24/25 Participants | About the Pimootayowin Creators Circle Since October, we've been thrilled to welcome the newest cohort for the Pimootayowin Creators Circle. The Creators Circle participates in weekly meetings from October to May, which will culminate with Pimootayowin: A Festival of New Work, a play-reading series that will take place from September 22 to 26, 2025. New writers are welcomed annually into the Creators Circle. Meet the 24/25 cohort below!
Ian Ross was born in McCreary, Manitoba. He calls the First Nation of Pinaymootang, the Métis community of Kinosota and the city of Winnipeg, home. His play fareWel won the Governor General’s Award for English Drama in 1997. His commentaries as Joe from Winnipeg on CBC radio and television, as well as NCI, were very popular. Ian has also been a drama instructor and educator for several years. He continues to write and live in Winnipeg.
Andrea Friesen, a Métis born-and-raised Manitoban, lives in a small town with her three children. By day, she is a legal assistant (graduated with honors). By night, she is a stagehand, camera operator, spotlight operator and a member of I.A.T.S.E locals 63/856/212. A few of the shows she has worked on include La Bayadère, Mamma Mia, RWB’s The Nutcracker and Boney M concerts featuring Lis Mitchell, Dean Brody and Tim Hicks. Andrea has worked in the electrics department for local productions including Stand! (Frantic Films), Burden of Truth (CBC TV) and was bestgirl for The First Encounter (Manifold Pictures).
Dannielle Morrisseau is an Emerging Indigenous Artist and a Métis Cree Nation woman from Treaty 2 Territory who does Story Trail with the City of Brandon. Dannielle was formally a Social Media Writer/Coordinator with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Dannielle is currently a Master of Human Rights Student at the University of Manitoba and works with the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation.
Donnie Osler (Métis, settler) has been the Technical Director for Royal MTC for the past two-and-a-half seasons. Originally from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan with maternal roots in Batoche and the Red River Settlement, Donnie came to Winnipeg after a 20+ year theatre career in Calgary, working with theatre companies such as Theatre Calgary and Alberta Theatre Projects. Despite being involved in the production of many new plays, this is his first time writing one! However, according to his colleagues, "he writes very clear emails".
Kirby Fults was born in Fort Frances in Northwestern Ontario. He calls Winnipeg and Fort Frances home but with Rainy River First Nation as his ancestral home. He and his siblings were raised by their Ojibway Mother and her family. He is a husband to his best friend and husband of 13 years and has been a foster parent for 29 children and youth since 2001. After more than a decade absence from the stage, he is continuing his journey back to theatre.
An Anishinaabe from Obishikokaang (Lac Seul) First Nation in northwestern Ontario, Martha Troian writes in multiple genres and media. As an investigative journalist, producer and author, Martha frequently covers Indigenous politics, human rights, women's issues and environmental topics. She is the author of the children's picture book 'It's Powwow Time' (Greenwillow/HarperCollins), and a wiigwaas (birch bark) harvester and artist. Martha's passion for theatre began in high school, which soon led her to join a children's theatre travelling troupe. With a love for comedy and drama, Martha will explore these genres as part of the Pimootayowin Creators Circle. Back to top
Led by Governor General Award-winning playwright Ian Ross, the Creators Circle supports the creation and development of new plays by Manitoba-based Indigenous artists.
Pimootayowin is an Anishinaabemowin word meaning journey, a word chosen by Ross who explains: “The creation of new art is often described as a journey, so too, our lives. In any journey, we often don’t know what lies ahead but we can emerge enriched by them. I look forward to mentoring talented creators who have fascinating, relevant stories to tell.”
Pimootayowin is dedicated to developing new voices for the theatre. All participants will receive an honorarium, as well as fees when the play is professionally workshopped in preparation for the public presentations. Back to top