The Makers Featuring a cast of nationally acclaimed actors, singers, award-winning writers, producers and director, TIPI TALES communicate a modern vision based on ancient principles.

THE CAST Ryan Black - JUNIOR Rebecca Gibson - ELIZABETH Herbie Barnes - RUSSELL Jan Skene - SAMANTHA Michelle St. John - GREAT GRANDMOTHER Jules Desjarlais - GREAT GRANDFATHER Tracy McCorrister - EAGLE Tina Keeper - BUFFALO Ray St. Germain - BEAR Jerry (Bear) Barret - SABE Ted Longbottom - BEAVER Curtis 'Shingoose' Jonnie - WOLF Marsha Knight -TURTLE

Ryan Black as JUNIOR Ryan Black is a Winnipeg native of Saulteaux and Caribbean parentage. He began his career at the age of 19 with a small part in CBC/Owl TV's Spirit Rider. Addicted by his first taste of "the business" he proceeded to find an agent and within months landed starring roles in TNT's Geronimo and Bruce McDonald's Dance Me Outside. He then went on to reprise the role of "Silas" in the CBC Television series The Rez which was based on McDonald's successful feature film. In 1998, Black received a Gemini Award nomination in the category of Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic role for his work on The Rez. His recent credits include the CBC television movie Random Passage and the television series Relic Hunter (CHUM/City TV). In 1998, Black celebrated the birth of his daughter Mary, "the light of his life." Recently Black commented, "I share the Aboriginal belief that we are borrowing the world from our children, and so I take great pride in my portrayal of "Junior" in TIPI TALES. It is a great opportunity to speak to all children."

Rebecca Gibson as ELIZABETH Rebecca Gibson is a Winnipeg actor whose recent credits include the television movies Hell On Heels: The Battle for Mary Kay (CBS), Behind The Scenes: The Story of Three's Company (NBC) and The Many Trials of One Jane Doe (CBC). In addition to her work as an actor, Rebecca works as an acting coach and a filmmaking and animation instructor. Rebecca would like to dedicate her work in Tipi Tales to her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Maxine.

Herbie Barnes as RUSSELL Herbie Barnes works as an actor, director, writer and teacher. His film credits include the television movie Spirit Rider, the feature film Dance Me Outside, the television series,The Rez, and most recently he is the co-host and writer for Buffalo Tracks. His theatre credits include Toronto at Dreamers Rock, The Rememberer, Boy in the Treehouse, The Illustrated History of the Anishnabe, The Hobbit, The Gap, Sucker Falls, The Epic Period and Sin City. In February 2003 he will direct the Manitoba Theatre for Young's People's production of IMROVident: The Show Where Anything Can Happen.

Jan Skene as SAMANTHA Actress, singer, mime and puppeteer Jan Skene has been seen on most of Winnipeg's professional stages and in film, radio and television. A gold medal graduate of the University of Winnipeg Department of Theatre, Jan began her work in children's theatre as co-founder of Mimeworks, a mime and story theatre company which performed its unique style of physical comedy across Canada and in Singapore and Hong Kong. Jan learned first hand about the magic of puppets from the Canadian master Ronnie Burkett while performing in Dennis Foon's award winning play See Saw at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People in 1993. Shortly thereafter Jan's physical and vocal versatility lead to her first job as a television puppeteer on CBC's children's series Fred Penner's Place. TIPI TALES is Jan's third collaboration with producer/director Lesley Oswald and creative producer/writer Nancy Trites Botkin.

Michelle St. John as GREAT-GRANDMOTHER Michelle St. John joined the cast of Tipi Tales as the voice of Great-Grandmother after her success voicing "Nakoma" in Disney's Pocahontas. She has appeared on screen, TV and stage. Her film credits include: Coyote Summer, Geronimo and Curse of the Viking Grave. Her TV credits include: Bingo and a Movie, Murphy Brown, Northern Exposure and Liar Liar. Michelle won the 1990 Gemini Award for best actress for her role in Where the Spirit Lives and the 1991 Gemini Award for Best Guest Performance in a series by an Actress or Actor for her role in E.N.G. A Long Way From Home.

