WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
JOKE SIGNALS was the name Dakota Ray Hebert suggested for the Indigenous Comedy Showcase show at Just For Laughs Toronto 2023.
As seen in the above photo, from left to right, the show was hosted by Hebert, and featured the talents of Clifton Cremo (Mi'kmaw), Savannah Erasmus (Cree/Dene), and Chad Anderson (Cree). Hebert, Cremo, and Anderson are hitting the road together once more, with Erasmus joining in as part of the British Columbia shows.
CHAD ANDERSON
Chad Anderson is a stand-up comedian currently based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He’s appeared on CBC and performed at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, JFL Toronto, JFL Vancouver, Odd Block Comedy Festival and Arctic Air Comedy Festival.
Chad’s comedy reflects on his own personal experiences including fatherhood and tragedy as well as subjects ranging from social media to racism. He’s been featured multiple times on CBC’s The Debaters and was a cast member in Mary Walsh’s Canada It’s Complicated. His debut album, Live at Wee Johnny’s was released in 2020 and can regularly be heard on SiriusXM.
CLIFTON CREMO
Since beginning his career in stand-up comedy, Clifton Cremo has been entertaining Canadian audiences with his deft brand of storytelling and wry absurdism. Clifton's perspective on his Mi'kmaw upbringing and his unique outlook on First Nations issues brought him national attention by showing that no matter the divisiveness of an issue, humor can be a common ground.
Clifton was part of Rise Together with host Ron James - a Hurricane Fiona fundraiser that raised over $100,000 for the Cape Breton Red Cross. Clifton has also appeared at the Halifax Comedy Festival for CBC television in 2022 and 2023 in addition to being a part of their Best of the Fest tour in 2021. Clifton has also appeared on CBC radio's Laugh Out Loud and CBC’s The Debaters. In March of 2023 he recorded with Just For Laughs Originals as part of a compilation album “Divorced Robot Arms” and has appeared at the Just For Laughs festival in Toronto and Vancouver. Recently, he was also a writer on Season 31 of CBC's This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Clifton has also performed alongside top comedians including opening for Kenny vs. Spenny, Joe Pera, and Tom Green.
Whether he's onstage at a comedy club, a local bar, or even a funeral (seriously), Clifton always manages to bring the laughs.
DAKOTA RAY HEBERT
Dakota Ray Hebert (she/they) is from Meadow Lake, SK, and a proud member of English River First Nation. Dakota is currently based in Saskatoon, SK, where she and her sweetheart have recently opened Art Bar, the city’s first formal comedy club.
Dakota just got back from Los Angeles where she worked alongside Modern Family’s Julie Bowen. While down south, Dakota also performed at The Comedy Store (via open mic potluck), Upright Citizens Brigade, Flappers Comedy Club, and The Hollywood Improv Lab.
Dakota has two comedy albums out (I'LL GIVE YOU AN INDIAN ACT and TRAILER TREASURE), both are available anywhere you buy and stream music.
Dakota has performed at all three Just For Laughs festivals in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, as well as Winnipeg Comedy Festival in 2022. You can watch some of her earlier work on New Wave of Standup and Comedy Night with Rick Mercer (CBC Gem).
Dakota's film and tv career is clipping along nicely; you can peep her performing on Unicorn Academy (Netflix), Shelved (CTV & Crave), Marvel’s Echo (Disney+), Run the Burbs (CBC + PBS), Roast Battles Canada (CTV & Crave), Zarqa (CBC Gem), Acting Good (CTV & Crave), #Vanlife (post-production), and Run Woman Run (Crave, CBC Gem).
She has a skin baby (Frankie), two fur babies (Lieutenant Dan & Mr. Bean), countless plant babies, and the world’s greatest and funniest sweetheart (Dylan). Oh yeah, she’s pregnant again.
SAVANNAH ERASMUS
Savannah Erasmus (she/her/hers) is an Indigenous comedian, broadcast personality and writer based in Vancouver, from Kikino Metis Settlement and Cold Lake First Nation, in Treaty 6 Territory.
Her Indigenous perspective creates a fresh and unique stand up persona that audiences adore.
She co-hosts and co-produces Camp Comedy and Millennial Line and has appeared at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Just For Laughs Toronto, and Just For Laughs Vancouver.
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Savannah is also a freelance writer and is currently columnist for CBC Radio.