The Prairie region in Canada includes the three western provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Indigenous peoples in this region include Métis, First Nations represented by several main nations, namely; Cree, Blood, Ojibway and Blackfoot, Dakota, Lakota, Slave, Chippewayan, Beaver and Sarcee(1).
A true pioneer, Tomson Highway is a name synonymous with Indigenous theatre in Canada and throughout the world. An award-winning playwright, author and accomplished musician, Tomson has made it his life’s work to bring a distinct Indigenous voice to the stage and in print. Tomson has found time in his career to be writer-in-residence at the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, Concordia University and others. He also helped establish Native Earth Performing Arts, Canada’s first Aboriginal theatre company and was artistic director for six years. In addition to being inducted into the Order of Canada, Tomson has also garnered the honour of being the 2001 recipient of the Arts and Culture Aboriginal Achievement Award winner(21).
The Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company has produced award winning cultural performing arts and professional theatre training in Saskatoon since1999 with a curriculum rooted in guiding teachings from Elders and works with theatre as an impactful community development tool. The intertwined dynamic of arts and culture is the foundation of human nature and also guides this cultural/arts organization to create develop and produce artistic presentations by Canadian Aboriginal artists that promote positive images of Aboriginal people and contribute positively to the local and national performing arts scene. With innovative partnerships, mentorships and collaborations the Saskatchewan Native Theatre presents a unique blend of theatre and staged presentations.
In addition, the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company professional and career development builds character and pride in participants by providing world-class training that is culturally based and offered in a forum to allow Aboriginal talent and genius to be recognized, validated and encouraged to thrive(22).
The Crazy Horse Theatre Company was created in 1998 and after a couple years the leadership found it difficult to find Indigenous playwrights and in 2001 opted to host an Aboriginal Playwrights Festival and received more than a dozen script submissions. The organizers were astonished at the overwhelming interest not just from Alberta but Indigenous contributions from across the country and affirmation for a need for more Aboriginal theatre companies. This festival worked to usher in emerging and unpublished Indigenous playwrights and fulfill the mandate of Crazy Horse Theatre to help new Aboriginal artists with a festival and create an online library as a resource for their own company and other Aboriginal companies to draw from. The scripts chosen offered an often ignored contemporary portrait of Aboriginal people(23).
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.aboriginalcanada.com/firstnation/dirfnab.htm
21) http://www.naaf.ca/html/t_highway_e.html
22) http://www.sntc.ca/net/desktopdefault.aspx?tabindex=0&tabid=195
23) http://www.ammsa.com/sweetgrass/topnews-June-2001.html