Arlea Ashcroft is a French Anishinaabe/Saulteaux multi-disciplinary artist from Treaty 1 Territory in Manitoba, Canada. She is known for work that explores themes of Indigenous and mixed-blood identity, mental health, female sexuality, and art as activism. Her artistic style incorporates a punk rock aesthetic, channeling her raw, rebellious energy into her visual, performance, multimedia, and literary art forms, highlighting her versatility as an artist, fostering dialogue around the transformative power of art as a conduit for truth-telling and cultural preservation. Ashcroft has been active in the arts for over 30 years and has gained both local and international recognition. She is happiest chasing sunsets and camping fireside under the stars.
PUBLISHED WORKS -Written
Let it Burn - Memoir - working on the 1st draft. Publishing 2025
Voices - Winnipeg Arts Council - narrative piece - 2024
Good Morning Relatives – Long Listed by CBC Books Non-Fiction Prize Sept 2023
Tipi Joe - 3500 word Essay for Urban Shaman Gallery - June 2023
Establishing Shots – Interview Chapter – Author Kevin Nikkel – April 2023
Storm The States – Self-published – 200 page Travel book – March 2017
Prairie Fire Mag – Anthology 100th Anniversary of Suffragettes – Essay 2016
CanStar Media – Various editorials in local newspapers – 2013-2016
Canadian Society of Cinematographers Mag – four-page article – 2007
Winnipeg Free Press Writers Comp– 2x honourable mention – Short non-fiction 2005
More Than A Handful – Goddess Rising Theatre Comp – playwright – 1993-1996
Published works - Illustrations
Manowin - book cover artwork - University of Manitoba Press - 2024
DAMMED – book cover artwork- University of Manitoba Press – published 2020
Quest for Respect: The Church and Indigenous Spirituality –June 2017
Red Rising Magazine – Feb 2017
Yours, Mine, Ours, Unravelling the Doctrine of Discovery – Nov 2016
Subterrain Magazine -International Literary Mag– 9 illustrations 2006 - 2009
Album Artwork / Company logos/Graphics for various clients - 2000- ongoing
Published Works - Music
Smell My Finger- Punk Rock CD – SHRIMP guitar, vox, lyrics – Punk Band – 2009
Peel N’ Eat – Punk Rock CD – SHRIMP – guitar, vox, lyrics - Punk Band – 2006
Song purchased by Comedy Network TV Series HOUSE PARTY
2 songs licensed by Daniel MacIvor for his play – A BEAUTIFUL VIEW
VISUAL ART - SOLO / DUO SHOWS
Strata - Astum Api Niikinaahk - Wall to Wall Mural Fest - Wpg MB - Nov 2022
Land, Water, Warriors – Amsterdam Tea House, Wpg MB – Sept Oct 2016
Let It Burn – Zsa Zsa West Gallery, Wpg MB – June 2014
Metis I.D. w/ KC Adams -Paved Arts Gallery– Saskatoon, SK- July 2010
Metis, Metis Not - Curated by Liz Barron - Saskatoon SK - Aug 2010
Iron Maidens – High Octane Gallery– Wpg MB - February 2010
Aboriginal People’s Choice Awards - MTS Centre Winnipeg MB – 2006
Let it all come down tonight – Trip Dance Co. CanWest Art Centre– Feb 06
VISUAL ART - GROUP SHOWS
Flash Photography Festival - City of Winnipeg City Hall, WAG– 2016-2019
Urban Shaman 50 to 500 – Urban Shaman Gallery– 2008 – 2018
GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! – High Octane Gallery- Wpg MB - 2005-2018
Forks Market Shelter Series– Forks Market - Wpg MB– 2016
Portraits - Piano Nobile Gallery Winnipeg Manitoba – Aug-Oct 2015
Royal Canadian Mint Art Battle– Winnipeg Art Gallery – Nov 2014 + March 2015 BE:CULTURED – Royal Albert Arms Hotel– Wpg MB - May 2011
Carol Shields Festival– Prairie Theatre Exchange – Wpg MB - May 2010
aceartinc.– Ace Art Gallery – Wpg MB - Nov 07 + 08 + 10
Art is the Cure – Because Industries – Wpg MB - Sept 2009
WAG studio show – Winnipeg Art Gallery – July 2007
Emerging Village Artists– Medea Gallery – Wpg MB - Jan 2006
Hedwig and the Angry Inch -Rosetinted Prod.–England, Scotland, Italy, May 05
FILM WORKS (all films available on VUCAVU)
METIS, METIS NOT - DIRECTOR/WRITER/PERFORMER - 2010
Native Women in Film Festival – Feb 2013 – Winnipeg Manitoba
