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Kiyanaan Indigenous Theatre Festival - Artwork by Nova Courchene

Kiyanaan Indigenous Theatre Festival

January 18 & 19 2025, Prairie Theatre Exchange - 3rd Floor Portage Place Mall

Produced by Echo Theatre

As the company in residence at Prairie Theatre Exchange

What is the Kiyanaan Indigenous Theatre Festival? 

Kiyanaan is a southern Michif word for "Us". The Kiyanaan Indigenous Theatre Festival is dedicated to bringing Indigenous theatre to audiences, offering production support to achieve artistic goals of the work of First Nations, Métis, Inuit artists. It aims to create more local opportunities for Indigenous creators, crafts and trades people, and performers, while nurturing a new generation of artistic and technical theatre professionals. 

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Logo Florals (left)

Festival Schedule at a Glance

All events at Prairie Theatre Exchange 3rd floor of Portage Place Mall. Info on getting here, accessibility, parking etc. HERE

Saturday January 18th
Opening Ceremony
11:00am - 12:30pm
Backstage Theatre Tour
12:30pm - 1:00pm
Minoosh Doo-Kapeeshiw
play
1:00pm - 1:30pm
Gone, She's Gone-
play reading
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Star Speaker- DARLA CONTOIS
3:30pm - 4:30pm
~Feast~
4:30pm - 6:00pm
who will save the night sky
play
6:15pm - 7:15pm
Kiyanaan Cabaret
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Sunday January 19th
Bawaajigan–Dreaming interactive workshop
11:00am - 12:00am
Panel Discussion with Indigenous ADs
12:15pm - 1:15pm
Bawaajigan continued
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Waawaashkeshiwag-Wabano
Open Rehearsal
2:45pm - 3:45pm
~Feast~
3:45pm - 5:00pm
fareWel Pre-show Talk 
5:00pm - 6:00pm
 fareWel 
play reading
6:30pm - 8:30pm

Shows and Events

Saturday

Opening Ceremony

January 18

11:00-12:30pm

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Join us as we start the festival in a good way! We begin with opening prayers, drumming, dancing, conversation, and a communtiy smudge. ​

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We invite you to expereince the meaning of Kiyanaan – the inclusive us in Southern Michif.​​​

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Backstage  Tour

12:30-1:00pm

Sunday
 
Bawaajigan-Dreaming 
The future of the festival and Indigenous Theatre in Manitoba
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January 19

11:00am

FIRST NATIONS, METIS, INUIT PARTICIPANTS ONLY

Interactive workshop and discussion. For Indigenous emerging, established, adjacent theatre community to share dreams, visions, desires for what this festival can be. Includes a zoom discussion with Indigenous Artistic Directors and Festival Producers across Turtle Island. Snacks and morning beverages provided. 

Get an exclusive behind the scenes look at the theatre

Minoosh Doo-Kapeeshiw by Charlene Van Buekenhout

January 18

1:00-1:30pm

FAMILY FRIENDLY!

A comedy about a cat who goes camping and finds a friend in a funny place. Silent silliness except for the narration in Southern Michif and the fiddle!

Waawaashkeshiwag- Wabano
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by Nova Courchene

January 19

2:45-3:45pm

Gone, She's Gone 
by Ashley Cook

January 18

2:00-3:00pm

Open rehearsal viewing. This piece examines the experience of female and male deer and the  gender roles and expectations through a fluid lense, using elevated text and movement. Audiences will be invited to witness a movement rehearsal with  performers and choreographer working to give life to beings in this work.

Best for ages-13+

GG, Warrior, and Sage's mother has been cursed and turned into a monster. The sisters must figure out how to survive while battling the monsters and living with the thought that they might be cursed too.

fareWel pre-show chat

January 19

5:00-6:00pm

Star Speaker- Darla Contois

January 18

3:30-4:30pm

Rosanna Deerchild has a pre-show chat with Governor General Award- winning playwright Ian Ross

ALL AGES ARE WELCOME!

Darla Contois is the award winning star of Little Bird on Crave. Darla is also a playwright, stage actor, and film director. Darla will speak with our host about making a career on stage and screen.

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Bingo Draw

6:00pm

Who got bingo? We find out. Come for the shows stay for the prizes! Prize package donated by APTN! Check out the merch: Blackstone merch! Seasons, soundtrack, coffee mug, sweatshirt, toque APTN tote bag, bingo dabbers and more!

who will save the night sky- by Philip Geller
fareWel - reading

January 18

6:15-7:15pm

by Ian Ross

A one-person performance in- process that blends bouffon, clown, storytelling, and spectacle.

who will save the night sky is an interactive performance that reminds us of the importance of our relationship to the stars and sky world.

January 19

6:30-8:30pm

A reunion reading of the play with original cast members who performed  on the PTE stage in 1996/98, and national and International stages in the early 2000s.

Kiyanaan Cabaret

January 18

7:30pm

For the 18:00 hours crowd

Indigenous creators share their works in this celebratory cabaret! Dance, comedy, music, poetry, and more!

Festival Funders, Sponsors, and Supporters!

Echo Theatre is an independent theatre company and support from our friends here is integral to the realization of the festival.

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Bingo prize donated by

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Echo Theatre is the Company - In - Residence at Prairie Theatre Exchange through the support of TD Ready Commitment

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Echo Logo design by Kendra Magnus-Johnston

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Echo Theatre has created and performed on this land that is the traditional lands and waterways of the Anishinaabeg, Nehethowak, Anishininew, Ininew, Nehiyaw, Denesuline, and Dakota Oyate and the Homeland of the Red River Metis. We take care in remembering the gift and responsibility it is to create and tell stories here.

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