University of Saskatchewan
IN-24: Innovation A

In 2015, the Department of Drama at the University of Saskatchewan launched the wîcêhtowin - Aboriginal Theatre Program (Certificate of Proficiency), the first of its kind in Canada: The wîcêhtowin - Aboriginal Theatre Program is a two year certificate program for Aboriginal youth, delivered over six consecutive semesters of study. The intensive applied approach trains emerging First Nations and Métis theatre professionals in the areas of performance, theatre design and collective creation. The program culminates in a world premiere of a new work; created, designed and performed by the program participants. This distinctive Aboriginal Theatre Program certificate is unique not only to University of Saskatchewan, but also to the province and to Canada. In addition to providing marketable skills to Indigenous youth, many of whom are from remote and northern communities, the program seeks to cultivate opportunities to create new performance work rooted in Indigenous language, worldviews and cultural praxis. The program is consistent with the University of Saskatchewan’s commitment to address indigenous issues as a key strategy toward social sustainability in our province. A cornerstone of the program is DRAMA 211 –Indigenous Performance Methods course which is based on oracy and cultural expression inherent in an Indigenous language through a number of performance arts: story-telling, song, dance and theatrical works. The laboratory/practicum component of the course provides students with opportunities to learn how to communicate creatively and express ideas, emotions, tell stories in an Indigenous language, while engaging in the process of developing creative material for presentation. The course is delivered in an integrated approach—a combination of seminars, and lab/practicum sessions. Language and cultural specialists, elders, traditional Knowledge Keepers and guest lecturers/artists enrich this course through socio-cultural activities intended to provide a foundation for the exploration of contemporary Indigenous worldviews and cultural arts. The Department of Drama held the first DRAMA 211-Indigenous Performance Methods: Practicum I in the summer of 2016. Cree scholar, cultural advisor, and theatre practitioner Darlene Auger was invited to the University of Saskatchewan to help pilot this innovative new course. By using a blend of methodologies and pedagogies students were introduced the basic worldviews, values and cultural theories of an Indigenous culture though the Cree language and contemporary Indigenous theatre study and practice. The fellowship enabled this nationally-acclaimed Indigenous speaker, actor, scholar and cultural advisor--over a period of approximately ten months in 2016 and 2017--to conduct a series of classes and workshops, and give a public lecture at the Drama Department. The research fellowship which is a core part of the ATP certificate program is divided into three stages and the results will be promulgated and disseminated in three different ways: public performances, live-streaming on the internet, and video documentation of the entire research project. Wîcêhtowin had eight students in its inaugural year (2015) and five in its second year. The cohort was made up of a broad spectrum of students: a high school graduate from Prince Albert to a former First Nation Band Councilor from File Hills in southern Saskatchewan. Although the course sizes are currently still very small, (the maximum capacity for ATP is twenty students biannually) the experience has been very empowering for those students involved. Even without the promotion that the final showcase production in June of 2017 would give, this first cohort has already been great ambassadors for the program and interest in the next ATP intake has been growing exponentially. We anticipate that the wîcêhtowin program will continue to gain momentum as word spreads and the quality of our graduates is recognized.