Northern Indigenous Play Readings

My name is Keira Ash, I am Tłı̨chǫ Dene and grew up in Somba K’e Denendeh (Yellowknife, NWT), a city in the middle of the boreal forest. From my childhood bedroom I could hear Dı̀gatsoa (coyote) howling at night, see curious Nǫgèe (fox) crossing the road, and in the morning discover that Tatsǫ̀ (raven) got into our garbage! All fantastic auditions.

As for me, I’ve been working, volunteering, and learning in the Arts for a decade now.

I'm multidisciplinary like most of us, currently auditioning for Playwright.

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Shoutout to all of my friends who have shown up to feast and read this play together, both on lək̓ʷəŋən lands (Victoria, BC) and in Chief Drygeese territory (Yellowknife, NWT). Thank you to BTW's Artists Mentorship Program (AMP) for their support, and all the pals I’ve made there. Thank you to Gwaandak Theatre for their belief in my silly little play. Masì cho to all the Elders past, present, and future, who have shared their knowledge and stories so that I am able to ground this work despite being so so far from home.

Headshot by aja sy

Brefny Caribou (she/her) is a creative multi-hyphenate of Cree (Mathias Colomb Cree Nation)/Irish-settler descent based in Tkaronto. Holding an MFA in Acting from York University, she loves making theatre and making people giggle. As a performer she has worked in TV/film on Tallboyz (CBC/Joanne), and Mayor of Kingstown (Paramount +/Isabelle) and in theatre across Turtle Island on projects such as the professional world premiere of Tomson Highway’s musical Rose at the National Arts Centre, the Canadian premiere of The Welkin (Soulpepper Theatre Co/The Howland Company/Crow’s Theatre), The Tempest (Theatre Rusticle/Buddies in Bad Times), and completed 3 seasons at the Stratford Festival. As a writer, she presented the world premiere of Savage is a Word in the English Dictionary at the 2025 Awaken Festival hosted by Gwaandak Theatre in Whitehorse, YT. Brefny is entering her 5th year facilitating the Indigenous Arts Program at the Paprika Festival.

Jiah Dzentu is a Dene creative and storyteller from Liidlii Kue, NWT. They have dabbled in many arts but their heart is in film and television where they've worked as a location sound mixer. Jiah's pastimes include (but are not limited to) canoeing, hosting elaborate dinners, and gardening.

Christine Genier is a Wolf Clan citizen of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council (Yukon). She is a writer, poet, performer, storyteller, and a lifelong worker in language and culture. Her latest work, Dear Star Trek, ran for two nights in February at the Old Fire Hall, bringing the piece home after performing for audiences in Vancouver, BC and Wolfe Island, Ontario. Christine works to help keep her family and ancestral languages, Tageesh Koshé and Dawkwanjé. She is a gatherer of stories and moderator of talks.