{{Short description|Canadian Inuk performer and activist}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Marika Sila | birth_date = {{birth_date and age|March 18, 1992}} | birth_place = Yellowknife, Northwest Territories | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = actress, content creator, social activist | family = Jesse Cockney }}
'''Marika Sila''' (born March 18, 1992)<ref>{{Cite Instagram|postid=CMkVU_JD-qF|user=marikasila|title=Bday tings 🐒🥳|date=March 18, 2021|author=Marika Sila}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Madison |date=July 22, 2021 |title=Indigenous youth are using TikTok to educate and preserve their culture — and gaining hundreds of thousands of |work=The Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/07/22/indigenous-youth-are-using-tiktok-to-educate-and-preserve-their-culture-and-gaining-hundreds-of-thousands-of-followers-along-the-way.html |access-date=March 25, 2022 |issn=0319-0781 |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206114941/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/07/22/indigenous-youth-are-using-tiktok-to-educate-and-preserve-their-culture-and-gaining-hundreds-of-thousands-of-followers-along-the-way.html |url-status=live }}</ref> is a Canadian Inuvialuk actress, content creator, and social activist. Born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, her family (originally from Tuktoyaktuk) moved to Canmore, Alberta when she was five years old.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cardin-Goyer |first=Camille |date=January 28, 2022 |title=How These Indigenous Women Are Reclaiming Their Culture |url=http://www.ellecanada.com/culture/society/how-these-indigenous-women-are-reclaiming-their-culture |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=Elle Canada |language=en |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317152930/https://www.ellecanada.com/culture/society/how-these-indigenous-women-are-reclaiming-their-culture |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Indigenous TikTok Star Marika Sila on Why We Should Cancel Canada Day |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/marika-sila-feature |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=Complex |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206014944/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/marika-sila-feature |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Butterfield |first=Ethan |date=March 3, 2022 |title=Yellowknife-born actress creating residential schools documentary |url=https://www.nnsl.com/arts/yellowknife-born-actress-creating-residential-schools-documentary/ |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=Northern News Services |language=en-CA |archive-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304083439/https://www.nnsl.com/arts/yellowknife-born-actress-creating-residential-schools-documentary/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Olympic cross-country skier Jesse Cockney is her older brother.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Small |first=Jordan |date=July 8, 2020 |title=Beyond Local: Inuit performer aims to become first Indigenous woman on Maxim cover |url=https://www.lakelandtoday.ca/beyond-local/inuit-performer-aims-to-become-first-indigenous-woman-on-maxim-cover-2550159 |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=LakelandToday.ca |language=en |archive-date=April 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413222154/https://www.lakelandtoday.ca/beyond-local/inuit-performer-aims-to-become-first-indigenous-woman-on-maxim-cover-2550159 |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Film and television == Sila focuses on roles which she feels portray Indigenous people in a positive way, saying that her acting career serves to "build a platform so I can speak about important Indigenous rights issues and climate issues."<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Volmers |first=Eric |date=January 20, 2022 |title=Canmore actress and influencer Marika Sila sees starring role in horror film as a path to higher purpose |url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/local-arts/canmore-actress-and-influencer-marika-sila-sees-starring-role-in-horror-film-as-a-path-to-higher-purpose |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=Calgary Herald |language=en-CA |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201195057/https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/local-arts/canmore-actress-and-influencer-marika-sila-sees-starring-role-in-horror-film-as-a-path-to-higher-purpose |url-status=live }}</ref> Her first major acting role was in a 2019 episode of ''The Twilight Zone'', "A Traveler," where she portrayed an Inuk police officer.