Welcome to the Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre

tawāw. Welcome to Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre. Nīkānīwin (pronounced knee-gone-knee-win) is a Plains Cree expression for ‘leadership’. Over the past year and a half, Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company (SNTC) has engaged members of the community regarding the next phase of our organization’s transition. In consultation with the Tootoosis family and after a process of ceremonial protocol, SNTC has successfully renamed our organization. Our new name, Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre, honours Gordon Tootoosis, a Cree and Canadian icon and one of the founding members of SNTC. We have a new focus on mentorship of emerging Indigenous artists, a focus on Circle of Voices (COV). We have reinstituted the component of culture in everything we do ­– our Cultural Advisor works closely with COV youth and with artists in the season’s programming. We are excited to open the doors to a new future for the company, one grounded in culture, language and history. When Gordon Tootoosis (Poundmaker First Nation) began working in theatre, there was a noticeable void of Aboriginal actors. He set out to fill that void by creating a platform for the development of young, burgeoning and experienced Aboriginal actors. In doing so, he has had a profound impact on both the Aboriginal and wider theatre community in Saskatoon and across the province and made an indelible mark on Canada’s theatre scene.