How a Kamloops inspired play is teaching the importance of Indigenous matriarchy

KAMLOOPS – A goal of a new play from the Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops is to teach people about the power of Indigenous women in society.

Kamloopa is a play written and directed by Kim Senklip Harvey. It focuses on empowering Indigenous women through storytelling and breaking through stereotypes.

"Kamloopa is an Indigenous artistic ceremony… it goes beyond the scope of what people normally think a Canadian play is, this is definitely not Canadian theatre, this is one part of a larger artistic Indigenous ceremony," Harvey says.

The story itself is about two Indigenous sisters who make their way to the largest powwow in western Canada. Throughout the course of the play, Harvey says the story focuses on Indigenous matriarchal power. 

The screenwriter hopes the play moves both Indigenous and non-Indigenous audience members beyond the play itself.

"I hope for Indigenous people, they recognize that there is a power within them and that for settlers as witnesses, they now have the responsibility once they see the show to go away and become partners and real authentic allies outside this," she says. "This is not a lights up, lights down show's over type of thing, we are asking people to come and bear witness."

Harvey says this is the first full-length play she has written.

The show will run at the Pavilion Theatre in Kamloops from Sept. 13 to Sept. 22.

For tickets or more information go here.

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