About Us
IndigE-girl Comedy is a non-profit, Indigenous organization based on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Our primary mission is to offer performance and mentorship opportunities to Indigenous queer, non-binary women or people who identify as women. The project is rooted in a foundation of culture and healing, recognizing the significance of comedy as a form of medicine in the Indigenous communities.
Who we are
Administrators
Debbie Courchene
Debbie Courchene is a comedian based out of Vancouver, BC. She is a proud Anishinaabe ikwe, with family ties to Sagkeeng Nation and Rolling River, MB. With over 15 years of experience producing, creating and technical directing in the performing arts. She founded IndigE-girl in 2021 to pave the way for Indigenous women and non-binary people in the comedy world. Led by Debbie, IndigE-girl was invited to the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and Just For Laughs Vancouver. Under IndigE-girl Comedy workshops, we’ve had one of the best-selling shows across Canada, with showcases in Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Vancouver, & Whitehorse.
Artistic Director
Carla Ritchie
Carla Ritchie has worked in theatre for over twenty years and has been lucky to have done shows in every major Canadian city, from Victoria to Halifax. She is a highly accomplished arts leader, production/stage manager, technical director, and set, light, and video designer. Carla has worked with some of the heaviest hitters in Canadian Theatre and is ready to bring her breadth of expertise to IndigE-girl Comedy. Carla has also worked with the Odwa Midewiwin from Wikwemikong for over eight years. She is a third-degree Midewiwin, and continuing her monthly studies with the Kokokwe. She is also pursuing her MBA at SFU Beedie School of Business to improve her skills to support the arts community.
General Manager
Megan Rosso
Megan Rosso is a Carrier Sekani woman from the Lake Babine Nation, residing on traditional territories of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Qayqayt and Tsawwassen First Nations, also known as Surrey. She is a talented woman with experience facilitating community-based research, BC-wide economic development networking sessions, virtual training in essential skills, drone operations, entrepreneurship, and comedy skill development.
Associate Producer
Mentors
Issa Kixen
Issa Kixen is an Anishinaabe Two Spirit comedian, journalist & Producer, who is a band member of Couchiching First Nation, Ontario. They have traveled across Canada and the USA as a Comedian and improviser. They use comedy as a tool in dealing with racism, transphobia and ableism. They are the Co-founder/producer of WOKE Comedy Hour, Associate producer at CBC Manitoba, was featured on APTN’s The Laughing Drum, a member of the Bannock Babes drag collective and they are the executive producer for Minogondaagan: the good voice podcast.
Megan Mckay
Meg MacKay is a comedian and comedy writer trying her best. As a TV writer, she wrote for Baroness von Sketch and is currently a staff writer for This Hour has 22 Minutes. Her album Probably a Witch is available on Howl and Roar Records.
Dakota Ray Hebert
Dakota Ray does comedy [Album: I’ll Give You An Indian Act, Just For Laughs (Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal), New Wave of Standup (CBC Gem), Comedy Night with Rick Mercer(CBC)], television [Shelved (CTV & Crave), Run the Burbs (CBC + PBS), Crazy Like a Lynx (APTN), Roast Battles Canada (CTV & Crave), Zarqa (CBC Gem), Acting Good (CTV & Crave)], and movies [Run Woman Run (Crave)]. She has a skin baby (Frankie), two fur babies (Lieutenant Dan & Mr. Bean), countless plant babies, and the world’s best/greatest/funniest sweetheart and life partner (Dylan).
Follow this Dene busybody on Facebook and Insta; she’s up to her beaded earrings in work that she loves to share.