The Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre was in La Ronge Friday.
The organization put on their annual Christmas play at the Kikinahk Friendship Centre.
This year, the Theatre produced Mekiwin: The Gift.
Wanita Singing Bird, an actress from the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, plays Sihkos, Claire and Little Fire in this year’s show.
She said the play follows three friends.
“The play is based on the beautiful friendships of the characters Zula Merastee, Claire Bear and Sihkos Sinclair, and there is a little misunderstanding that happens within there.”
Singing Bird said the performances are always set during the holidays and this gives them a festive spirit.
“It’s always based around Christmas time so, to me, it always elicits those Christmas-blessing feelings, that Christmas magic,” she said. “I really like how the play brings out those feelings in everybody and just creates a really nice harmonic feeling.”
The play, shown during Kikinahk’s Christmas party, is the ninth installment of the Rez Christmas series written by Curtis Peeteetuce. The show was directed by Danny Knight.
Singing Bird said having an Indigenous director for this play was important.
“There’s this little bit in the play where we have a child and she has a little doll who has the orange colour, and we wanted to signify our respect for the children that were found,” she said. “There’s another part in there where one of the kôhkums is getting mad at a toy and she’s kind of picking on that toy, and the director (was) like, ‘Okay, well whatever you do, you’re not to touch the little doll with the orange on it.’”
Singing Bird said a non-Indigenous director may not have specified that.
The entire cast is also Indigenous, which Singing Bird said was a great experience. The other actors include Shawn Cuthand, Ezra Forest and Dalton Lightfoot.
The play will be shown in Saskatoon from Dec. 15 to 19 at the Broadway Theatre.
(PHOTO: The cast members for this year’s play include Ezra Forest, Shawn Cuthand, Dalton Lightfoot and Wanita Singing Bird, who is sitting in front in the photo. Photo courtesy of the Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre.)