Michael Greyeyes

Keynote Speaker | Toronto, Ontario

Award Winning Actor
Educator | Leader Intercultural Transdisciplinary Performance Expert

Michael Greyeyes Expertise HR & Corporate Culture, Cultural Diversity, Indigenous, Leadership and Change, Leadership Development, Personal Leadership, Indigenous Leadership & Cultural Wisdom, Brand Strategy & Storytelling and Arts & Culture.

Michael Greyeyes

About Michael Greyeyes

Michael Greyeyes is a multi-faceted, award-winning artist, educator, and leader. He is a proud Nehiyawe -Plains Cree from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada. Michael Greyeyes is known for his roles in Fear The Walking Dead and seminal films like Dance Me Outside. He recently landed a role on Peacock's Rutherford Falls. Michael Greyeyes is the founding Artistic Director of Signal Theatre, a Canadian theatre company that creates intercultural and transdisciplinary performance work. Michael Greyeyes believes we've arrived at a landmark moment for Indigenous people on the screen and behind the scenes.

Michael Greyeyes Videos

Actor Michael Greyeyes talks about tearing up over his speech in Ruthe

Michael Greyeyes at the Performing Turtle Island Gathering

Michael Greyeyes Interviews & Podcasts

Michael Greyeyes Talks About Wild Indian

Michael Greyeyes' Reaction to Playing His Hero on Screen

Michael Greyeyes on Bromden

Michael Greyeyes Interview

MICHAEL GREYEYES BIOGRAPHY

Michael Greyeyes is a multi-faceted, award-winning artist, educator, and leader. He is a proud Nehiyawe Plains Cree from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada. Michael Greyeyes is the founding Artistic Director of Signal Theatre, a Canadian theatre company that creates intercultural and transdisciplinary performance work.

He is most well-known for his work as an actor, with a twenty-five-year career in film and television, including the feature film Woman Walks Ahead, co-starring Golden Globe winner and Oscar-nominated actress Jessica Chastain, in which he plays the iconic Hunkpapa spiritual leader, Sitting Bull.

Michael Greyeyes has shattered boundaries wherever he has encountered them. Before joining The National Ballet of Canada, Canada’s leading professional dance company, he was the first Indigenous boy to graduate from Canada’s National Ballet School, a world-renowned classical ballet training academy.

Michael Greyeyes choreographed and directed the first Cree-language opera, “Pimooteewin,” with libretto by legendary Cree author Tomson Highway and was the first Indigenous professor in the Department of Theatre at York University. After dancing with The National Ballet of Canada and Eliot Feld company in New York City, Michael Greyeyes began working as an actor.

He has created an incredibly diverse body of work on stage and extensively in film and television for nearly 30 years. Selected credits include his landmark performance as Hunkpapa Chief Sitting Bull in Woman Walks Ahead, co-starring with Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress Jessica Chastain, which premiered as a gala presentation at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, Saints and Strangers (National Geographic), Klondike (Discovery), Terence Malick’s The New World, Skinwalkers and We Shall Remain (PBS), and Passchendaele, Paul Gross’ World War I feature that opened the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival.

Most recently, he was seen as Qaletaqa Walker, a recurring character on season 3 of AMC’s hit show Fear the Walking Dead. His work as a theatre director is ground-breaking. In 2009, he directed Daniel David Moses’ play Almighty Voice and His Wife at Theatre Passe Muraille for Native Earth Performing Arts. This seminal production was also invited to Origins, the inaugural theatre festival for First Nations in London, England and has subsequently toured across Canada in 2010, most recently at the PuSh Festival in Vancouver in 2012.

In other mediums, Michael Greyeyes created performance artwork in collaboration with visual artist Rebecca Belmore (“Gone Indian”) for Scotiabank’s Nuit Blanche in Toronto and “Dance to the Berdashe” with long-time collaborator & visual artist Kent Monkman. He also wrote and directed “Seven Seconds,” a short film that premiered at the 2010 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival.

In that same year, he created “Winter Home,” an installation and solo performance work examining his family’s wintering history, that was subsequently performed at the Prismatic Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

For Signal Theatre, Michael Greyeyes has directed and choreographed several full-length dance theatre works, including A Soldier’s Tale, which delves into the intense aftermath of war on soldiers and their families.

In 2015, he wrote and developed Nôhkom, directed by Yvette Nolan, at the Banff Centre’s Playwrights Colony, exploring the life of his paternal grandmother, Margaret Greyeyes. In June of 2017, Signal premiered its most ambitious work yet, “Bearing,” a searing examination of Canada’s Indian residential school legacy at Luminato, Toronto’s internationally acclaimed theatre and music festival.

Michael Greyeyes is an Associate Professor at York University and was the Graduate Program Director of the MFA Performance Stream in the Department of Theatre from 2014 to 2017. His scholarly work includes publications, keynote addresses, and performative manifestos, such as Inside the Machine (London, UK) and Staging Ethnicity (PuSH Festival, Vancouver).

He is married to his wife of 22 years, Nancy Greyeyes, a former dancer and current dance teacher. They live in Toronto, Canada, with their two daughters.

Michael Greyeyes Topic Presentations

Michael Greyeyes Toronto, Ontario, Canada delivers keynote presentations, workshops, fireside chats, moderated Q&A, and other presentation formats on a wide variety of topics. Each presentation is unique, customized and tailored for audiences, industries, conferences and event formats.

