Returning to the Land and the Stars

Not only did I get the chance to return to my hometown, but I also got to return to the stage as a performer in Gwaandak Theatre's ensemble piece Map of the Land, Map of the Stars. We just finished a sold out tour of the Yukon between May 9 and 18, and are lining up a tour "down south" (i.e. the provinces) in the fall. This play was created over a two year period of gathering stories from around the Yukon, and while I was not a part of this process, I am honoured to have the chance to share these stories onstage. The particular focus of this play is on stories we do not get to hear very often, stories from Indigenous people, African-American soldiers, and Japanese immigrants. Sound interesting? Here's the show description:

Yukon peoples travelled their rivers and trails, guided by the stars. The gold rush and the highway broke connections between land and sky.

Map of the Land, Map of the Stars, directed by Yvette Nolan and Michelle Olson, weaves together untold story-beads from our northern land. Generations of women walk their ancestors’ trails. People gather at fish camp. A wartime highway is built on the backs of African-American soldiers, transforming the land and people forever. Newcomers fall in love with the land and the people living on it.

In this powerful ensemble piece, blending theatre, dance and music, we search for the trail forward together.

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