TORONTO – The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) has chosen Canadian actor, humanitarian and activist Tina Keeper as its 2017 ACTRA National Woman of the Year.
The award is bestowed annually on an ACTRA member who uses her passion to support her fellow female ACTRA members and women within the audiovisual industry as a whole. Keeper (pictured) joins past recipients Shirley Douglas, Tantoo Cardinal, Sandi Ross, Mary Walsh, Jean Freeman, Amanda Tapping and Catherine Joell MacKinnon.
An active member of Canada's film and television industry for over 30 years, Keeper is well-known for her role as RCMP officer Michelle Kenidi on the hit CBC series North of 60 for which she received a Best Performance Gemini Award.
A Winnipeg-based media producer, Keeper is president of Kistikan Pictures (a partner company of Buffalo Gal Pictures). Recent productions include the feature film Road of Iniquity; the critically-acclaimed Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Going Home Star; The REDress Project; and the APTN drama series Cashing In. Her upcoming feature Through Black Spruce, in co-production with Serendipity Point Films, is set for production this July.
Born in Winnipeg, Keeper is a member of the Norway House Cree Nation and remains actively involved in producing public education initiatives to build bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Manitoba. From 2006 to 2008, she was the elected Member of Parliament for Manitoba’s Churchill riding under the Liberal Party of Canada, and went on to serve as the Official Opposition's Critic for Public Health and Canadian Heritage.
In 2004, Keeper received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award (now the Indspire Awards) for her work in the arts, and has also won three American Indian Film Festival awards for her acting and producing credits. In 2002, she was named to the Order of Manitoba.
“As a performer, as an activist, as a community leader, Tina Keeper has been an inspiration and a role model,” said ACTRA president Ferne Downey, in the announcement. “In addition to being a talented performer, she is a dedicated spokesperson on social issues. Her humanitarian work is far-reaching and powerful. She is deeply committed to the growth and development of Indigenous performing arts in Canada. We’re proud to honour her.”
“I am truly honoured,” added Keeper. “It has been a privilege to work as an actor – a critical role within our country. I am especially grateful and proud, now, to participate with my sisters and brothers and support the voices and stories of Canadian creators. I am humbled to receive this award in the company of such esteemed sisters. Ekosani, thank you.”