Jules Desjarlais as GREAT-GRANDFATHER Jules Desjarlais is a Metis originally from St. Laurent, Manitoba. He has been working as a film and television actor for the past 13 years. He began his career as a horse rider in a movie for TNT and has worked with Kris Kristofferson, Kim Cattrall, Steven Seagal, Jane Seymour, Tracy Ullman, Bruce Campbell and Chris Farley. In 2001 he won a Blizzard Award for his role in the educational film JCR -The Sharing Circle.

Tracey McCorrister as EAGLE Tracey McCorrister grew up in Winnipeg. She has appeared on TV, screen and stage, most recently in Ian Ross' Governor General's award-winning play fareWel at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Tracey's heart lies in the promotion of Aboriginal theatre. She is a founding member of As The Bannock Burns Theatre Company, where she has starred, produced and directed numerous productions. Her two children, Rochelle and Jez, are thrilled their mom will be bringing a character to life in TIPI TALES.

Tina Keeper as BUFFALO Tina Keeper is best known to audiences around the world for her role of Michelle Kenidi on the successful CBC television series North of 60. Tina and her family moved to Winnipeg from northern Manitoba when she was four years old. Her introduction to theatre came when her sister drafted her to help with wardrobe for a native theatre group in 1982. She went on to stage-manage and later, perform. She completed the acting program at the University of Winnipeg while working on a double major in History and Theatre. Keeper supplemented her stage work with workshops in mime, improvisation and dance. After only two film parts, one of which was For Angela, an NFB short film, Keeper landed the lead in North of 60 - "a dream come true." In 1994, the critically acclaimed dramatic series North of 60 received nine Gemini Award nominations, including Best Dramatic Series and Best Actress for Tina Keeper. She was nominated in 1995 and 1996 for the Gemini Award. Finally, in 1997 there was great celebration when she won her Gemini for Best Actress in a Continuing Series. She was also chosen to co-host the 1995 Gemini Awards national telecast with Alliance Communications' Due South star Paul Gross.

Ray St. Germain as BEAR Ray St. Germain began singing and performing at the age of 14. He is well known to television audiences across Canada as the host of Big Sky Country which ran on Global Television from 1978 Ð 1990. Ray has toured Canada and the world with The Ray St. Germain Show. Over the years he has received the Aboriginal Order of Canada, Saskatchewan's Order of The Sash and the Manitoba Association of Country Arts (MACA) Entertainer of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Male Vocalist Ð Recording Artist. Currently he is an On-Air Personality on NCI-FM, Manitoba's #1 Aboriginal Radio Network.

Gerry (The Big Bear) Barret as SABE Gerry Barrett is a status Ojibway from the Saugeen First Nation located in Southern Ontario. Barrett is a veteran broadcaster and also one of Canada's favourite Aboriginal stand-up comedians. He is currently working as the Morning Host on Manitoba's Aboriginal Radio Network, NCI-FM and developing his first television comedy special.

Ted Longbottom as BEAVER Ted Longbottom is a Manitoba Metis musician, storyteller and recording artist. His debut CD, Longbottom, achieved critical acclaim and was featured across the country on CBC Radio, as well as receiving airplay in the United States, Australia and Europe. His new CD River Road celebrates Aboriginal culture and traditions and has produced three top ten hits on NCI. Recently, Ted composed the music for the hit television series Quest for the Bay (History Channel), completed Buffalo Tales, a musical retelling of Manitoba Aboriginal history (CBC) and My Father's Bones, a tribute to the Metis and Aboriginal warriors of Canada's past. Ted has also appeared on Fred Penner's The Season (a Christmas special) and was profiled on CBC Television's On The Road Again. Ted performs throughout Canada and the U.S.

Curtis Johnnie aka Shingoose as WOLF Better known as Shingoose, Curtis Johnnie has been a singer/songwriter, TV host, producer, actor, entertainment consultant and Native cultural events director for the past three decades. Currently, he is back in the spotlight with Indian Time III Ð 500 Years of Feelings, an entertainment special for APTN and Bravo. His new CD, on the First Artists label, will be released in April 2003.

