistic ventures.
Lisa Nasson
Performer
Lisa Nasson is an award-winning Mi'kmaw actor, director and playwright from Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia. She studied Classical Theatre in Stratford Festivals Birmingham Conservatory, and since has dedicated her work to Indigenous arts and creation. Lisa has performed on stages across Turtle Island, with her most recent credits being, Controlled Damage (National Arts Centre), Women of The Fur Trade (National Arts Centre, Native Earth Performing Arts, Magnus Theatre), Dear Rita, Billy Elliot (Neptune Theatre), Richard III, Alls Well That Ends Well, R+J (Stratford Festival), Little Bird (imagineNATIVE, Toronto International Film Festival, CBC Gem). Lisa’s produced writing credits include; The Heartbeat of Poor Tom (imagineNATIVE), Moose and Hawk (Neptune Theatre Young Touring Company) and Mischief which will debut this coming fall with Tarragon Theatre, Native Earth Performing Arts and Neptune Theatre. Lisa dedicates her work to uplifting Indigenous voices and carries the heart of her family all the way through.
Cole Vandale
Performer
Cole Vandale is a Mètis actor and filmmaker. He is a graduate of Company of Rogues actors studio and a two year acting conservatory program in New York City. Since then he has written, directed, produced and acted in award winning shorts that have screened in such festivals as VIFF, ImagineNATIVE, Māoriland, London Independent Film Festival and many more. his short film Starlight was nominated for Best Live Short at the 45th American Indian Film Festival and was a finalist for Sundance Film festival. His next short film Lucien which was funded by the Indigenous Screen Office releases fall of 2025. Recent theatre credits include So Damn Proud by Justin Neal and Keepers of the Salish Sea directed by Reneltta Arluk. His hope is to help make filmmaking and theatre more sustainable, ethical, diverse and welcoming.
Nora Barker
Performer
Kwe’ teluisi Nora Barker. Ni'n na L'nu. Tleyawi Qapskuk, Ktaqmkuk. Wetapeksi Miawkpukuk aq Glenwood.
Nora Barker is from Sple’tk, Ktaqmkuk (Grand Falls-Windsor, NL). She has a Bachelor of Arts from MUN, and is a graduate of the acting program at the National Theatre School of Canada. Nora has worked with Geordie Theatre, Imago Theatre, Resource Centre for the Arts, Theatre Newfoundland & Labrador, TODOS Productions and White Rooster Theatre. Nora is thrilled to be part of the creative team bringing Pawâkan Macbeth to the community. Wela'lin / thank you for supporting live theatre.
FROG LAKE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The concept of Pawâkan was inspired by Frog Lake Elders: Mary Ann Dillon, Rose Dillon, Henry Smith, Raymond Quinney, Cecile Dion, and Cultural Advisor Gary Berland sharing their stories with the Plains Cree youth. With original development of concept by Owen Morris and students of Chief Napeweaw School, some stories in Pawâkan originated from the Frog Lake, Loon Lake, and Onion Lake region on Treaty 6 territory.
