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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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
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
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.
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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