The Edward Curtis Project
Angeline
Played by: Quelemia Sparrow
A Canadian photojournalist of Dene/Russian descent, struggling with the plight of contemporary Aboriginal peoples within the context of colonialism, as seen through the lens of turn of the (previous) century’s American photographer, Edward Curtis.
Edward Curtis
Played by: Todd Duckworth
Historical figure: 1900s photographer, lecturer, and businessman who adopted the pet name “Chief”. He dedicated his life to a passion for documenting First Nation Peoples in an attempt to preserve images and memories of pre-contact life, albeit often times composed to suit his – and others’ – impression of what an Indian once was.
Dr. Clara
Played by: Kathleen Duborg
Angeline’s fair-skinned sister who works as a psychiatrist in an office decorated with framed certificates. She represents mainstream society’s definition of success, yet her marriage has broken down and her children are being raised by their white father.
Yiska
Played by: Kevin Loring
Angeline’s First Nation boyfriend of N’lakap’mux identity. He works as a translator of Aboriginal languages at a university and is strongly based in his culture and traditions. He supports Angeline throughout her crisis and challenges the seemingly well-intended but imposing and manipulative “ethnographic” photographer who was Edward Curtis.
Clara
Played by: Kathleen Duborg
Historical figure: Edward Curtis’ wife, mother of his children and business partner. She feels desperately abandoned by her husband whose obsession with “The Vanishing Race” has kept him away from home and family.
Alexander Upshaw
Played by: Kevin Loring
Historical figure: Crow (or "Apsaroke") interpreter and fieldworker who worked extensively with Curtis between 1905 and 1909. He was widely respected among the Crow First Nations as an advocate for Aboriginal rights. A graduate of the Carlisle Indian School in 1897, he went on to become a teacher. He was murdered in 1909.
Hunger Chief
Played by: Kevin Loring
A spirit-like figure dressed in a bear skin, representing the many Nations of Aboriginal Peoples both past and present, strong and weak.
Princess Angeline
Played by: Quelemia Sparrow
Historical figure: the eldest daughter of Chief Sealth of Seattle, named Kikisoblu but renamed Angeline by an American pioneer and referred to as “Princess” by the white community of Seattle. In 1896 she became the first First Nation individual to be photographed by Edward Curtis, thus launching his career as a portrait photographer of Aboriginal peoples.