Indigenous series developer seeking advice ends up with grant

By Sam Laskaris

MASSEY – Lisa Cromarty got much more than she bargained for when she contacted a former acting teacher for some advice.

Cromarty, a member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Terrirtory on Manitoulin Island, is developing a First Nations animated children’s series called Wick and Flint.

Cromarty contacted Michelle Latimer, one of her former teachers who taught her more than a decade ago when she was studying at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre in Toronto.

“I just wanted to see if Michelle could go over it and give her thoughts on what had been written so far,” Cromarty said of the series she is developing with her writing partner, Jeremy Beal.

As it turned out, Latimer asked for Cromarty’s phone number as she had some news of her own to pass on.

Latimer is the director of the film Inconvenient Indian, which captured the Canada Goose 2020 Amplify Voices Award at the Toronto International Film Festival staged in Toronto in September. The award included a $10,000 prize.

Instead of keeping the money, however, Latimer and her producers decided to split the prize among five other Indigenous artists.

Cromarty is one of the five artists chosen to receive a $2,000 grant.

“It’s amazing,” said Cromarty, who moved from Sudbury to the smaller northern Ontario community of Massey just after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic started earlier this year.

“I’m not quite an established artist yet. And Michelle is giving me an opportunity to have my name out there.”

Cromarty added it was tough for her to remain composed when Latimer gave her the news.

“I got really emotional when she told me on the phone,” Cromarty said.

Cromarty said she’ll in all likelihood use her grant money to invest in some recording equipment, which will hopefully enhance her career.

Cromarty also said she was extremely touched by the gesture of Latimer and her producers.

“What better way to exemplify the Seven Grandfather Teachings,” she said. “Humility is one of them. They win this amazing award that comes with a $10,000 prize and what do they do? They give it to other artists who are emerging.”

Latimer, who is also an actor and directed the mini drama series, Trickster, now airing on CBC, said she is pleased she is in a position where she could assist others with the grant money provided.

“In the spirit of this award, meant to amplify creative voices, I wanted to pay this forward by supporting other Indigenous artists who are making an impact with their art,” Latimer said.

Latimer is also pleased with the quality of work from the Indigenous artists chosen to receive the grants.

“Their unique voices are contributing to much-needed change in this industry, and it is an honour to support these visionary artists in their journey,” she said.

Cromarty was actually not the only member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory to receive a grant from Latimer.

Ziibiwan, an electronic music producer and composer who uses just one name and the pronoun they, was also a grant recipient.

Cromarty had been scheduled to work as a coach for the Rez Sisters, a production that had been scheduled for the Stratford Festival this year, but the pandemic nixed those plans as the production was cancelled.

Cromarty, however, is currently teaching voice classes, online, to first-year students at one of her former schools, the Centre for Indigenous Theatre.

As for her own acting career, Cromarty has appeared in a number of films, including The Silencing, Burden of Truth, My Roommate’s an Escort and Indian Horse.

Cromarty will also be included in several upcoming films.