Indigenous Storytelling Returns to Edmonton Stage

A collaborative theatre project celebrates Métis and Cree storytelling through music, performance, and spoken word.

At the heart of Edmonton's growing theatre scene, a new production titled 'Voices of the Land' is bringing Indigenous stories to life with powerful authenticity and artistry. Launched at the Citadel Theatre, the project is a collaboration between Cree and Métis playwrights, musicians, and dancers who aim to preserve and celebrate traditional narratives through contemporary performance.

The production weaves together multiple oral histories passed down through generations, now adapted for the stage using drumming, projection mapping, and spoken word. Audience members are seated in a circular arrangement to echo the structure of many Indigenous gatherings, immersing them in a communal storytelling experience. The opening night sold out within hours, drawing local leaders, elders, and artists alike.

Lead performer and co-creator Jolene Cardinal emphasized the importance of reclaiming space for Indigenous perspectives in mainstream art. 'For too long our voices were silenced or filtered through colonial lenses. This stage is ours,' she said to a standing ovation following the show’s premiere.

The production is also educational. School matinees have been arranged, and each performance is followed by a Q&A with the cast, allowing younger audiences to engage with the cultural roots of the material. For many students, it's their first exposure to Indigenous languages and traditions presented with such pride and care.

Critics have praised the project not only for its artistic value but also for its timing, arriving during a renewed national conversation around reconciliation and cultural equity. 'This isn’t just theatre,' wrote one reviewer. 'It’s a living, breathing act of memory and future-building.'

‘Voices of the Land’ is scheduled to run for three more weeks in Edmonton before it tours regional theatres across Alberta, with hopes of expanding into Saskatchewan and British Columbia by the end of the year.