''Blackstone'' is a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

television series which aired on APTN and

Showcase Showcase or vitrine may refer to: *Cabinet (furniture) *Display case Music * ''Showcase'' (Bill Anderson album), 1964 * ''Showcase'' (Patsy Cline album), 1961 * ''Showcase'' (Buddy Holly album), 1964 * ''Showcase'' (Philly Joe Jones album), 1959 ...

. Written, created, directed and produced by Canadian producer Ron E. Scott, the series began filming its first season in 2010 in and around

Edmonton Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

. The series has gone on to have four full seasons. Season five started production in spring of 2015 and premiered November 3, 2015. Season 5 was the final season. In 2015, Prairie Dog Film + Television announced a deal which will see the first and second seasons of the series given a

second run A rerun or repeat is a rebroadcast of an episode of a radio or television program. There are two types of reruns – those that occur during a hiatus, and those that occur when a program is syndicated. Variations In the United Kingdom, the wor ...

CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French-l ...

as a summer series,"Award-winning Blackstone Drama Set to Air on CBC, Download from iTunes"
. ''Broadcaster'', June 9, 2015. as well as making it available for download from

iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...

Premise

''Blackstone'' follows the lives of Indigenous people living on the fictional Blackstone

First Nations First Nations or first peoples may refer to: * Indigenous peoples, for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area. Indigenous groups *First Nations is commonly used to describe some Indigenous groups including: **First Natio ...

reserve Reserve or reserves may refer to: Places * Reserve, Kansas, a US city * Reserve, Louisiana, a census-designated place in St. John the Baptist Parish * Reserve, Montana, a census-designated place in Sheridan County * Reserve, New Mexico, a US vi ...

, set in

, Canada. The story is told from an Indigenous Canadian point of view. The show addresses important issues that Canadian aboriginals face such as

racism Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism ...

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...

rape Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or ag ...

addiction Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, one of which is the usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use o ...

alcoholism Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol (drug), alcohol that results in significant Mental health, mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognize ...

drugs A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via inhalat ...

water pollution Water pollution (or aquatic pollution) is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities, so that it negatively affects its uses. Water bodies include lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, reservoirs and groundwater. Water ...

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

physical abuse Physical abuse is any intentional act causing injury or trauma to another person or animal by way of bodily contact. In most cases, children are the victims of physical abuse, but adults can also be victims, as in cases of domestic violence or wo ...

sexual abuse Sexual abuse or sex abuse, also referred to as molestation, is abusive sexual behavior by one person upon another. It is often perpetrated using force or by taking advantage of another. Molestation often refers to an instance of sexual assa ...

child abuse Child abuse (also called child endangerment or child maltreatment) is physical, sexual, and/or psychological maltreatment or neglect of a child or children, especially by a parent or a caregiver. Child abuse may include any act or failure to a ...

domestic violence Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. ''Domestic violence'' is often used as a synonym for ''intimate partner ...

corruption Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense which is undertaken by a person or an organization which is entrusted in a position of authority, in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's personal gain. Corruption m ...

politics Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies ...

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definit ...

, missing and murdered aboriginal women, and

foster care Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home ( residential child care community, treatment center, etc.), or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent" or with a family ...

Series regulars

Carmen Moore Carmen Moore (born 24 December 1972) is a Canadian actress known for her work in television. She is known for her role as Loreen Cassway on ''Arctic Air'' (for which she was nominated for a Leo Award in 2012) and the lead role of Leona Stoney, o ...

as Leona Stoney *

Eric Schweig Eric Schweig (born Ray Dean Thrasher; 19 June 1967) is an Indigenous Canadian actor best known for his role as Chingachgook's son Uncas in ''The Last of the Mohicans'' (1992). Early life Schweig was born in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. He is ...

as Andy Fraser *

Michelle Thrush Michelle Thrush (born February 6, 1967) is a Canadian actress and First Nations activist for Aboriginal Canadians and the other Indigenous peoples of the Americas. She is best known for her leading role as Gail Stoney in '' Blackstone'', for which ...

as Gail Stoney * Roseanne Supernault as Natalie Stoney (Seasons 1-2) (Recurring Season 4) *

Nathaniel Arcand Nathaniel Arcand (born November 13, 1971) is a Canadian actor. He is known for his first major role in the Canadian drama series ''North of 60'', in which for three seasons he played William MacNeil, smart-mouthed and cocky, a troubled, misunders ...

