One of the last provinces in Canada to be settled by European explorers, British Columbia is home to total of twenty-seven distinct First Nations with more than two-hundred communities with eight different language groups throughout British Columbia and Vancouver Island(1).
Sen’klip Native Theatre Company
Formed in 1987 as a program of the First Nations Friendship Centre Society in Vernon, BC, Sen’klip Native Theatre Company strives to pass the values, the traditions, and the knowledge of the past to the generations of tomorrow. Combining both traditional storytelling with the artistic freedom of contemporary theatre, the company takes this innovative method of teaching to the elementary schools of British Columbia, giving the Native youth a chance to show with pride, the culture that is uniquely theirs(11). An important aspect to the annual summer Sen’klip Native Theatre Company programming is focus on cultural research, reclamation and retention through legend performance, programs, tours, cultural workshops, student programs and community theatre(12).
This article is a non-comprehensive and living document that provides an overview of artistic activities in the region. It will be revised as necessary as part of our ongoing process of continuous updates.
1) http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/abed/map.htm
11) http://www.nativeweb.org/resources/performance_music_dance_etc_/drama_theatre/
12) http://www.canwehelpyou.ca/browse_results.php?txtcategory=First+Nations