Centre for Indigenous Theatre

43°38′53″N 79°23′41″W﻿ / ﻿43.64792°N 79.39478°W﻿ / 43.64792; -79.39478

Centre for Indigenous TheatreAbbreviation| CIT

|

Formation| 1974
Location|

* Toronto, Ontario

Staff

| Celeste Sansregret (managing director), Rose C. Stella (Artistic Director)
Website| indigenoustheatre.com

Formerly called

| Native Theatre School (1974–1994)
Indigenous peoples
in Canada

* First Nations
* Inuit
* Métis

History

* Timeline
* Pre-colonization
* Genetics
* Settler colonialism
* Genocide
* Residential schools
* Indian hospitals
* Reconciliation

Politics

* Indigenous law
* British Columbia Treaty Process
* Crown and Indigenous peoples
* Health Policy
* Idle No More
* Indian Act
* Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

* Land Back
* Land claims
* Land defender
* Land title
* Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
* Numbered Treaties
* Royal Commission
* Self-government
* Specific claims
* Treaty rights
* Genocide
* Case law
* Organizations
* Politics

Culture

* Art
* Indigenous cultures
* Indigenous personalities
* Country food
* Music

Demographics

* Indian reserves
* AB
* FN
* Métis
* Atlantic CA
* BC
* MB
* ON
* QC
* SK
* Territories
* Pacific Coast

Linguistics

* Indigenous languages
* Inuit languages
* Chinuk Wawa
* Indigenous English Dialects
* NAPA
* Aboriginal syllabics
* Chinuk pipa
* Inuit grammar

Religions

* Traditional beliefs
* Inuit religion

Index

* Index of articles
* Indigenous
* First Nations
* Inuit
* Métis
* Stubs

Indigenous North Americas
Canada portal

* v
* t
* e

The Centre for Indigenous Theatre is a non-profit theater educational institution located in Toronto, Ontario. It focuses on performance art from an Indigenous cultural foundation.[1][2]

The goal of the Centre "is to develop and implement educational programs that promote and foster an understanding of Indigenous Theatre while providing the highest caliber arts training to Indigenous students from across Canada."[2]

## History

[edit]

James H. Buller founded the Centre in 1974 as the Native Theatre School with the Association for Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts.[3] Buller was a noted opera and musical comedy singer.[4]

Before founding the school, Buller served in the Royal Canadian Navy and competed as a popular boxer known as "Gentleman Jim". He wanted to see Aboriginal actors, playwrights and directors flourish across Canada and create a network of Aboriginal theatre companies.

The school changed its name to the Centre for Indigenous Theatre in 1994.[5] The Centre first offered a one-year program, which was later expanded to a two-year program. By 1998, the program offered an additional, optional third year.

## Funding

[edit]

All levels of government fund the Centre.[1] The Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Management Board, The McLean Foundation, Molson Companies Donation Fund and the Toronto Blue Jays also provide monetary support to the Centre.

## Notable people

[edit]

### Notable students

[edit]

Students must be over the age of eighteen and of Aboriginal descent.[6]

* Gary Farmer – 1974
* Graham Greene – 1974
* Billy Merasty – 1984
* Tina Louise Bomberry – 1988
* Jennifer Podemski – 1992
* George Leach – 1996
* Lucie Idlout – 1997

### Notable faculty

[edit]

* Columpa Bobb
* Margo Kane
* Jani Lauzon
* David Ley
* Lee Maracle – cultural director 1998–2000
* Muriel Miguel
* Daniel David Moses
* Drew Hayden Taylor[1]
* Paul Thompson[1]
* John Turner (Mump and Smoot)
* Tomson Highway[1]
* David Calderisi[1]
* August Schellenberg[1]

## James Buller Awards for Aboriginal Theatre Excellence

[edit]

The award, established in 1995, "recognizes the work of Aboriginal people in the arts".[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g "Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia – Centre for Indigenous Theatre". canadiantheatre.com. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
2. ^ a b "Schedule". CIT Webpage. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
3. ^ "Theatre by Indigenous Peoples in Canada". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
4. ^ "James Buller awards excellence in the arts". Ammsa.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
5. ^ a b Foster, Thomas Adrian (January 2013). Cultural Climate Change: A History of Aboriginal Arts Organizations in Toronto, 1970–2010 (MA Thesis) (PDF). Peterborough, Ontario: Trent University. p. 131.
6. ^ "Centre for Indigenous Theatre". blogto.com. Retrieved 4 February 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

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