taran kootenhayoo

Language: Denesųłiné

Taran Kootenhayoo was a Denesułįné and Stoney Nakoda multi-disciplinary storyteller from Treaty 6 territory, Alberta. 

He wrote and co-wrote six plays & one screenplay since graduating from Capilano University’s Acting for Stage and Screen program in 2015. He was signed with Premiere Talent Management and was a member of Full Circle’s First Nation Performance Ensemble. Taran was awarded ‘Star to Watch’ at the Whistler Film Festival (2018) and the ‘Sam Payne’s Most Promising Newcomer’ award at the Jessie Theatre Awards (2019). Taran had the pleasure of working closely with Savage Society to help create his curious comedy, ‘White Noise’, which will be world premiering at the Fire Hall Arts Centre. He wrote and directed ‘D.I.Y’ with the help of Telus STORYHIVE. Other credits include: Molli of Denali, Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth, Iron Peggy, Th’woxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish, Red Patch, The Cure for Death by Lighting, Bella Ciao!, Salmon Girl, The Battle of the Birds, The Boy Who Was Abandoned.

Taran Jerry Kootenhayoo 

One with Creator & Forever in our hearts

September 18, 1993 to December 31, 2020

Taran Forever, Neghanighita

Taran Kootenhayoo nį Denesųłiné chu Tthek’eni helį nį. T’ąt’u losi ełk’ech’a honiʔe t’a dene xeł holni. Tsamba Nalye Ełk’etaghe Níh, Alberta hots’į nikerįnidher. Ełk’etaghe są chu įłaghe erihtł’is nétį xa edeghįtł’is dene xeł. 2015 k’e Capilano University enałt’e, t’ąt’u senats’ede xa honéłtą. Premier Talent Management ghadiniya. Full Circle’s First Nation Performance Ensemble xeł tth’i hulta alya. 2018 k’é Whistler Film Festival hots’į ’Star to Watch’ beghąt’ą. Chu 2019 k’e Jessie Theatre Awards ’Sam Payne’s Most Promising Newcomer’ denéłna. Taran bįniyu Savage Society xeł eghalaghena. Sudíh xa ’White Noise’ dighįtł’is, Fire Hall Arts Centre bodet’į xa. Telus STORYHIVE yets’eghįni hot’a ’D.I.Y.’ dighįtł’isú yedzirighįłdher. Diri ąłu anelti hok’enaghįdher hot’a bek’odeją:Molli Denali hots’į, Dene kóntuwe nełdel chu Sekwi At’odadi dayałtiʔú, Peggy Tsatsąne, Th’woxiya: Bérbasede Nasuwe Tthaʔiʔe, Bek’enelką Yuk’ose, Ełdzenagodhetį t’a Łeghats’edhi xa Nakowédi, Bella Ciao!, Łuwe zanechok Ts’ekwaze, Deneyuwaze aheduk.

Photo courtesy of George Lawson