Native Earth Performing Arts

Native Earth Performing Arts is an Indigenous Production Company that was formed in Toronto in 1982. The focus on this Company was to provide opportunities for Indigenous people to have success in the arts as well as to bring attention to Indigenous creators, actors and artists. In 1984, the company held a workshop to discuss how to bring the “trickster” role back into the theatre, and by 1985, Native Earth produced Trickster’s Cabaret. Soon after, in 1989, the Company created the “Weesageechak (Cree for Trickster) Begins to Dance” Festival which encouraged the development of works that often ran for a full season afterwards. In 2013, Native Earth announced its permanent home at Aki Studio in Toronto, where it still resides today.

In this collection, you will find administrative records, financial statements, resumes, contracts, and box office statistics, as well as promotional posters, and house programs.