Ghost River theatre and One Yellow Rabbit co-present
ECHOES OF THE LAND
A Ghost River Theatre Production in collaboration with Skip Wolfleg
As part of the 39th Annual High Performance Rodeo
ABOUT
Echoes of the Land invites audiences to immerse themselves in a transcendent sound journey led by drummer and vocalist Cedric Lightning, traditional drummer and knowledge keeper Skip Wolfleg, spoken word poet Alanna Bluebird, and multi-disciplinary musicians Kris Demeanor and Kenna Burima. Grab your mat, join us at West Village Theatre, lie back, and let the soothing, meditative sounds wash over you. This is your chance to soak in powerful music that invites deep reflection on the land.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
January 16 Thursday - PREVIEW
January 17 Friday @ 7:30 PM - OPENING NIGHT
January 18 Saturday @ 7:30 PM
January 19 Sunday @ 3:00 PM
January 23 Thursday @ 7:30 PM
January 24 Friday @ 7:30 PM
January 25 Saturday @ 7:30 PM
credits
Clarence Wolfleg, Elder
Skip Wolfleg, Traditional Drummer and Knowledge Keeper
Eric Rose, Concept, Director
Kris Demeanor, Music Director, Guitar, Vocals, Spoken Word
Jennie Esdale, Assistant Director
Cedric Lightning, Stoney Nakoda Drum, Vocals
Alanna Bluebird, Spoken Word
Kenna Burima, Keyboard, Vocals
Tauran, Sound Design, Audio Mix
Kat Andra Armstrong, Production Assistant
Echoes of the Land is made possible by project grants from Alberta Foundation for the Arts and Calgary Arts Development.
Audio Sponsor: Canadiana Music
MEET THE ECHOES TEAM
Clarence Wolfleg Sr.
ELDER
Clarence Wolfleg Sr. (Agar) is from the Siksika Nation. His traditional name, Miiksika'am, translates to “Red Crane.” This traditional Siksika name was also his fourth great grandfather’s name, who watched their eastern Siksika boundaries for many years back in the late 1700s. Clarence attended the Old Sun Indian Residential School. In 2013, Clarence finished his last term with Siksika Nation Chief & Council. He was elected for ten terms as a member of Siksika Council. He is a member of the Sacred Horns’ Society and the Brave Dog Society. He is a five-year veteran of International Peace Keeping in the mid 1960s. He then became a police officer and served 14 years as RCMP Supernumerary Constable, and later as Alberta Special Constable, as well as Chief of Police for the Siksika Nation. Clarence is recognized as a Siksika Traditional Spiritual Leader by Siksika Nation.
Eric Rose
CONCEPT & DIRECTOR
Eric Rose is an award-winning director, deviser, playwright, educator, and the Artistic Director of Ghost River Theatre (GRT). His work is characterized by a striking audio-visual aesthetic that embraces the impossible; constantly reframing and rediscovering what theatre is and is capable of. Mr. Rose’s passion for the creative process has inspired the diversity of his theatrical experience spanning large scale contemporary and classical theatre, site-specific and immersive performance, experiential design, installation, performance creation, devising theatre, new play development, physical theatre, and dance. Mr. Rose has been honoured to be the Playwright in Residence at Alberta Theatre Projects, to be named to Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 and to have received the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Artist Award for his body of work as a theatrical innovator. Recent GRT credits include: playwright /director STRUCK; director/co-playwright SensoryBox; director/co-playwright GIANT, concept/direction/co-creation of Intuition Project; co-adaptor, sound designer and director Tomorrow’s Child, directing/co-playwright The Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst.
Cedric Lightning
STONEY NAKODA DRUM & VOCALS
Hello, my name is Cedric Lightning, I’m from Morley, AB, ”Mini Thni”. The Stoney Nakoda, which resides just west of Calgary and also Maskwacis, AB, Samson Cree Nation just a few hours north of Calgary. I’ve grown up singing and always pushing myself to sing all styles of powwow and round dance. Singing always helped me in many ways from healing, humour /laughing and heartfelt situations/Grief. Singing to me…is a form of expression. It’s Energy. This is my second time collaborating with GRT, having worked on The Great Alberta Sound Bath Experience. Mixed minds are a beautiful thing.
Alanna Bluebird
SPOKEN WORD
Alanna is a multimedia specialist with over a decade of experience in photography and film. Alanna has worked on numerous creative projects, including directing and producing the Tsuut'ina animation Cutknife Creek. As the Tsuut'ina Gunaha Resource Development Assistant they contributed to revitalizing the Tsuut'ina language and culture. A published children’s book author and spoken word performer, Alanna draws inspiration from Indigenous resilience and healing, blending storytelling with visual and literary arts to create meaningful work. Alanna's dedication to uplifting others has left an indelible mark on the artistic community, while their own creative endeavours serve as a continuous wellspring of inspiration and transformation. In essence, Alanna is a genuine artistic trailblazer, constantly pushing boundaries and encouraging others to do the same.
