Joleen Ballendine is a mixed-blood Métis artist based out of Treaty 6 Territories. Primarily driven by her love for storytelling, she works as an improviser, writer, actor, and educator.  Ballendine started her artistic career in 2009 when she joined the cast of Rapid Fire Theatre, a few short years later in 2011 she started their first outreach program, a program focusing on empowering youth through storytelling and comedy. Today she is the Director of Outreach & Welcome of the company. Her comedic journey has taken her on 6 European tours,  nurturing cross-cultural narratives. Joleen loves to collaborate both on stage and off stage.  Lianna Mukuch and Joleen have been writing scripts together since grade 7 when the two first met. Recently the duo collaborated on an adoption of a children’s book, Kukums Bashuska, a story of two girls who build a lifelong friendship with some help from their ancestors. Most recently Joleen put her prairie pride on blast after writing a Canadian Heritage Minute about Mary Bonnie Baker, coming out soon.