UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatoon performer named USask Indigenous Storyteller-in-Residence for 2025

Cuthand's 12-week residency, with an aim of uplifting Indigenous voices and promoting intercultural understanding and story-sharing between and among Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, will begin on Feb. 3, 2025.

"I am looking forward to immersing myself in the university and seeing how it motivates me creatively as well as creating with the students, whether it be drama or comedy," said Cuthand. "Everyone's stories are different, and I hope that this residency can encourage students to want to tell their own stories their own way."

Shawn Cuthand plans to share his knowledge of writing, producing and directing a show for television. (Photo: Submitted)

With roots in Treaty 6 territory, Cuthand is a part of a satirical group called The Feather News, where he has both on-screen and behind-the-scenes writing and producing roles. The Feather, which recently won the APTN/ImagineNative web series pitch competition, will air for a second season on APTN in June 2025. As part of Cuthand's residency, he plans to share his knowledge of writing, producing and directing a show for television.

"I'm excited to welcome Shawn as the library's fifth annual Indigenous Storyteller-in-Residence," said Charlene Sorensen, the University Library's interim dean. "He's an innovative artist who will bring a fresh and exciting perspective to this important residency through his comedy and diverse creative background. I look forward to experiencing and learning from Shawn's creative work."

Beyond his on-screen credits, Cuthand has also been closely involved with many Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre (GTNT) stage productions including A Rez Xmas, Tayen and the Mimi Kwesak, and an audio play jointly released by Burnt Thicket Theatre and GTNT called Remnance. Additionally, Cuthand is a well-known comedian performing at festivals and comedy clubs across the country. For the past four years, Cuthand and his co-collaborator, Danny Knight, produced a standup comedy show for the YXE Fringe called Full Metal Comedy. The show received a four-star rating and was awarded Best Local Show in 2023. In the fall, the duo took the show to the Vancouver Fringe. Cuthand is currently working on a few scripts which he hopes to produce in the future.

Cuthand's residency will culminate in a performance reading of a play in development for the GTNT. This will take place during the university's Indigenous Achievement Week (Mar. 10-14, 2025). To help bring Cuthand's storytelling to a wider audience, the University Library is continuing a partnership with the Saskatoon Public Library in which Cuthand will perform at one of the Saskatoon Library branches.

The Indigenous Storyteller-in-Residence is made possible through the generous support of University Library donors.