Indigenous Artists in Schools
In YPT’s Indigenous Artists in Schools program, teachers and students learn about Indigenous culture directly from Indigenous artist educators.
Rooted in their own arts practices, cultural knowledge and experience, Indigenous artist educators facilitate workshops for students and educators to continue their lifelong learning about Indigenous people and customs. See details about current workshops below.
2025.26 Workshop Offering:
Inquiry into Indigeneity – Creating Conversation
Meet Herbie Barnes, the Artistic Director of Young People’s Theatre! He is an award-winning Anishinaabe actor/director/playwright from Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation on Manitoulin Island and was raised in Toronto.
Herbie’s workshop Inquiry into Indigeneity shares who he is as a First Nations artist and encourages students to explore the First Peoples of Canada with him.
Through this workshop students learn about:
- the Seven Ancestral Teachings/Gifts of the Anishinaabe (Truth, Honesty, Humility, Bravery, Wisdom, Respect, Love),
- the Creation Story, and
- Land Acknowledgements – what are they about and why are they important.
This session includes a Q&A session with Herbie so students can ask him their questions directly!
Workshops are 60 minutes in length, and available for only one class at a time (up to 30 students per workshop). They can take place either at YPT or at the participating school.
This workshop is for Grades 2-6 and only available from January 29-February 12, 2026. Each workshop is $275 + HST per class – availability is limited on a first come, first served basis.
For teachers interested in booking this workshop for their class, or for more information on the program, please contact Jenni Saslove, Learning Programs Co-ordinator: jsaslove@youngpeoplestheatre.org.
Testimonials
“I was going to reach out just after the workshop because it was so knocks your socks off. Herbie used every second to engage the kids in meaningful ways – including his opening question – name something that makes you special.
He created a space where kids could ask questions without judgement – the students were obsessed with Muskrat from the creation story and strongly felt that Muskrat should sit in the middle of all the other animals in the Seven Grandfather Teaching exercise because Muskrat showed all of the teachings when they dove to the bottom of the water to get earth to spread on Turtle’s back.”
— Teacher at The Linden School
Indigeneity at YPT Supported by
Lead Sponsor
