List of Indigenous Canadian actors explained

This is a list of Canadian actors/actresses who are First Nations, Métis or Inuit.

A

• Evan Adams, Coast Salish
• Allakariallak, Inuit
• Nathaniel Arcand, Plains Cree
• Gerald Auger, Woodland Cree

B

• Adam Beach, Saulteaux
• Tara Beagan, Nlakaʼpamux
  • Tanaya Beatty, Awaetlatla Rykko Bellemare, Atikamekw
• Kwena Bellemare-Boivin
  • Morris Birdyellowhead, Paul First Nation Ryan Rajendra Black
• Ta'Kaiya Blaney, Tla'amin Nation
• Cherish Violet Blood, Kainai
• Columpa Bobb, Tsleil-Waututh^[1]
• Sonia Boileau, Mohawk
  • Tina Louise Bomberry, Mohawk Eugene Brave Rock, Kainai
• Joe Buffalo, Cree^[2]

C

• Ashley Callingbull, Cree
• Cliff Cardinal, Cree/Lakota
• Imajyn Cardinal, Cree
• Lorne Cardinal, Cree
• Tantoo Cardinal, Cree, Métis
• Shirley Cheechoo, Cree
• Byron Chief-Moon
• Braeden Clarke, Cree
• George Clutesi, Tseshaht

D

• Dan George, Tsleil-Waututh
• Darrell Dennis, Shuswap
• Grace Dove, Shuswap

F

• Meegwun Fairbrother, Ojibwe
• Gary Farmer, Cayuga
• Waawaate Fobister, Ojibwe^[3]
• Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao, Innu^[4]
• Cree Summer Francks, Plains Cree (adopted)
• Rainbow Sun Francks, Plains Cree (adopted)

G

• Cara Gee, Ojibwe
• Chief Dan George, Salish – nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Little Big Man
• Glen Gould, Mi'kmaq
• Graham Greene, Oneida - nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Dances with Wolves
• Douglas Grégoire, Innu
• Yamie Grégoire, Innu
• Michael Greyeyes, Plains Cree
• Max Gros-Louis, Huron-Wendat

H

• Dakota Ray Hebert, Dene
  • Jimmy Herman, Dene, Chipewyan René Highway, Cree
• Zoe Hopkins, Heiltsuk, Mohawk
• Kaniehtiio Horn, Mohawk
• Dakota House, Cree
• Duane Howard, Nuu-chah-nulth

I

• Johnny Issaluk, Inuit
• Madeline Ivalu, Inuit^[5]
• Paul-Dylan Ivalu, Inuit^[5]

J

• Tom Jackson, Cree, Métis - known for his role of Billy Twofeathers on Shining Time Station and Peter Kenidi on North of 60
• Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs, Mohawk
• Ellyn Jade, Ojibwe

K

• Jean-Luc Kanapé, Innu
• Margo Kane, Cree, Saulteaux
• Tina Keeper, Cree
• Kiawentiio, Mohawk
• Asivak Koostachin, Cree/Inuk
• Jules Arita Koostachin, Cree

L

• Anna Lambe, Inuit
• Tina Lameman, Cree^[6]
• Craig Lauzon, Ojibwe
• Jani Lauzon, Ojibwe, Cree
  • George Leach, Lillooet Phillip Lewitski, Mohawk
• Cody Lightning, Cree
• Crystle Lightning, Cree
• Georgina Lightning, Cree
  • Kevin Loring, Nlakapamuk Wendy Lumby, Swan Lake

M

• Cheri Maracle, Mohawk^[7]
• Gail Maurice, Métis^[8]
• Sera-Lys McArthur, Nakota/Assiniboine Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation^[9]
• Glen Meadmore
• Andrea Menard, Metis
• Billy Merasty, Cree
• Steven Cree Molison, Cree/Métis^[10]
• Carmen Moore

N

• Violet Nelson, Kwakwakaʼwakw
• Jacques Newashish, Atikamekw
• Paul Nutarariaq, Inuit, Ojibwe, Cree

O

• Brandon Oakes, Mohawk
• Joshua Odjick, Algonquin
• Joel Oulette, Cree/Métis^[11]

P

• Bronson Pelletier, Cree
• Wilma Pelly, Saulteaux
• Tahmoh Penikett, White River First Nation
• Jennifer Podemski, Saulteaux, Métis
• Sarah Podemski, Saulteaux, Métis
• Tamara Podemski, Saulteaux, Métis

R

• Paul Rabliauskas, Anishinaabe
• Justin Rain, Cree
• Duke Redbird, Ojibwe
• Alex Rice, Mohawk

S

• • Samian, Abitibiwinni August Schellenberg, Mohawk, Métis
• Eric Schweig, Inuvialuit, Chippewa, Dene
• Marika Sila, Inuvialuit
• Jay Silverheels, Mohawk - known for his role of Tonto on The Lone Ranger
  • Bernard Starlight, Tsuutʼina Nation Michelle St. John, Cree
• Roseanne Supernault, Cree/Métis

T

• Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Blackfoot-Sami
• Michelle Thrush, Cree
• Gordon Tootoosis, Cree, Stoney - best known for his role of Albert Golo on North of 60
• Billy Two Rivers, Mohawk

U

• Natar Ungalaaq, Inuit

W

• Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie, Algonquin^[12]
• D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai

See also

• List of Native American actors (U.S. actors)
• Indian Actors Association
• Indian Actors Workshop

Notes and References

1. John Goodman, "Columpa Bobb comes full circle at Firehall Arts Centre". North Shore News, November 9, 2017.
2. Kyle Muzyka, "Joe Buffalo survived residential school. Then he became a professional skateboarder". Unreserved, October 9, 2020.
3. Lindsay Raining Bird, "Waawaate Fobister reclaims First Nations two-spirited traditions". CBC Indigenous, July 17, 2014.
4. Sylvain Turcotte, "Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao se plaît à jouer". Le Nord-Côtier, August 2, 2022.
5. "A mythic tale of symbolism; Before Tomorrow the story of an old woman and a young boy on their own in Arctic". Ottawa Citizen, May 22, 2009.
6. Rob McKinley, "Movie premiere this month features talented local actress". St. Albert Today, September 29, 2020.
7. Web site: Spotlight On: Cheri Maracle . Ontario Presents . 2 October 2019.
8. "Canadian aboriginal filmmaker en route to Sundance with Smudge". Times & Transcript, January 20, 2006.
9. News: Indigenous Women Iksokapi profile: Sera-Lys McArthur . iksokapimagazine.com . February 16, 2015.
10. Matthew Mallon, "The Many Roles of Steven Cree Molison". Edge North, September 6, 2016.
11. Aruna Dutt, "How this young Canadian star went straight from high school to 'making history' on TV". CBC News, October 14, 2020.
12. https://www.ledroit.com/arts/cinema/le-tremplin-de-jacob-whiteduck-lavoie-9c6167d56d97a3581094fe26fc037037 "Le tremplin de Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie"