Tina Keeper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tina Keeper
CM OM MSM
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Keeper in 2014
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| Member of Parliament for Churchill |
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| In office January 23, 2006 – October 14, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Bev Desjarlais |
| Succeeded by | Niki Ashton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 20, 1962 Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Residence | Manitoba |
| Profession | actress, producer |
Christina Jean Keeper (born March 20, 1962) is a Cree actress and film producer from Canada. She also served as a politician for a few years.
Many people first knew her as RCMP officer Michelle Kenidi in the TV show North of 60. Later, she was chosen to be a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada. She represented the Liberal Party of Canada for the area called Churchill. After her time in politics, she went back to working in film and television. She still works as both an actress and a film producer today.
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Tina Keeper's Early Life and Family Background
Tina Keeper is part of the Norway House Cree Nation. This is a First Nations community in northern Manitoba. She was born in Winnipeg.
Her grandfather was Joe Keeper, a famous Olympic long-distance runner. Her father, Joseph I. Keeper, was also a special person who received the Order of Canada award. Her mother, Phyllis Keeper, was an Anglican priest.
Education and Career Start
Tina Keeper studied history and theatre at the University of Winnipeg. At first, she wanted to become a history professor. But then, she joined a theatre group for Indigenous people in Winnipeg. This led her to become an actor instead.
Tina Keeper's Acting Career
Before her big role, Tina Keeper had several smaller parts in movies. One important film was the short docudrama For Angela. In 1992, she was chosen for the show North of 60.
Awards for Acting and Producing
Tina Keeper was nominated five times for a Gemini Award. This award is for the best actress in a TV drama in Canada. She won the award in 1997. In 1995, she was also nominated for a Gemini Award for her acting in For Angela.
After North of 60 ended as a regular show, Tina Keeper continued to play Michelle Kenidi in several TV movies based on the series. She also appeared in other films like Heater, Skins, and On the Corner.
Recent Acting and Producing Work
After her time in politics ended in 2008, she started acting and producing for the APTN show Cashing In. More recently, she has acted in TV shows like Mohawk Girls, Heartland, and Acting Good. She also appeared in films such as Through Black Spruce, Falls Around Her, and Stellar.
Tina Keeper is a partner in a film company called Kistikan Pictures. She helped produce Through Black Spruce, and other films like Road of Iniquity, Sky Stories, and REDress Redress Project. In 2014, she helped create Going Home Star. This was a ballet by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet about Indigenous reconciliation.
Tina Keeper's Political Journey
Tina Keeper was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the 2006 Canadian federal election. She represented the Liberal Party in the area of Churchill.
How She Won the Election
She won because the votes for the New Democratic Party were split. The person who held the seat before, Bev Desjarlais, left the NDP and ran as an independent candidate. This meant the NDP votes were divided between Desjarlais and the new NDP candidate, Niki Ashton. When you added up Ashton's and Desjarlais's votes, they were more than Tina Keeper's votes. But because they were split, Tina Keeper won.
Her Role as a Member of Parliament
As an MP, she worked for the Official Opposition. She was the Critic for Public Health and Canadian Heritage. She also advised on how to connect with Aboriginal communities.
After Her Time in Politics
In the 2008 Canadian federal election, Niki Ashton ran against her again and won. Tina Keeper has not run for office since then. However, she continues to be active in politics and community work.
She is the chair of the Helen Betty Osborne Memorial Foundation. She also serves on advisory groups for the Urban Shaman Gallery, Red Cross Manitoba, and Canadians for a New Partnership. She is an honorary witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Tina Keeper's Awards and Honors
Besides her Gemini Award nominations and win, Tina Keeper has received many other honors.
She won a National Aboriginal Achievement Award. She also won three American Indian Film Festival awards for her acting and producing work. In 2014, she received an award from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association for her public involvement. In 2017, ACTRA named her Woman of the Year.
In June 2017, Tina Keeper received an honorary doctor of letters degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. She also received a Governor General's Meritorious Service Medal for her work on the ballet Going Home Star.
She was named to the Order of Manitoba in 2002.
In December 2019, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television announced that Tina Keeper would receive the Earle Grey Award. This award celebrates a person's lifetime work in Canadian television.
In June 2024, Tina Keeper was made a Member of the Order of Canada by Governor General Mary Simon. This honor recognizes her work as an actress and producer, especially for her role in CBC's North of 60. It also recognizes her as one of the first Cree Members of Parliament.
