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SASKATCHEWAN NATIVE THEATRE COMPANY
Company Profile
Kennetch Charlette, Artistic Director
Donna Heimbecker, General Manager/Producer
1025 Idylwyld Drive North
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Canada S7L 0Z7
Office (306)343-9924
Fax (306) 652-1319
Email sask.native.theatre@sk.sympatico.ca
Profile
In a very brief time the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company
(SNTC) has demonstrated successful accomplishments and continues
to lead the way for established and emerging young Aboriginal
artists of Saskatchewan. the Company was established to design,
develop and produce professional and community-based performing
arts programs, initiatives and productions that support and
promote the richness of Aboriginal cultures. The establishment
of a Saskatchewan Aboriginal community-based theatre company
has been the vision and dream of many Saskatchewan artists,
and was brought to fruition with the encouragement and support
of the Saskatchewan community.
SNTC is a non-profit organization that was incorporated in
January of 1999 and is a member-based organization that currently
has over 300 registered members throughout Saskatchewan. The
SNTC Board of Directors consists of seasoned professional
artists and community members that believe in the mandate
and objectives of the Company, and that recognize the need
to promote and further develop the artistic gifts of Saskatchewan
Aboriginal performing artists.
Saskatchewan has a wealth of talented professional performing
artists that have traveled many distances to acquire skills,
knowledge and experiences in many arts disciplines. These
Aboriginal professional artists see the value and benefit
of sharing their skills and talents with those, who aspire
to develop their own individual talents. The SNTC supports
the collaborative work of emerging and established artists
in further developing and presenting their creative forms
of expression. By utilizing the resources within our communities,
the SNTC is able to create a unique cultural/theatrical experience
that provides a forum where artists can further develop their
skills and be acknowledged for their many talents.
By using theatre as a tool to educated others on the richness
and diversity of out peoples, we are able to enhance the profile
of Aboriginal peoples and advance the existing positive images
within society. The SNTC believes that theatre is a vehicle
that supports individual performers and audience members on
their healing journey, and our Elders play a key role in sharing
their teachings and supporting those on their healing path.
As a new company, the SNTC has been very successful in re-introducing
the performing arts to numerous communities throughout Saskatchewan.
The programs and productions we have presented to date have
made a positive impact on our peoples by strengthening cultural
identity and are building on the spirit of our communities.
The long term goal of the SNTC is to acquire a permanent venue
that will provide for professional and community-based productions,
workshops, youth programming and mentorships to name a few.
It is through the creation of partnerships with community
members, organizations, agencies, corporations and businesses
that this vision can be realized. The SNTC has embarked on
a community support campaign for the establishment of an Aboriginal
community theatre in Saskatoon.
Pride in Our Past, Hope for Future Generations!
Mission Statement
The missions statement of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre
Company is:
To design, develop and produce performing arts initiatives
that educates and promotes the richness and diversity of Aboriginal
cultures.
Cultural and Artistic Mandate
The Cultural and Artistic Mandate of the Saskatchewan Native
Theatre Company is to:
- Embrace the knowledge, wisdom and teachings of our Elders
as the essential foundation of the SNTC's initiatives;
- Provide opportunities for existing and emerging young
artists to develop and present their creative and artistic
forms of expression to the public;
- Develop youth initiatives that fosters a sense of identity
and strengthens community spirit as part of the community
healing process;
- Educate others on the richness and diversity of Aboriginal
cultures;
- Enhance the profile of Aboriginal peoples and advance
the existing positive images within society and
- To create partnerships with community members, organizations,
agencies, corporations and businesses in promoting and supporting
the performing arts in Saskatchewan.
Incorporation
The SNTC is a non-profit organization incorporated January
26, 1999, under The Non-Profit Corporations Act of Saskatchewan.
Board of Directors
Tantoo Cardinal, performing artist
Gordon Tootoosis, performing artist
Dave Pratt, Spiritual Advisor
Megan Start, emerging performing artist, youth representative
Kennetch Charlette, performing artist, director
Membership
Membership includes community-based organizations and individual
members from various Saskatchewan urban and rural communities
who support the mandate and objectives of the SNTC. Members
are broad based and reflect the diversity of the community.
