Board of Directors

Reneltta Arluk, D.Litt., is Inuvialuk, Dene, and Cree from the Northwest Territories, raised by her grandparents on the trap-line until school age. This early nomadic life provided Reneltta with the unique skill set to become the multi-disciplinary nomadic performing artist that she is. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Acting degree from the University of Alberta, becoming the first Indigenous woman and first Inuk to graduate from the program. For more than twenty years, Reneltta has been part of or initiated the creation of Indigenous Theatre across Canada and overseas. In 2008 she founded Akpik Theatre, the only professional Indigenous Theatre company in the Northwest Territories. Reneltta received an honorary doctorate from the University of Alberta for her contribution to the decolonization of cultural institutions in Canada. Her previous position was as Director of Indigenous Arts at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. She was also responsible for developing and strengthening relationships with Treaty 6 Indigenous community members, and forging partnerships with non-Indigenous artistic institutions regionally, nationally and globally, all with the intention of creating space for Indigenous voices. Reneltta works with colleagues across the Gallery to support Indigenous priorities with a focus on Indigenous communities, visitors, artists and other stakeholders. She brings Indigenous-centred worldviews into the Gallery’s policy-making, and supports engagement with Indigenous communities that ensures respectful, reciprocal and responsible relationships.