Tantoo Cardinal, CM is a Canadian film and television actress. In 2009, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada "for her contributions to the growth and development of Aboriginal performing arts in Canada, as a screen and stage actress, and as a founding member of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company." Cardinal was raised in the hamlet of Anzac, Alberta. The lack of electricity inspired her to use her imagination while playing in the bush. Her grandmother nicknamed her “Tantoo” after the insect repellent they used while picking blueberries together. She taught Cardinal the Cree language, the traditional ways of their culture and the difficulties she would face growing up Métis in Canada. Cardinal has said that it was walking behind her grandmother where she first learned to act. Career Cardinal has played roles in many notable films and television series, including Spirit Bay, Dances with Wolves, Black Robe, Legends of the Fall, Smoke Signals, Hold the Dark and North of 60. She was cast in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation mini-series By Way of the Stars with Gordon Tootoosis as The Cree Chief and Eric Schweig as Black Thunder. In 2009, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada "for her contributions to the growth and development of Aboriginal performing arts in Canada, as a screen and stage actress, and as a founding member of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company". Personal life Cardinal met her first husband, Fred Martin, while boarding at his family ’ s home during her high school years in Edmonton. They were married from 1968 to 1978 and had a son, Cheyenne, prior to their divorce. Television Year Title Role Notes1984Spirit BayAnnieMain role1987Gunsmoke: Return to DodgeLittle DoeTelevision film1990Maria BrantEpisode: "Miles to Go"1991Lightning FieldVivianTelevision film1992Street LegalRenee StonehouseRecurring role; 4 episodes1992-93By Way of the StarsFranoisTelevision mini-series1993Harts of the WestHelenEpisode: "Auggie's End"1993Spirit RiderMarilyn St. ClaireTelevision film1993–1995Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanSnow BirdRecurring role; 7 episodes1994–1997North of 60Betty MosesRecurring role; 7 episodes1995500 Nations(voice)Television mini-series1996Grand AvenueNellieTelevision film1998Big BearRunning SecondTelevision mini-series1998Cold SquadTheresa SandimanEpisode: "Salty Cheever"2000Navigating the HeartMaryTelevision film2000Aunt MaryTelevision film2001MythQuestWallohaEpisode: "Red Wolf's Daughter"2002Tom StoneJudge CrowfootEpisode: "Royalty"2003-06Moccasin FlatsBetty MerastyRecurring role; 22 episodes2004Windy AcresAunt LauraRecurring role; 7 episodes2004H20Grand Chief Katie BlackfireGuest role; 2 episodes2004Irene MusketTelevision film2006Indian Summer: The Oka CrisisIba Beauvais4 episodes2007Luna: Spirit of the WhaleGloria MaquinnaTelevision film2008Ursularecurring role; 4 episodes2008Just BreatheHeatherTelevision film2008Changing Climates, Changing TimesGrace LajoieTelevision film2009Tales of an Urban IndianDianneTelevision film2009Dear PrudenceRuth VigilTelevision film2010ShatteredCarolGuest role; 2 episodes2012–2015BlackstoneWilma StoneyRecurring role; 18 episodes2013Arctic AirAunt MaryEpisode: "Skeletons in the Closet"2014Strange EmpirePichetteEpisode: "Lonely Hearts"2014–2016Mohawk GirlsZoe's MomRecurring role; 5 episodes2015–2017LongmireMarilyn YarlottGuest role; 4 episodes2016FrontierKamennaGuest role; 2 episodes2016On the FarmAda TaylorTelevision film2017GodlessIyoviMiniseries; 7 episodes2018OutlanderAdawehiGuest role; 2 episodes2019–2020StumptownSue Lynn BlackbirdSeries regular Canadian Film Encyclopedia [A publication of The Film Reference Library/a division of the Toronto International Film Festival Group]
Tantoo Cardinal, CM is a Canadian film and television actress. In 2009, she was made a member of the Order of Canada "for her contributions to the growth and development of Aboriginal performing arts in Canada, as a screen and stage actress, and as a founding member of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company." Cardinal was raised in the hamlet of Anzac, Alberta. The lack of electricity inspired her to use her imagination while playing in the bush. Her grandmother nicknamed her "Tantoo" after the insect repellent they used while picking blueberries together. She taught Cardinal the Cree language, the traditional ways of their culture and the difficulties she would face growing up Métis in Canada. Cardinal has said that it was walking behind her grandmother where she first learned to act. Career Cardinal has played roles in many notable films and television series, including Spirit Bay, Dances with Wolves, Black Robe, Legends of the Fall, Smoke Signals, Hold the Dark and North of 60. She was cast in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation mini-series By Way of the Stars with Gordon Tootoosis as the Cree Chief and Eric Schweig as Black Thunder. In 2009, she was made a member of the Order of Canada "for her contributions to the growth and development of Aboriginal performing arts in Canada, as a screen and stage actress, and as a founding member of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company". Personal life Cardinal met her first husband, Fred Martin, while boarding at his family ' s home during her high school years in Edmonton. They were married from 1968 to 1978 and had a son, Cheyenne, prior to their divorce. Television Year Title Role Notes1984Spirit BayAnnieMain role1987Gunsmoke: Return to DodgeLittle DoeTelevision film1990Maria BrantEpisode: "Miles to Go"1991Lightning FieldVivianTelevision film1992Street LegalRenee StonehouseRecurring role; 4 episodes1992-93By Way of the StarsFranoisTelevision mini-series1993Harts of the WestHelenEpisode: "Auggie's End"1993Spirit RiderMarilyn St. ClaireTelevision film1993–1995Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanSnow BirdRecurring role; 7 episodes1994–1997North of 60Betty MosesRecurring role; 7 episodes1995500 Nations(voice)Television mini-series1996Grand AvenueNellieTelevision film1998Big BearRunning SecondTelevision mini-series1998Cold SquadTheresa SandimanEpisode: "Salty Cheever"2000Navigating the HeartMaryTelevision film2000Aunt MaryTelevision film2001MythQuestWallohaEpisode: "Red Wolf's Daughter"2002Tom StoneJudge CrowfootEpisode: "Royalty"2003-06Moccasin FlatsBetty MerastyRecurring role; 22 episodes2004Windy AcresAunt LauraRecurring role; 7 episodes2004H2OGrand Chief Katie BlackfireGuest role; 2 episodes2004Irene MusketTelevision film2006Indian Summer: The Oka CrisisIba Beauvais4 episodes2007Luna: Spirit of the WhaleGloria MaquinnaTelevision film2008Ursularecurring role; 4 episodes2008Just BreatheHeatherTelevision film2008Changing Climates, Changing TimesGrace LajoieTelevision film2009Tales of an Urban IndianDianneTelevision film2009Dear PrudenceRuth VigilTelevision film2010ShatteredCarolGuest role; 2 episodes2012–2015BlackstoneWilma StoneyRecurring role; 18 episodes2013Arctic AirAunt MaryEpisode: "Skeletons in the Closet"2014Strange EmpirePichetteEpisode: "Lonely Hearts"2014–2016Mohawk GirlsZoe's MomRecurring role; 5 episodes2015–2017LongmireMarilyn YarlottGuest role; 4 episodes2016FrontierKamennaGuest role; 2 episodes2016On the FarmAda TaylorTelevision film2017GodlessIyoviMiniseries; 7 episodes2018OutlanderAdawehiGuest role; 2 episodes2019–2020StumptownSue Lynn BlackbirdSeries regular Canadian Film Encyclopedia [A publication of the Film Reference Library/a division of the Toronto International Film Festival Group]
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