Marsha Knight as TURTLE Marsha Knight has been active in the Winnipeg arts community for 10 years. In theater, her roles include Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird (Prairie Theater Exchange), Phyllis in fareWel (Prairie Theater Exchange, Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Mary in Crisis In Oka, (Wow Pow Theater) and Philomena in The Rez Sisters (Prairie Theatre Exchange). In film and video, she has appeared in the television movies Society's Child (CBC) and Framed (TNT) and the feature film, Edge of Madness (Lion's Gate Films). In addition, Marsha also worked as Co-Director for Rossbrook House's Hep-C Theater Project and is a member of the collective Bannock Burns Theater. Marsha currently works as a Classroom Drama Facilitator.

THE PRODUCTION COMPANY EAGLE VISION Eagle Vision opened the doors to their new state-of-the-art production offices in September 2003. Located within MidCanada Production Services facility, Eagle Vision is now under the same roof as the leading, and most technologically advanced production house between Toronto and Vancouver. In 2003, Eagle Vision proudly launched its preschool children's series, Tipi Tales. Tipi Tales are wondrous adventures of four young Aboriginal cousins told through story and song. Elizabeth, Junior, Russell, and Sam, play together in the forest surrounding their great-grandparents home, facing daily challenges and seeking to gain a better understanding of each other and the world around them. Tipi Tales was the proud recipient of the prestigious 2003 Parents Choice Gold Award. This honour is bestowed upon books, magazines, toys, games, videos, software, audio recordings, and television programs that are created to the highest quality and ranked most appealing in their category. Presented annually by the Parents Choice Foundation, the criteria for the Gold Award include "the highest production standards, universal human values and a unique, individual quality that pushes the product a notch above others."

THE FILMMAKERS PRODUCER/DIRECTOR - Lesley Oswald CREATIVE PRODUCERS - Lesley Oswald, Nancy Trites Botkin PRODUCER - Kyle Irving EXECUTIVE STORY EDITOR - Nancy Trites Botkin WRITERS - Nancy Trites Botkin, Jordan Wheeler, Leanne Foley TECHNICAL PRODUCER - Bruce McConnell EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS - Lisa Meeches, Wayne Sheldon SPIRITUAL ADVISOR - Dave Courchene PRODUCTION MANAGER/ ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - Kyle Irving PRODUCTION DESIGNER - Harold Thrasher LIGHTING DESIGNER - John Gilmore ORIGINAL MUSIC - Fred Penner PUPPET DESIGNER - Doug Morrow PUPPET DEVELOPMENT - Dave Morrow PUBLICITY -Leslie Stafford STILLS PHOTOGRAPHY -Thomas Fricke, John Gilmore

LESLEY OSWALD PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, CREATIVE PRODUCER Lesley Oswald has been working in the television industry since 1975. From 1993 Ð 1996 she was the Director and Executive Producer of the children's series Fred Penner's Place. During her tenure, the show received two Gemini Award nominations, a Golden Sheaf Award, a Blizzard Award nomination and a Bronze Plaque Award at the Columbus Film and Video Festival. In 1995, Lesley produced and directed the television series Baby and Me for Buffalo Gal Pictures. The following year she co-wrote, produced and directed Making It Work, also for Buffalo Gal. Both shows aired on WTN. As a Line Producer, Lesley has helmed Alliance Altlantis' MOW Another Day starring Shannon Doherty, the Blue Rider Pictures' feature films Wishmaster III, Wishmaster IV, as well as Clown at Midnight, starring Christopher Plummer, Margot Kidder and James Duval. Other projects include the half-hour drama Breakfast All Day for CBC and two half-hour specials of The Garage Club for Fox Kids. Her production management credits include MOWs We Were the Mulvaneys (Lifetime), which starred Beau Bridges and Blythe Danner, The Osmonds (ABC), Marriage of Convenience (CBS), which starred James Brolin and Jane Seymour, the Gemini Award winning dance spectacular Journey, the series The Adventures of Shirley Holmes (YTV) and the feature film Black Ice for Saban Entertainment, which starred Michael Ironside and Joanna Pakula. Her recent credits include Production Manager on the Alliance Atlantis MOW Hell On Heels: The Battle for Mary Kay (CBS) and Co-Producer/Line Producer on the award winning Dracula: Pages From a Virgin's Diary (CBC) which recently won a 2002 International Emmy Award and two 2002 Gemini Awards. Lesley is the current Chairperson of Film Training Manitoba.