Tauran
SOUND DESIGN & AUDIO MIX
Tauran is a disabled queer designer born and raised on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstis (Calgary). She loves working with technology to make art that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Selected credits include: Sound Design and Original Composition for Imperfect Symmetry (Jupiter Theatre), Lead Programmer for STRUCK (Ghost River Theatre), and Lighting Designer for Someday (Calgary Young People’s Theatre) and The Room Sculpture Experience (Ghost River Theatre.) In the (rare) moments when she isn't working on theatre, she fences foil, makes electronic gadgets, and reads and re-reads all the books she can.
Skip Wolfleg
TRADITIONAL DRUMMER & KNOWLEDGE KEEPER
Oki! I am Clarence 'Skip' Wolf Leg Jr., I am a powwow drummer. I was raised on the Siksika Nation, I am currently living in the city of Calgary. I was trained as a Blackfoot Style powwow drummer/singer with over 30 years of experience & have sung with various championship drums over the years. I am also an experienced educator & Interpreter of Blackfoot culture/history, Plains First Nations history, & teacher of Powwow Drumming. I recently worked at the Glenbow Museum as an Educator before Covid shutdowns in 2020. I was recently hired to drum for the Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society Theatre Group for 3 stage productions. I have also been hired to drum or provide teachings as a knowledge keeper throughout the city of Calgary & area since 2013.
Kris Demeanor
MUSICAL DIRECTOR, GUITAR & VOCALS
Kris Demeanor is a singer songwriter, born and raised in Mohkinstis (Calgary) by parents who instilled a love of and respect for nature, a curious mind and a hunger for adventure.
Collaborating with Ghost River and creating music with Cedric, Alanna, Skip, Tauran, Kenna and Eric represents the ultimate coming together of these interests and values.
Kris dedicates his work to daughter Aviva and partner Deborah, in celebration of the ongoing joy and beauty in a turbulent world.
Jennie Esdale
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Jennie Esdale is thrilled to return to Ghost River Theatre! She is a performer, playwright, and director. Jennie is Education & Outreach Associate at Theatre Calgary. She ran the Theatre School and wrap around programming at Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton, Ontario.
Jennie has worked with theatres across the country, including the National Arts Centre, Banff Centre for the Arts, Theatre Calgary, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, The Cultch, Ghost River, The Only Animal/ Vancouver Olympics, and numerous children’s, arts, folk and puppet fest. Jennie was co-Artistic Director of Calgary’s Green Fools Theatre from 2004-2017. Her original works and collaborations have toured Canada and internationally, to the U.S., Brazil and Japan. Jennie also co-founded a Brave New Works festival, Spotlight Youth performers festival and numerous other initiatives in Hamilton.
Jennie has been recognized through theatre awards and nominations (Elizabeth Sterling Haynes & Betty Mitchell and Hamilton Arts Award), including: Outstanding Actress in a Drama, Outstanding Achievement TYA, Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical and Outstanding Performance in TYA.
Kenna Burima
KEYS & VOCALS
In her adopted hometown of Calgary (Moh’kinsstis, Treaty 7), Kenna Burima has earned a reputation as someone who can turn ideas into big projects, teach the unteachable and inspire people to come together. Since doing her time in the institutional hallowed halls of classical music education, Kenna’s love for all musical forms has driven her involvement in a diversity of projects. From the indie-folk of Woodpigeon and the sweaty garage sludge of Beaver Squadron; grandiose projects abound, nurturing Kenna’s compositional skill and style. Kenna’s solo albums span classical-cabaret-pop-rock and jazz; musical affairs that draw on her vast technical and artistic know-how. The complexities of her songwriting reflect the heart of an artist who is never content to restrict herself to one genre, one project, or one ideal.
Her cherished collaboration with Ghost River Theatre continues to offer her unique opportunities to engage with music and sound for community building and collective healing.
Kat Andra Armstrong
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Katherine! (she, her, hers) I’m a trans actress and artist working in Guts’ists’i, Wîcîspa, Moh'kinstsis; Colonial Calgary. Wild in constellations, demonic uni-debt I swear I won’t take to the grave (while U of C president Ed McCauley takes $492,275.62 yearly), and thrums of rain. Lately, when not brutalized by cops the uni sics on their student body: been Fringe-ing and dating audiences in DATE NIGHT, live-synthing at BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES, inciting hostage takeovers in TALKING TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT GUNS, crying over students’ writing at ATP, humming-birding in WAGONSTAGE, and video-producing with QUEST.
Recently wrote and illustrated a 56 pg. picture-fable: FREE TIME; about love, Imperial genocidal Canada, family, and doom.
Come be a clown and swim! Tell me scary stories of ghosts, dreams, love, and if you should take estrogen (yes).
development HISTORY
April 2022: Ghost River Theatre held a development workshop of an original concept sound bath and work-in-progress presentation entitled “The Great Albertan Sound Bath Experience” with artistic collaborators: Eric Rose: Director, Kris Demeanor: Artistic Lead/Creator/Musician/Composer; Kenna Burima: Artistic Lead/Songwriter/Musician; Cedric Lightning: Musician/Composer; Chris Dadge: Musician/Composer; Chantal Vitalis: Musician; Tauran Wood: Audio Engineer; Marina Buston: Stage Manager. Drawing inspiration from this workshop experience and our collaboration with Cedric Lightning, the concept for Echoes of the Land was born and it is being developed as a new work.
Photos by Jaime Vedres.