Founded in 1974 by James H. Buller, the Native Theatre School was started with the vision that Aboriginal people could create change in Canada through theatre. Buller was a noted opera and musical comedy singer.
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While earlier in the Canadian Navy before founding the school, Buller competed as a popular boxer known as "Gentleman Jim". He wanted to see aboriginal actors, playwrights and directors flourish across Canada and create a network of aboriginal theatre companies. He believed that the Native Theatre School was the way to develop theatre professionals who could do that.
In 1994 the Native Theatre School was renamed the Centre for Indigenous Theatre to reflect the organizations greater commitment to the pre-professional training, professional development and promotion of aboriginal theatre in North America and around the world. In 1995, the centre announced the development of its first new program in support of aboriginal theatre, the James Buller Awards for Aboriginal Theatre Excellence.
1998 marked the launch of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre's newest and most ambitious program. Based on the Native Theatre School model, the Centre opened the new Indigenous Theatre School, the first full-time, 3-year theatre training program in North America with a curriculum that integrates training in acting, voice, movement and traditional aboriginal cultural classes in dance, song and oral history.
The Centre for Indigenous Theatre is located in Toronto, Ontario.