Indigenous Artists
Drama teachers can use work created by Indigenous artists to help add integrity and show students play from a FMNI perspective. These plays are helpful as they directly show the voice of Indigenous peoples.
Important information to consider:
Remember to be aware of colour- conscious casting, specific roles are meant to be played by Indigenous actors.
Hiring Indigenous artists to write plays with your students.
The following is a list of Indigenous playwrights and examples of plays that have been broken into specific age groups.
Elementary
Th'owxiya The Hungry Feast Dish - Joseph A. Dandurand
From the Kwantlen First Nation village of Squa’lets comes the tale of Th’owxiya, an old and powerful spirit that inhabits a feast dish of tempting, beautiful foods from around the world. But even surrounded by this delicious food, Th’owxiya herself craves only the taste of children.
Iron Peggy - Marie Clements
Peg finds three cast-iron Canadian soldiers. In despair, she throws them against the floor. How can they help her? They are so small, and the girls’ shadow is so big. But, miraculously, the toys come to life as Indigenous snipers from World War I, just in time to wage an epic battle against the girls. With 2018 marking the 100th-year anniversary of WWI, Iron Peggy is an excellent introduction to its history and a touching testimony that not only celebrates the First Nation's participation in the war effort but also a young girl’s personal victory.
Junior High
Shakedown Shakespeare - Yvette Nolan
A fast and funny take on 4 of the Bard's finest: Romeo & Juliet, King Lear, Macbeth and Hamlet. Introduces the stories, themes and language of Shakespeare to youngsters.
The Boy in the Treehouse - Drew Hayden Taylor
Simon, the son of an Ojibway mother and a British father, climbs into his half-finished tree house on the vision quest his books say is necessary for him to reclaim his mother’s culture. Of course, what with the threats of the police, the temptation of the barbecue next door, and the distractions of a persistent neighbourhood girl, Simon probably wouldn’t recognize a vision if he fell over it.
Education is our right - Drew Hayden Taylor
One act
borrows from the familiar story of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, but in this version the spirits of Education Past, Present and Future attempt to show the Minister of Indian Affairs the error of his ways.
Toronto at Dreamer's Rock- Drew Hayden Taylor
One Act
a moving portrayal of a teenage boy who is torn between the traditions of his people, which he only vaguely understands, and the lure of modern life. His magical encounters with two members of his tribe – one from 400 years in the past and one from the future – make him aware of how little he has thought about what it means to be an Indian.
High School
Refractions: Solo
Edited by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard & Yvette Nolan
A collection can be used both as a monologue source for actors and students, or as a primer on diverse Canadian theatre and an entry point into new works, many of which are not yet widely available.
1975, Lethbridge Alberta. When the Monoghan sisters lose their parents in a car accident, Deirdre remains as the sole caregiver to her older sister, Isabelle. Just as Deirdre is poised to enter university and begin exploring, for the first time, her own future and independence, she must choose how much of her own life she will sacrifice for the love of Isabelle.
Dying under mysterious circumstances, it is still unclear what really happened to Anna Mae back in the late 70s. Instead of recounting cold facts, this play looks for the truth in examining the life and death of this remarkable Aboriginal woman; that we cannot know the consequences of our actions; that we live on in the work that we do and the people we affect long after we have passed from this world.
Rez Sisters- Tompson Highway
The play is about seven sisters living on an Indian reservation and the Trickster spirit who attempts to manipulate them.
Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion - Drew Hayden Taylor
This play explores the possibility of reconciliation and urgently questions past and contemporary forms of Canadian colonialism. A contemporary classic!
Cerulean Blue - Drew Hayden Taylor
This play is an homage to fast-moving farces while also addressing Aboriginal issues. Cerulean Blue deals with relationships, perceptions, politics, and what to do when you discover you’ve been dating your first cousin. Add a few spoonfuls of original blues music, and you’ve got a fun-filled evening.
The play was written for a large ensemble cast.
Drew Hayden Taylor. (2019, October 30). Books by author Drew Hayden Taylor. Drew Hayden Taylor | The Ongoing Adventures of the Blue-Eyed Ojibway. https://www.drewhaydentaylor.com/books/
Indigenous Playwrights. (2021). Playwrights Canada Press. https://www.playwrightscanada.com/Subjects/Indigenous-Playwrights