Currently there are over 300 members registered with the SNTC.
Significant Accomplishments
 The
SNTC has presented numerous performing arts programs and productions
at community-based gatherings and events throughout Saskatchewan.
SNTC utilizes established and emerging young artists as mentors
and role models for our youth and community that promotes
the performing arts as a viable career option and educates
others on the richness and diversity of our culture.
- 2001 Circle of Voices Aboriginal Youth Theatre Program
- Jan. 8 to Mar. 31, 2001
- Product - Love Songs from a War Drum by Mark Dieter
- Based on the stories of the 24 program participants
- 12 week workshop based training program - 7 day production
run - Saskatoon
- SNTC Youth Theatre Ensemble - February 2001 - ongoing
- 6 youth members of the Ensemble that develop and present
theatrical productions and interactive workshops for schools
and community organizations
- 3 Muskwateers - Written and performed by angus Vincent,
Rodrigo Pino-Hellman and Pauline Whitehead - Produced
by SNTC
- Playwright's Workshop and Staged Reading
- Neyo-Miyo-Uk by Kenntch Charlette
- Workshop and staged reading was directed by Ian Balack
and dramaturged by Mansel Robinson in Saskatoon
- Northern Lights Tour 2000 - September/October 2000
- Circle of Voices Youth Production of "Truth Hurts"
- 14 performances throughout 10 northern Saskatchewan
communities
- Saskatoon Fringe Festival 2000 - August 2000
- SNTC production of a work-in-progress - Neyo-Miko-Uk
by Kennetch Charlette
- People's Choice - voted one of the top 5 Fringe Productions
- Saskatchewan Community Tour 2000 - Feb to May 2000
- Circle of Voices Youth Production of "Truth Hurts"
- performances throughout 10 northern Saskatchewan communities
- Circle of Voices Aboriginal Youth Theatre Program &
Production - May to July 1999
- Product - "Truth Hurts" by Deanne Kasokeo
- Based on the stories of the participants
- 10 week program - 23 program participants & 7 day
production run
Cultural/Theatrical Programs and Productions
Circle of Voices Aboriginal Youth Theatre Program
 The
SNTC designed and developed the "Circle of Voices"
Aboriginal Youth Theatre Program, a workshop based training
program. This unique cultural/theatrical experience provides
role models from the performing arts industry to share their
skills, knowledge and expertise in various artistic disciplines.
Youth participate in skill-based training workshops, field
trips, sharing/healing circles and optional cultural ceremonies.
The product of the program is a script and theatrical production
that reflects the collaborative efforts of the established
and young emerging artists. The production is presented to
the community in Saskatoon and on tour throughout Saskatchewan.
Love Songs from a War Drum is produced by the Saskatchewan
Native Theatre Company (SNTC) as the product of the 2001 Circle
of Voices Aboriginal Youth Theatre Program. Love Songs from
a War Drum is based on the stories and experiences of the
participants and deals with youth coping with issues of family,
love, identity, and gangs. The play is a glimpse into the
realities of urban youth and their perception of their struggles
in dealing with the power and control of feuding families.
Young couples from opposing families, mere victims born into
gang warfare, fall passionately in love. Pressured by their
high school gangs, the two are compelled to maintain their
love, and struggle against the odds to preserve their freedom
and hold on to their identity. Love Songs from a War Drum
is an intriguingly dynamic collective that takes the audience
on a heartfelt journey through dance and fight choreography,
musical interludes and astounding acting by the youth. Love
Songs from a War Drum is a fierce, funny and unforgettable
play and is truly a unique cultural/theatrical experience!
Thoughts, feelings and comments from the audience...
...inspirational
...very realistic
...it made me cry
...heart throbbing
...the story hit home
...precious and wonderful
...unbelievable performance
...everyone needs to see this
...fantastic play, I could relate
...very emotionally captivating
...great play, powerful message
...that's my life they're talking about
...the actors were very confident and proud
...this play needs to be seen in every community
...the points made, strike a chord in everyone's life
...everything about it is so real, it brings back memories
...thank you for the stories I learned a lot, and I appreciate
the honesty
...I have no words to express my gratitude, thank you for
bringing the "truth" to us all.
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