Marie
Clements
Marie Clements is a Métis/Dene writer, director, and producer whose work spans theatre, film, TV, and radio. Her published plays include Copper Thunderbird, which was nominated for a 2008 Governor General’s Literary Award, and Burning Vision, which won a Canada Japan Literary Award. She is the founder of a media production company that showcases Indigenous and intercultural realities. Clements’ documentary The Road Forward was nominated for the 2018 Writers Guild of Canada’s Documentary Screenwriting Award. Her debut feature drama, Red Snow, won several awards including Most Popular Canadian Feature and Best Canadian Feature at the Vancouver and Edmonton International Film Festivals. Her recent works include the NFB documentary Lay Down Your Heart and the feature film and episodic drama Bones of Crows for CBC/Radio Canada and APTN. Clements lives on Galiano Island in British Columbia.
Award History
Selection Committee Citation
“As a playwright, filmmaker, radio documentarian, and multi-media artist, Marie Clements consistently creates multidimensional works that challenge and reframe colonial history. By rearticulating false narratives, Clements exposes audiences to the disconnect between the myths underpinning colonialism and the actual experiences of Indigenous peoples. Her unique style draws on traditional storytelling and western theatrical conventions to create dynamic art that demands critical thought regarding erroneous representations of Indigeneity. She fearlessly addresses many forms of colonial violence that cast an oppressive shadow of misrepresentation and thwart reconciliation by deepening the divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Clements continues to demonstrate brilliance, acuity, and intensity in her work in the best tradition of teaching through artistic expression.” —2024 Matt Cohen Award: In Celebration of a Writing Life committee (Patsy Aldana, Michelle Good, Wayne Grady, Sylvia D. Hamilton, and Hal Wake)
