Biography

Shandra travels through the artistic realms of theatre, music, writing, photography and film-making.  Originally enrolled in the BFA program in Visual Arts at York University, Shandra returned to the stage in the mid-90's with a role in The Tommy Prince Story (Debajehmujig Theatre Group), directed by Paul Thompson.  She is a graduate of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre's Core Performer program, and performed in Blood   Memory in 1995.  She has also worked for Native Earth Performing Arts as an assistant director and actor, and has gone on to perform in subsequent Debajehmujig productions, including Lost  Warrior, Broken Snowshoe Moon, Biidaasige Kwe Sunlight Woman, and Please Do Not Touch The Indians.  In recent years, Shandra's acting experience has included student productions and films, while she completed her BA.

A choir singer in her childhood, Shandra rediscovered her  singing voice through traditional singing workshops at Native Theatre School,   studying with Pura Fe, Sadie Buck and voice teacher David Smukler.  She quickly became part of The Nishnawbe Quek Singers, which later became Sweetgrass City Singers.  Shandra sang with Murray   Porter in the Gemini Award-winning (Best Variety Special) Blame it on the Blues, and was a guest singer on both of JaniLauzon's Juno-nominated CDs (Thirst and Blue Voice New Voice).

Shandra's return to visual arts came through course-work at   the University of Windsor, finding her visual style directing films and studying photography.  In scene painting classes, Shandra picked up a paintbrush for the first time in years.  Since graduating, Shandra has   begun shooting headshots and portraits.

As a writer, Shandra's poetry and articles have been published in anthologies and magazines, as well as in the 2003 Sumach Press publication Strong Women Stories: Native Community Vision and Survival, edited by Kim Anderson and Dr. Bonita Lawrence.

Shandra graduated from the University of Windsor with a B.A. in Drama and Communication Studies.  She is a member of Rainy River/Manitou Rapids First Nations and a member of the Wolf clan.  Raised in Chatham, Ontario, she now makes her home in Toronto.

Updated Tuesday, October 19, 2004