NANCY TRITES BOTKIN CREATIVE PRODUCER, EXECUTIVE STORY EDITOR, WRITER Nancy has been creating and writing for film, TV and stage productions for almost 30 years. Her credits include Emmy Award-winning adult dramas such as Age Old Friends with Hume Cronyn, to Red Shoes, which was short-listed for an Academy Award, to For Angela, the winner of many national and international awards, including the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's Canada Award. In all, her work has won over 50 national and international awards and many more nominations. Nancy is most passionate about her work for children. She is fond of saying, "Children are not stupid, they are just short." Her passion for developing shows of substance, excellence and absolute side-splitting entertainment is renowned. "It doesn't matter if I am developing, producing, directing or writing - it is all a gift to be able to create in this way for audiences." Years of producing and writing for the CBC children's television series Fred PennerÔs Place led to developing and writing many other children's shows. The Treehouse series The Toy Castle, which was developed with her leadership, recently completed production on its third season.

LISA MEECHES EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Lisa Meeches is an Executive Producer and the President of Eagle Vision Inc. and Meeches Video Productions, two Winnipeg-based production companies. She is also the Executive Producer, Producer, Writer and Co-Host of The Sharing Circle, a television series currently in its tenth season. Lisa began her career in 1986 with the Winnipeg-based Native Media Network where she worked compiling radio reports for a native talk show. Her professional work experience then broadened to include news reporting for Craig Broadcasting Systems in Manitoba and Alberta. During her tenure at Craig, she established a liaison team which connected the newsroom with surrounding First Nations communities. Her education includes a Broadcast Arts Degree and a Diploma in Business Administration. Lisa recently completed the Banff Television Festival's Executive Program, honing her skills with some of the top names in Canadian production.

WAYNE SHELDON EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Since 1977, Wayne Sheldon has been the President of MidCanada Production Services, Manitoba's largest independent production facility for film and television production. As a full-service production centre, the company offers an impressive fleet of broadcast cameras and editing, sound recording and design studios, animation and special effects, Internet design and multi-media authoring. As a service provider, MIDCAN has ties with virtually every broadcaster in the US and Canada and continues to service major network movies, series, documentaries and specials. As a producer of film and television, MIDCAN specializes in factual, children's and information programming as well as new media content. The company currently has projects in development/production with CBC, Discovery Channel Canada, Global Television, Life Network and A-Channel Entertainment. Celebrating his 25th year in business, Wayne has built his company on principles of integrity, fairness and a commitment to excellence.

KYLE IRVING PRODUCER EAGLE VISION INC. / TIPITALES INC. Kyle Irving oversees the development, production, sales, and distribution of television products for both Eagle Vision and Meeches Video Productions. He is the producer of two Canadian television series, The Sharing Circle and Tipi Tales, as well as a new hour long documentary As Long as the Rivers Flow. The Sharing Circle, was the winner of a 2003 Canadian Association Of Broadcaster Gold Ribbon Award, has become one of the longest running television series in Canadian television history. This documentary series is a celebration of life that embraces people from all races and cultures, while offering in-depth, critical analysis of the series subjects. The Sharing Circle delivers intimate and detailed looks at each story, while remaining true to the roots of Aboriginal spirituality. Tipi Tales is the highly acclaimed pre-school children's series from Eagle Vision. Tipi Tales was the winner of a 2003 Parents Choice Gold Award. This puppet series features four Ojibway cousins who, during visits to their great-grandparents' home, learn the tools of life from enchanting forest animals who embody the seven ancient aboriginal laws - love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth. Prior to joining Meeches Video Productions and Eagle Vision, Kyle was an independent producer, director, and production manager. Some of his more notable programming includes Canadian Idol season 1 and 2, Toy Castle season 3, the 2002 Winter Olympics, the World Track and Field Championships, the Men's Manitoba Provincial Curling Championships, the 1999 Pan American Games, and several Canadian Football League Grey Cup Games.

BRUCE MCCONNELL TECHNICAL PRODUCER Bruce has worked in the television industry for over 30 years. After contributing to the success of many international sporting and news events, Bruce has returned to children's television. His achievements in this genre include Technical Producer for Fred Penner's Place (CBC) and The Toy Castle (Treehouse). His recent credits include Venue Technical Manager for the 2000 Olympic Summer Games in Sydney, Australia and the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, and Technical Producer for the 2002 North American Indigenous Games in Winnipeg and the 2001 World Track and Field Championships in Edmonton.