as Victor Merasty (Seasons 1-4) (Guest Season 5) *

Gordon Tootoosis Gordon Tootoosis, (October 25, 1941 – July 5, 2011) was a First Nations actor of Cree and Stoney descent. Tootoosis was a descendant of Yellow Mud Blanket, brother of the famous Cree leader Pîhtokahanapiwiyin. He was acclaimed for his comm ...

as Cecil Delaronde (regular-season 1) * Steven Cree Molison as Daryl Fraser (Regular Seasons 2-5) (Recurring Season 1) * Andrea Menard as Deborah "Deb"/"Debbie" Fraser (Recurring Seasons 1 and 4) (Regular Seasons 2-3) (Guest Season 5) *

Justin Rain Justin Rain (born October 27, 1981) is a Canadian First Nations actor. He is of Plains Cree descent. Biography Justin Rain was raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where he attended St. Mary's High School. Justin began abusing drugs in his y ...

as Alan Fraser (Recurring Season 1) (regular-season 2-5) *

Ashley Callingbull Ashley Callingbull (born October 21, 1989) is a Canadian model, actress, and television personality. She became the first Canadian and Indigenous woman to win the Mrs. Universe title on 29 August 2015. She and her stepfather participated in the ...

as Sheila Delaronde (Recurring Season 1 and 5) (Regular Seasons 2-3) *

Gary Farmer Gary Dale Farmer (born June 12, 1953) is a Canadian actor and musician. He is perhaps best known for his role as Nobody in the films ''Dead Man'' (1995) and '' Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai'' (1999), and for his role in '' Smoke Signals'' (1 ...

as Ray Delaronde (regular-season 2) *

Tantoo Cardinal Tantoo Cardinal CM (born Rose Marie Cardinal; July 20, 1950) is a Canadian actress of Cree and Métis heritage. In 2009, she was made a member of the Order of Canada "for her contributions to the growth and development of Aboriginal performing ...

as Wilma Stoney (Recurring Season 2) (Regular Seasons 3-5) * Trevor Duplessis as Greg Nepoose (Recurring Seasons 1-2) (Regular 3-5) *

Cheri Maracle Cheri Maracle is an Aboriginal Canadian actress and musician of Mohawk- Irish descent. Early life Maracle graduated in 1989 from Prince Rupert Secondary School. At seventeen, she moved to Vancouver to study theatre at Capilano University an ...

as Sarah Bull (Recurring Season 3) (Regular Seasons 4-5) * Bernard Starlight as David "Jumbo" Tailfeathers (Recurring Seasons 1-3) (Regular 4-5) *

Glen Gould Glen Gould (born June 6, 1971) is an Indigenous Canadian actor, director and producer of Miꞌkmaq and Italian descent. Between 2016 and 2020, he played the role of detective Jerry Commanda on the television series '' Cardinal''. Career Goul ...

as Smokey Stoney (Recurring Season 4) (regular-season 5)

Full cast

Amenakew family: * Cody Bird as Josh Amenakew * Tommy J. Mueller as Rick Amenakew Bull family: *

as Sarah Bull *

Georgina Lightning Georgina Lightning is a First Nations film director, screenwriter, and actress. Biography Born in Edmonton, Alberta, she is an enrolled member of the Samson Cree Nation. She was raised off-reserve, near the Samson community in Edmonton, Albert ...

as Tracy Bull * Miika Bryce Whiskeyjack as Wendy Bull Delaronde family: *

as Sheila Delaronde *

as Cecil Delaronde *

as Ray Delaronde Fraser family: *

as Alan Fraser *

as Andy Fraser * Steven Cree Molison as Daryl Fraser * Andrea Menard as Deborah "Deb" or "Debbie" Fraser * Ray G. Thunderchild as Tom Fraser Henry family: * Jaren Brandt Bartlett as Alex Henry * Swo Wo Gabriel as Tim Henry (Alex's brother) * Stanley Isadore as Phil Henry (Alex and Tim's uncle) Merasty family: *

as Victor Merasty * Quelemia Sparrow (season 1) /

Michelle Latimer Michelle Latimer is a Canadian actress, director, writer, and filmmaker. She initially rose to prominence for her role as Trish Simkin on the television series ''Paradise Falls'', shown nationally in Canada on Showcase Television (2001–2004). ...

