The Edward Curtis Project, written and directed by Marie Clements, is at the Great Canadian Theatre Company until Sunday. Actor Quelemia Sparrow, who plays a Metis reporter who covers the freezing death of three Aboriginal children, tells us more in this edited interview.

Q. How did you prepare to play Angeline?

A. The role is pretty complex. What's interesting about the part is I'm also half Native, just like the character. Sometimes when a role is close to home it makes it more challenging. The trick is to allow myself to tap into my own history.

Q. Between 1907 and 1930, Edward Curtis published his photography collection called The North American Indian. What do you think of his photographs?

A. I think he was an amazing artist and his photographs were stunning. His work for the time was unbelievable. But there was a romanticism surrounding the photos. It wasn't an exact picture of what was happening at the time.

Q. Why is Angeline struggling with her role as a reporter?

A. She's struggling with her responsibility as a reporter and her responsibility as a First Nations woman. She feels like she's not telling the whole story or making a difference in the way she feels she should.

Q. What's preventing her from telling the whole story?

A. I think it's a two-way street. It's being able to tell the story in a way that can be heard and to be able to receive the story. That's why I'm drawn to theatre. I think it's a medium where it's easier to examine complex ideas. It's easier for that transference of giving and receiving. We always come up against barriers and it's about breaking those barriers.

Q. This play is a collaboration between the National Arts Centre English Theatre, GCTC and Red Diva Projects. How has the play's run been so far?

A. It's been amazing. We've been having full houses and the response has been so positive from Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people.