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=April 19, 2019 |title=Inuvialuit woman lead actress in new episode of The Twilight Zone |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/marika-sila-twilight-zone-1.5099968 |access-date=March 25, 2022 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226174334/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/marika-sila-twilight-zone-1.5099968 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Davenport |first=Samantha |date=April 17, 2019 |title=Inuit actress plays lead role in 'Twilight Zone' episode set in Alaska |url=https://www.adn.com/arts/film-tv/2019/04/17/inuit-actress-plays-lead-role-in-twilight-zone-episode-set-in-alaska/ |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=Anchorage Daily News |archive-date=December 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215165942/https://www.adn.com/arts/film-tv/2019/04/17/inuit-actress-plays-lead-role-in-twilight-zone-episode-set-in-alaska/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Sila next appeared as a police officer in four episodes of Canadian police procedural series ''Tribal'' in 2020.<ref name=":4" /> Her lead performance as an Inuk paramedic in Canadian horror film ''Ditched'' (2022) was well-received, with one reviewer calling her "reason enough to stick with the story."<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Knight |first=Chris |date=January 14, 2022 |title=Film review: Ditched has a whole lot of horror going on |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/film-review-ditched-has-a-whole-lot-of-horror-going-on |access-date=March 25, 2022}}</ref>
In March 2022, she announced that she was producing and directing a documentary about the reaction of Inuit elders and community leaders to the bodies discovered at former residential schools.<ref name=":2" /> The documentary will be titled ''What's Next? On Canada's RedPath to Reconciliation''.<ref name=":2" />
In September 2022, Sila and her brother Jesse competed in ''The Amazing Race Canada 8'', and came in second place.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 21, 2022 |title=Inuvialuit siblings from Yellowknife make it to the finale of Amazing Race Canada |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/amazing-race-canada-season-8-1.6590272 |access-date=September 26, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Broadway Alums Catherine Wreford Ledlow and Craig Ramsay Win The Amazing Race Canada |url=https://people.com/theater/catherine-wreford-ledlow-craig-ramsay-win-the-amazing-race-canada-broadway-alums/ |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref>
== Other ventures == Sila's TikTok has over 364,000 followers {{As of|2023|April|lc=y}}.<ref name=":5" /> She began posting on TikTok in April 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2020 |title=Find Out What Makes TikTok Star Marika Sila Tick |url=http://vitadaily.ca/2020/10/22/find-out-what-makes-tiktok-star-marika-sila-tick/ |access-date=March 26, 2022 |website=VITA Daily |language=en-US |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009092705/https://vitadaily.ca/2020/10/22/find-out-what-makes-tiktok-star-marika-sila-tick/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Her content is a mixture of education about Inuit culture and social issues; social activism relating to missing and murdered Indigenous women, the Canadian Indian residential school system, and the bodies of children buried at the schools; and stunt performances, including hoop dancing, fire spinning, and weapons handling.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Macyshon |first=Jill |date=September 5, 2020 |title=Indigenous TikTok creators use platform to 'bridge the gap' between cultures |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/article/indigenous-tiktok-creators-use-platform-to-bridge-the-gap-between-cultures/ |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=CTV News |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206115455/https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/indigenous-tiktok-creators-use-platform-to-bridge-the-gap-between-cultures-1.5093898 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor-Singh |first=Heather |date=September 30, 2021 |title=10 Indigenous Content Creators You Should Be Following |url=http://www.ellecanada.com/culture/society/10-indigenous-content-creators-you-should-be-following |access-date=March 25, 2021 |website=Elle Canada |language=en |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003000525/https://www.ellecanada.com/culture/society/10-indigenous-content-creators-you-should-be-following |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2021, Sila launched RedPath Radio, a podcast aimed at preserving and sharing Indigenous cultural knowledge and stories.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Small |first=Jordan |title=RedPath Radio podcast to inspire unity among all races, genders and identities |url=https://www.lakelandtoday.ca/indigenous-alberta/redpath-radio-podcast-to-inspire-unity-among-all-races-genders-and-identities-3640380 |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=Lakeland Today |date=April 17, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=May 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516234306/https://www.lakelandtoday.ca/indigenous-alberta/redpath-radio-podcast-to-inspire-unity-among-all-races-genders-and-identities-3640380 |url-status=live }}</ref> She is also the owner of RedPath Talent, an entertainment and talent management agency focused on Indigenous performers.