Santee Smith has spent most of her life expressing herself creatively through movement and dance.

The choreographer and founding artistic director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre is a member of the Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan and lives on the Six Nations reserve in southwestern Ontario.

Santee began her dance training at Toronto's National Ballet School. While at McMaster University in Hamilton, she expanded her knowledge of movement by studying kinesiology. She also holds a master's degree in dance from Toronto's York University.

Santee began creating and performing her own choreography in 1996 and hasn't stopped since. It's through dance that she shares with audiences her dreams, visions and indigenous stories.

In 2004, Santee choreographed and performed in Kaha:wi (pronounced Ga-ha-wee). The work bridges the gap between contemporary and traditional Iroquoian song and dance.

In 2005, Santee formed her own dance company called Kaha:wi Dance Theatre. Since then, it's produced many pieces under Santee's artistic direction, including Here on Earth, an exploration of spiritual connection to the land.

Santee's choreography has been showcased at many festivals including the:

• ImagiNative Media Arts Festival
• Canadian Aboriginal Festival
• Iroquois Festival in New York

She's also received many awards for her work, including the:

• 2003 K.M. Hunter Artists Award in the dance category.
• 2006 Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award for outstanding artistic achievement in dance.
• First-ever John Hobday Award for Arts Management in 2008.

In 2008, she was nominated for a Gemini Award for Best Performance for a Performing Arts Program or Series for Here on Earth.

Her latest piece is called Transmigration and was inspired by the work of well-known artist Norval Morrisseau.