A story inspired by an Anishinaabe prophecy about moving westward or perishing will be presented by an Indigenous performance company next week in Nanaimo.
As part of the Port Theatre’s Spotlight Series, Miigis: Underwater Panther will be staged by Red Sky Performance on Tuesday, Feb. 7, as part of an international tour.
“In the Anishinaabemowin (Ojibway) language, my people are the Teme-Augama Anishinaabe – which translates to people of the deep water,” said Red Sky’s executive and artistic director Sandra Laronde, in a release about the show. “I identify with this remarkable journey of hope that the Anishinaabe made. In our upcoming production, we look forward to bringing a significant cultural story to the surface and opening the imaginations and hearts of audiences. We will be sharing Anishinaabe archetypes and mystery beings which are part of Indigenous canon of Canada, but whose stories have rarely – if ever – been heard on stage.”
According to the release, the story of Miigis: Underwater Panther tells of a great migration from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, moving from salt to fresh water in search of a place of sustenance and chronicles the rise of matriarchy. It is Red Sky’s second creation in the Miigis cycle that focuses on the power of nature and Indigenous prophecy, and, as commissioned by Canadian Stage and Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, fuses dance, theatre, music and film.
The release noted that Red Sky has been lauded as one of the world’s most prolific and celebrated Indigenous performance creators, and now, in its 22nd year of performance, has delivered close to 3,000 performances in 21 countries across four continents.
Miigis: Underwater Panther will show in Nanaimo at the Port Theatre on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Tickets can be purchased online at www.porttheatre.com. For more information, visit www.redskyperformance.com.
READ MORE: Port Theatre announces Spotlight Series lineup as season fast approaching
mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
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