ARTIST

Artist. Activator. Aunty. Zoey Roy is a rebel with a cause. 

A humorous presenter and a luminous storyteller, Zoey offers practical wisdom for living well amongst the violence of settler colonialism. A lover of words, having fun and synthesizing knowledge, she has spent most of her life traveling the globe sharing her gift of gab through performances, keynote presentations and workshops. Zoey is a hip hop inspired poet with an insatiable appetite for learning and growing. 

Nehithaw-Dené and Michif, Zoey is a citizen of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Northern Saskatchewan, and is based in Kingston ON where she lives with her partner.

A teacher at heart and by training, Zoey facilitates motivational and insightful experiences with the goal to encourage critical thinking, connection, and creativity. Operating an independent teaching arts practice, she maintains a working relationship with the National Arts Centre, Taking IT Global, and the Gord Downie & Change Wenjack Fund so classrooms across Canada get access to music programming for free. 

She has a Bachelor’s of Education, a Master’s of Public Policy and is now pursuing a Ph.D in Education where she is looking at how Indigenous people are using social media to actualize their identities, families and Nations. 

Zoey’s career can largely be attributed to the quality of friendships she has fostered, developed and maintained. As someone who needed witnesses early on in her life, she knew her support system was her lifeline. Her home community of Saskatoon and beyond continue to celebrate her. She was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the YWCA Women of Distinction Award, the Indspire Award, and the Saskatchewan Arts Teaching and Learning Award.

Zoey shares a message about love and wonderment, how she used it in her life to propel her in the direction of her dreams, and how she found gratitude along the way. 

Photo Credit: Red Works Photography

Saskatoon poet and author named USask Indigenous Storyteller-in-Residence: https://news.usask.ca/articles/colleges/2021/saskatoon-poet-and-author-named-usask-indigenous-storyteller-in-residence.php

Indigenous artist from Saskatchewan featured in national ad campaign: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/indigenous-artist-featured-national-campaign-1.6268376

Zoey Roy first Indigenous author to participate in NAC's #CanadaPerforms: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/unreserved-s-self-isolation-book-club-what-indigenous-authors-are-reading-during-the-pandemic-1.5556414/zoey-roy-first-indigenous-author-to-participate-in-nac-s-canadaperforms-1.5556418

'We're sounding like one': Poet uses hip hop for cultural connection in Indigenous classroom

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/zoey-roy-hip-hop-st-frances-cree-school-1.4912182

Zoey Roy's homecoming: finding a safe place after homelessness: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/zoey-roy-s-homecoming-finding-a-safe-place-after-homelessness-1.3330436

Saskatoon Métis artist Zoey Roy wins National Indspire Award: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-artist-zoey-roy-indspire-award-1.3432195

Activist Zoey Roy calls for boycott of Spirit Halloween store over Indigenous costumes: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/spirit-halloween-zoey-roy-indigenous-costumers-1.3800081

Poet turned life around by connecting to Indigenous culture: https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/poet-turned-life-around-connecting-indigenous-culture-1.3576137

Kokums embrace hip hop by creating their own Cree rap video: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/kokum-cree-rap-1.5256315

Zoey Roy comes face to face with the colonizers: https://www.vice.com/en/article/kwk5v9/face-to-face-with-colonizers-metis-artist-zoey-roy-on-meeting-the-royals-and-trudeau