JORDAN WHEELER WRITER Of Cree, Ojibway, Assiniboine, Irish, English, Scottish and French descent, Jordan Wheeler is a writer of many nations, and each nation has contributed to Jordan as a writer. Born in a blizzard in Victoria, British Columbia in 1964, Wheeler began writing professionally while still in high school. With early aspirations for journalism, Wheeler slipped into the world of fiction and eventually landed in script writing. Welcome Home Hero (1990), a half-hour drama for CBC, was his first produced writing credit. His experience includes four seasons as senior story editor on North of 60 and two seasons story-editing The Rez. His writing for episodic television has been extensive, with numerous credits on North of 60, The Rez, Black Harbour, Euclid and Main (a series in development with the CBC) and the half hour children's series Mentors, The Adventures of Shirley Holmes and Tales from the Longhouse. Jordan's fiction writing includes Brothers in Arms, a book of three novellas published in 1989 by Pemmican Publications. He recently completed a novel presently titled Three Moons With Marvin and Sara, and has published a number of short stories. In the genre of children's writing, Wheeler made his mark in publishing in 1984 with Just A Walk (Fitzhenry and Whiteside). Achimoona was an anthology that included three of his stories (1985, Fifth House). Adventure of Thunder Island (James Lorimer) was published in 1991. Wheeler has also written for theatre and magazine articles, and has edited two newspapers. Wheeler's associated experience includes work as a production manager, assistant director, departments and location manager, film editor, sound recorder, grip and vacuum cleaner salesman.

HAROLD THRASHER PRODUCTION DESIGNER Harold Thrasher has been working in the entertainment industry since the late 60s primarily as an Art Director and Production Designer on feature films, television series and made-for-television movies. Harold has received two Gemini nominations, two ACE nominations and an Emmy nomination. His long list of credits as Production Designer include: Hell On Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay (CBS), The Osmonds (ABC) and 45 episodes of Due South (CTV). As Art Director, his credits include When Harry Met Sally (Castlerock Entertainment), Young Guns (20th Century) and Morgan Creek and Raising Arizona for (20th Century and Circle Films).

DOUG MORROW PUPPET DESIGNER Doug Morrow has been a professional make-up artist since 1989, and has contributed his craft to motion picture and television productions such as Jumanji, The X-Files, Happy Gilmore, eXiStanZ and Hard Times: The David Milgaard Story". Morrow is a self taught artist who has been experimenting in make-up since the mid 70s when his interest was kindled after seeing the original Planet of the Apes. Moving to Vancouver in 1990, Morrow started working in the motion picture industry, where his real education began. Since moving back to Winnipeg with his wife in 1996, Morrow has been kept very busy with Manitoba's growing film industry. Working on TIPI TALES has been a new experience for Doug, who relished the challenge of creating the puppets for this exciting new children's series.

FRED PENNER COMPOSER Fred Penner is an internationally recognized family entertainer who has released an impressive 12 albums (his latest being Sing With Fred) with total sales over the million-unit mark. He starred in the TV series Fred Penners Place and The Simple Way, and with books, videos and personal appearances, his life, career and love of entertaining families show no signs of slowing down. As both a parent and performer, Fred has a sincere respect for children, as well as an active interest in their health and development. Most notably, Fred has associated himself with such organizations as Down Syndrome, the Canadian Institute of Child Health, Safe Kids Canada, UNICEF Canada (to name a few) and in 1992, Fred received the Order of Canada in recognition of his commitment to the family. Three years later, The University of Winnipeg presented an honorary doctor of laws degree upon him for contributions toward the education of children: Dr. Fred Penner, B.A., C.M., LL.D. Fred is delighted to be a part of the new series TIPI TALES for the very simple reason that he feels the show is important. "The stories and the music take the viewer through an important journey of discovery. Every episode brings you into the lives of the characters (grandparents and children) and guides you to a sensitive and powerful conclusion." Fred's catchy melodies and engaging lyrics focus on the messages and help the viewer share the values in each story.