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Brooke |date=June 22, 2021 |title='Unapologetically Indigenous': How TikTok provides a community for Indigenous creators to advocate, educate and entertain |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/unapologetically-indigenous-how-tiktok-provides-a-community-for-indigenous-creators-to-advocate-educate-and-entertain/ |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=CTV News |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206114941/https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/unapologetically-indigenous-how-tiktok-provides-a-community-for-indigenous-creators-to-advocate-educate-and-entertain-1.5480765 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Sila has also appeared as a model. In 2020, she was a quarterfinalist in the ''Maxim'' Cover Girl contest.<ref name=":3" /> In 2022, she was a model for the third iteration of Project Atigi, a capsule collection created by Inuk designer Victoria Kakuktinniq for winterwear brand Canada Goose.<ref name=":8">{{Cite magazine |last=Cardin-Goyer |first=Camille |date=February 2022 |title=Reclaiming Their Culture |url=https://www.ellecanada.com/fashion/shopping/project-atigi-meet-the-inuit-designer-victoria-kakuktinniq |magazine=Elle Canada |page=70 |access-date=March 26, 2022 |archive-date=April 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405053211/https://www.ellecanada.com/fashion/shopping/project-atigi-meet-the-inuit-designer-victoria-kakuktinniq |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Project Atigi: Meet the Inuit designer Victoria Kakuktinniq |url=http://www.ellecanada.com/fashion/shopping/project-atigi-meet-the-inuit-designer-victoria-kakuktinniq |access-date=March 25, 2022 |website=Elle Canada |archive-date=March 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314105756/https://www.ellecanada.com/fashion/shopping/project-atigi-meet-the-inuit-designer-victoria-kakuktinniq |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |Notes !Ref |- ! scope="row" |2016 |''Lucifer'' |Barfing Girl |Episode "The Would-Be Prince of Darkness" |<ref name=":6" /> |- ! scope="row" |2019 |''The Twilight Zone'' |Sergeant Yuka Mongoyak |Episode "A Traveler" |<ref name=":6" /> |- ! scope="row" |2020 |''Tribal'' |Justine Trueblood |4 episodes |<ref name=":4" /> |- ! scope="row" |2021 |''The Secret History of: The Wild West'' |Young Blackfoot Woman |Episode "Louder than Words" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Secret History of the Wild West Ep 101 |url=https://corporate.aptn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/SH101-Credits.pdf |access-date=April 13, 2022 |website=Aboriginal Peoples Television Network |archive-date=April 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413222052/https://corporate.aptn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/SH101-Credits.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |2021 |''Hudson & Rex'' |Veena Kalvak |Episode "Fanning the Flames" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marika Sila |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7914406/ |access-date=April 13, 2022 |website=IMDb |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216184622/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7914406/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |2021 |''Ditched'' |Melina | |<ref name=":7" /> |- ! scope="row" |2022 |''The Amazing Race Canada 8'' |Self/Contestant |Competed with brother Jesse Cockney |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/press/its-go-time-canada-the-amazing-race-canada-returns-july-5-on-ctv-as-all-10-teams-revealed/|title=It's Go Time, Canada! THE AMAZING RACE CANADA Returns July 5 on CTV, as all 10 Teams Revealed|work=Bell Media|date=June 22, 2022|access-date=June 22, 2022}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |2023 |''Finality of Dusk'' |Ishkode | |<ref>[https://occhimagazine.com/madison-thomas-finality-of-dusk-receives-its-world-premiere/ "Film ‘Finality Of Dusk’ Receives its World Premiere"]. ''Occhimag'', November 3, 2023.</ref> |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.marikasila.com/}} * {{TikTok|id=thatwarriorprincess}} * {{IMDb name|id=nm7914406}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sila, Marika}} Category:1992 births Category:21st-century Canadian actresses Category:21st-century Inuit actresses Category:Activists from Alberta Category:Actresses from Alberta Category:Actresses from the Northwest Territories Category:Canadian film actresses Category:Canadian Inuit women Category:Canadian television actresses Category:Canadian women activists Category:Female models from Alberta Category:Inuit activists Category:Inuit filmmakers Category:Inuit from the Northwest Territories Category:Inuvialuit people Category:Living people Category:Participants in Canadian reality television series Category:People from Canmore, Alberta Category:People from Yellowknife Category:Canadian TikTokers