Storytelling as Cultural Continuity: Reclaiming Indigenous Narrative

Beyond Representation: Indigenous Leadership in the Arts

The Artist as Educator: Creativity, Scholarship, and Social Purpose

The Power of Performance: Movement, Memory, and Identity

Reconciliation Through Art: The Role of Creativity in Healing Nations

Michael Greyeyes Books & Articles

Woman Walks Ahead
Woman Walks

Michael Greyeyes Champions Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel on Canada Reads 2023
Michael Greyeyes Champions Station Eleven by

The actor, dancer, director and choreographer will add 'Canada Reads panellist' to his resume March 27-30 Actor Michael Greyeyes is...

‘firestarter’: Michael Greyeyes Saw His Performance as Way to ‘take the Role Back’
‘firestarter’: Michael Greyeyes Saw His

When the original "Firestarter" was released to theaters in 1984, the character of Rainbird was played by non-indigenous performer George...

Award-winning Actor Michael Greyeyes Joins Directing Team for CTV Comedy Channel’s Original Series, Acting Good
Award-winning Actor Michael Greyeyes Joins

From a media release: CTV Comedy Channel announced today that award-winning actor, director, and choreographer Michael Greyeyes is...

Michael Greyeyes Speaking Testimonials

"The event with Michael Greyeyes went amazingly. His presentation was one of my favourites in a long time. The performance aspects he wove through it along with the way in which he spoke about his experiences and his stories was a real treat. I do not think I have seen anything like that before. And I was not the only one to think so."

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Michael Greyeyes known for and what is their expertise as a keynote speaker in Canada?

Michael Greyeyes is known for defined subject matter expertise based on professional experience and industry background. As a keynote speaker in Canada for conferences and conventions, their presentations align with organizational objectives and audience outcomes. Corporate keynote speakers in Canada are selected based on credibility, relevance, and practical application. Expertise alignment supports informed booking decisions. Read More

What topics does Michael Greyeyes speak on for conferences, conventions, corporate events, and annual general meetings in Canada?

Michael Greyeyes delivers keynote presentations on defined topic areas confirmed during booking. Canadian business speakers for corporate meetings in Canada align topic selection with event objectives and audience priorities. Conference speakers in Canada adapt messaging for conventions, trade shows, and summits. Topics are finalized prior to written confirmation. Read More

How do I know if Michael Greyeyes is the right fit for my audience, conference, convention, or AGM?

Michael Greyeyes is evaluated based on audience alignment, event objectives, and subject matter relevance. Event planners booking keynote speakers in Canada for corporate conferences review experience, delivery style, and industry context. Canadian business speakers for annual general meetings must align with program goals and audience expectations. Fit is clarified during the pre decision call. Read More

Where is Michael Greyeyes from and where do they speak across Canada?

Michael Greyeyes is from Toronto, Ontario and is available for events across Canada. Conference speakers in Canada frequently travel nationally with defined travel terms. Corporate keynote speakers coordinate scheduling through structured agreements. Availability is confirmed through formal inquiry. Read More

Is Michael Greyeyes available as a virtual keynote speaker for online conferences, webinars, or hybrid events in Canada?

Michael Greyeyes is available as a virtual keynote speaker for online conferences, corporate webinars, and hybrid events in Canada. Virtual keynote speakers in Canada deliver structured presentations adapted for remote audiences. Format, platform coordination, and timing are confirmed during booking. Virtual availability is documented through written agreement in Canada. Read More

Does Michael Greyeyes deliver keynote presentations, workshops, training sessions, breakout sessions, fireside chats, or panel discussions?

Michael Greyeyes may deliver keynote presentations as well as workshops and breakout sessions. Canadian business speakers for corporate training in Canada define session length and format during booking. Conference speakers may also participate in fireside chats or panel discussions depending on program design. Session formats are confirmed in writing. Read More

How do I contact Michael Greyeyes to check availability and begin the booking process in Canada?

Michael Greyeyes is contacted through Speakers Bureau of Canada to confirm availability and event details. Event planners and meeting planners typically schedule a pre decision call to clarify format, objectives, and scope. Booking begins once event requirements are defined. Written confirmation follows agreement execution. Read More

How do I book Michael Greyeyes for a conference, convention, trade show, summit, or corporate meeting in Canada?

Michael Greyeyes is booked through a structured agreement process confirming availability, fee structure, and logistics. Booking keynote speakers in Canada for conventions and trade shows includes written contracts and defined payment terms. Canadian business speakers for annual general meetings require scope confirmation before date holds convert to confirmed status. Booking is finalized upon agreement execution. Read More

How much does it cost to book Michael Greyeyes as a keynote speaker in Canada?

Michael Greyeyes keynote speaker fees depend on event type, audience size, format, and location. The cost to book a keynote speaker in Canada varies based on preparation scope and delivery structure. Corporate keynote speakers in Canada confirm fees through a booking agent and written agreement. Final pricing reflects defined scope and contract terms. Read More

Are there additional costs to hire Michael Greyeyes for a corporate event, convention, or trade show in Canada?

Additional costs to hire Michael Greyeyes may include travel expenses, extended sessions, workshops, meet and greets, emcee duties, or event host roles. Keynote speakers in Canada for business conventions often separate honorarium from travel and related logistics. Canadian business speakers confirm these components in writing before agreement execution. All additional costs are outlined contractually. Read More

How far in advance should I book Michael Greyeyes for a conference, convention, or business meeting in Canada?

Michael Greyeyes should be booked once event dates, location, and format are confirmed. Conference speakers in Canada often secure dates several months in advance. Corporate keynote speakers for annual general meetings may have limited availability during peak seasons. Early inquiry improves confirmation certainty. Read More

Is Michael Greyeyes represented by an agent in Canada and how is the agreement handled?

Michael Greyeyes is represented by Speakers Bureau of Canada for booking coordination and agreement management. Keynote speakers in Canada often work through an agency to formalize contracts and payment handling. Agent representation ensures structured communication between organizers and the speaker. Representation clarifies agreement terms before confirmation. Read More