3rd Annual Biindigaate Film Festival – Sept 2011 – Thunder Bay, Ontario
33rd Clermont-Ferrand Festival – Feb 2011 – Clermont- Ferrand, France
13th Columbia Native American Indian Film Festival – Nov 2010 – South C, US
XV International TV Fest – Oct 2010 – Bar, Montenegro
Paved Arts – Metis ID – July 2010 – Saskatoon, SK
DEAD MOTHERS KITCHEN FLOORS - DIRECTOR/CINEMATOGRAPHER/CO-PRODUCER – 2007
Magna Musee – Art Collective – Nov 2010 – Winnipeg MB
Festival International des Tres Courts – Jan 2010 – Paris, France
Kassel Dok Film and Video Fest – Nov 2009 – Kassel,Germany
WFG Cinematheque – June 2009 – Winnipeg MB
Pacific Cinematheque – Jan 2009 - Vancouver BC
WNDX Festival of Art Film – Oct 2007 – Winnipeg MB
SNAPPERDOODLE - DIRECTOR / CINEMATOGRAPHER / CO-PRODUCER - 2006
Nuit Blanche Winnipeg Film Group - Oct 2017 - Winnipeg MB
WNDX 5th Anniversary DVD - 1 TAKE SUPER 8 Compilations DVD 2011
Prairie Scene National Arts Center – April 2011 – Ottawa ON
Winnipeg Cinematheque Best of Prairie Super 8 – 1 Take – Feb 2009 – Wpg MB
IMAGES Festival of Independent Film – April 2008 – Toronto ON
Fabulous Festival of Fringe Film – Aug 2007 – Durham ON
Carole Shields Festival of New Work – May 2007 – Winnipeg MB
Girls Girls Girls 3 – March 2007 – Winnipeg MB
WNDX Festival of Art Film – Oct 2006 – Winnipeg MB
IRIS AND NATHAN - DIRECTOR / CO-PRODUCER - 1996
WTN – Short Shots – 1998 – Nationally Broadcast
Cinematheque Members Screening – August 1997 – Winnipeg MB
Local Heroes Film Festival – March 1996 – Edmonton AB
CONSULTING, SPEAKING, JURIES
Urban Art Biz – Indigenous Artist Talks – Creator/Host/Facilitator - 4 years
Northern Arts Workshops – Programming Consultant – 2 years
Smoke Signals – Indigenous Art Conference – Creative Director - 2 years
Winnipeg’s Indigenous Accord - Signatory rep. for Creative Manitoba - 9 years Exchange District Planning for Neeginan District - Consultant
MB Legislature Mstr Rochelle Squires–Indigenous Art Cultural Policy–Consultant
Winnipeg Art Gallery – Indigenizing the Art Experience – Consultant
ACI Manitoba – Indigenous Artists Needs Assessment – Consultant
Immigrant Centre Manitoba Inc. – Newcomer Artist presentation – Guest Speaker
Unesco World Heritage Day – Art as Activism – Guest speaker
Canada Council For the Arts – Multiple Creating Knowing Sharing grants – Juror Manitoba Arts Council – Multiple Visual, Film/Media, Indigenous360 Grants -Juror
Manitoba Book Awards - Manual Dias Book Design Illustration Award - Juror
Winnipeg Film Group – Multiple First Film, Production Grant, MosaicFilm – Juror Spirit Visions ManitoAhbee, UofW, UofM, and ACTRA Film Festivals – Juror
MISCELLANEOUS
Recipient-Winnipeg Arts Council Individual Artist Grant-Writing - Dec 2024
Recipient-Manitoba Arts Council Indigenous 360 Grant Creation-Writing- July 2023 Recipient-Indigenous Curatorial Collective – Community Cares Grant-March 2023
Indigenous Programs Manager at Creative Manitoba - 2016 - current
Operations Manager/Curator for Neechi Niche Gallery - 2013-2016
Curating and hosting more than 80 Indigenous Artists + Author events,
Representing over 200 local Indigenous Artists and crafters
Founding member of IATSE 856 - 14 years as Gaffer/Best Boy LX in film industry Instructor for Screenwriting and Basic Filmmaking for the Winnipeg Film Group,
Script coverage services for Screenwriters
Story Department Coordination for TV series Falcon Beach
WORKSHOPS / CONFERENCES OF NOTE
Share Your Story – w/ CBC Indigenous, APTN, Indigenous Journalists Association
Clan Mothers Healing Village with Elder Mae Louise – Monthly Teachings series
Driving While Indigenous – Day-long Healing with Humour Conference
Cultivating Safe Spaces for Indigenous People – Workshop w/ Elaine Alec
Manitoba Collaborative Indigenous Education Blueprint – 2 years
Indigenous Business Leaders Luncheon w/ Premier Wab Kinew
Decolonizing the Narrative Conversation Series: January Rogers – workshop
Writers in Their Natural Habitat with katherena vermette – 6 week series
Arlea Ashcroft 