(season 2) as Gloria Merasty * Sydney Miles as Victoria Merasty Stoney family: *

as Gail Stoney *

as Leona Stoney * Roseanne Supernault as Natalie Stoney *

as Wilma Stoney * Glen Gould as Smokey Stoney Tailfeathers family: * Bernard Starlight as David "Jumbo" Tailfeathers * Julian Black Antelope as Darrien Tailfeathers Social Workers: * Valerie Planche as Marilyn Cole *

Hiro Kanagawa is a Japanese-Canadian actor and playwright based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has appeared in numerous high-profile films and television series shot in the Vancouver area, including '' Smallville'', '' Caprica'', ''Godzilla'', ''The Man i ...

as Harold Police: * Mathew Strongeagle as Stu Nolan *

Vincent Gale Vincent Gale (born 6 March 1968) is a Scottish-born Canadian film and television actor, who won the Genie Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 2002 Genie Awards for his performance in the film ''Last Wedding''. Career Gale's other acting c ...

as Detective Deacon *

Garry Chalk Garry Chalk is a British-born Canadian actor. He has provided the voices for Optimus Primal of '' Beast Wars: Transformers'' and ''Beast Machines'', as well as Optimus Prime in the anime English dubs of '' Transformers: Armada'', ''Transformer ...

as Deputy Chief Ken Hillis *

John Cassini John Cassini (born in Toronto) is a Canadian actor. Career Cassini appeared in the 1995 Brad Pitt film '' Seven''. He starred in the 2005 film '' Cool Money''. Cassini starred as Ronnie Delmarco on the CBC series ''Intelligence'', which was c ...

as Detective Platt * Lori Triolo as Detective Hutch Lawyer: * Ryan Cunningham as Darcy Douglas (Andy Fraser's Lawyer) Doctors: *

Cameron Bancroft Cameron Timothy Bancroft (born 19 November 1992) is an Australian cricketer contracted to Western Australia in Australian first class cricket, Durham in English first class cricket, and the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. He made his T ...

as Dr. Kurt Ellis *

Jennifer Podemski Jennifer Podemski (born January 1, 1974) is a First Nations (Canadian) film and television actress and producer. Her acting credits include starring roles in the television series '' Tin Star'', ''The Rez'', '' Riverdale'', ''Moccasin Flats'', ...

as Dr. Crowshoe Other major characters: * Mark Anderako as Walter "Walt" Andrachuck * Warren Michael as Leonard "Leo" Morin * Morningstar Mercredi as Norma DeLorme * Trevor Duplessis as Greg Nepoose (close friend to the Stoney family, Gail's on/off boyfriend) * Teneil Whiskyjack as Kyra Amos * Star Birdyellowhead as Carla Janvier * Amanda McLeod as Chrystal * Greg Lawson as Teddy Burton * Jim Thorburn as Chris Connor (Leona's ex-boyfriend) * Lee Tomaschefski as Angel * Darrell Dennis as Clyde Bearspaw * Jessica Matten as Gina (Daryl's girlfriend) * Christopher Rosamond as Jack

Notable guest stars

Brett Dier Brett Jordan Dier (; born February 14, 1990) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his role as Michael Cordero Jr. on ''Jane the Virgin''. He is also known for his recurring roles on the Canadian TV shows ''Bomb Girls'' and '' The L.A. Complex ...

as Jake (Season 2, Episode 6: Forgiveness) *

Mark Meer Mark Meer is a Canadian actor, writer and improvisor, based in Edmonton, Alberta. He is known for his role in the ''Mass Effect'' trilogy, in which he stars as the voice of the player character, Commander Shepard. His voice is featured in a numb ...

as Policeman (Season 5, Episode 2: Super Dad) *

MacKenzie Porter MacKenzie Lea Porter (born January 29, 1990) is a Canadian country singer, songwriter, and actress. She has released one self-titled album and achieved four Canada Country number ones with " About You", "These Days", " Seeing Other People", and " ...

as Brianne

Episodes

Season 1 (2011)

Season 2 (2012)

Season 3 (2013)

Season 4 (2014)

Season 5 (2015)

Accolades

References

External links

Official website

APTN page
*{{IMDb title, 1699207 2010s Canadian drama television series 2011 Canadian television series debuts 2015 Canadian television series endings Aboriginal Peoples Television Network original programming CBC Television original programming Television shows filmed in Edmonton Showcase (Canadian TV channel) original programming Television shows set in Alberta Television series about Indigenous people in Canada