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Indigenous Theatre

Many Indigenous artists like Muriel Miguel, Kent Monkman and Waawaate Fobister have demontrated how Theatre can help in self expression, be it cultural, sexuality or gender. 

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Art Therapy in Indigenous communities

My inspiration comes from Mushkegowuk council and how they dedicate themselves to create and offer many art therapy options, even throughout the pandemic.

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Cultural Safety

Drama therapy is a holistic approach to therapy because it includes the manipulation of body and spirit. Creating a culturally safe environment is especially important in mental health care so we can prevent cultural oppression.

Social media influence on raising awareness on Indigenous peoples realities

Social media platform allow Indigenous youth to express their trauma, cultural pride, and the reality Indigenous face day to day. These platforms can raise awareness on multiple issues that Indigenous peoples have to go through each day. Be it the crisis of Murdered and missing Indigenous women, kids and 2 spirited people, lack or resources like clean drinking water in Indigenous communities, and the systemic racism and cultural oppression still present today. The TikTok platform allows, in a sense for people to do drama therapy, and unconsciously express their feelings and connect to others stories. Drama therapy is present all around us... Taping into your bodies feelings can help express emotions that are suppressed, and with my workshops, people will be able to do so in a safe environment. 

Link to Indigeneity

Drama therapy can be for everyone, however, it aligns almost perfectly with the holistic views of Indigenous mental health. As defined, drama therapy focuses on body movement and inner-self, which can be associated with the importance of body and spirit in Indigenous cultures (Khashaba, p.23-27). Drama therapy can also easily include other holistic techniques such as talking circles, use of sacred medicines and medicine wheels, spirit animals, and other traditional practices (Aboriginal Healing Foundation, p.9). By incorporating this physically expressive way of healing, trauma that might be suppressed, or feelings not easily communicated can be explored through drama therapy. For example, by incorporating spirit animals and mask making, Indigenous youth might be able to express things they weren't even aware of. The power of drama therapy is that what you express truly comes from within, and by utilising traditional practices in this form of therapy, could create an even more profound realization. Not only can Indigenous participants express their trauma but they can do so in a culturally safe environment free of cultural oppression (Khashaba, p.23-27). Indigenous peoples will have a difficult time healing under Westernized ways of therapy, but with drama therapy, it is easily adaptable to incorporate traditional practices of healing (Khashaba, p.23-27). Not only could drama therapy be beneficial in a healing sense, but it could also be another option for artistic expression. Art therapy is already used in some Indigenous communities and has been proven to be successful (Art Therapist Crafts Creative Way to Connect during Pandemic). Drama, or theatre has been beneficial to artists like Waawaate Fobister and Muriel Miguel who had difficulties growing up queer and Indigenous (TEDxToronto, Waawaate Fobister). In a marginalized world, it is only fitting to have multiple forms of therapy, healing and art. In all, drama therapy is a great alternative to westernized therapy as it can include various traditional Indigenous concepts to aid in the healing of the soul.

Indigenous Theatre

View more artists involved in Indigenous theatre and how it can raise awareness for Indigenous issues.

Mushkegowuk Council

View more about Mushkegowuk council who serves the northern area of Indigenous communities.

Healing through creative arts

View more on how the creative arts can help heal trauma, and decolonizing mental health by using traditional art, dance, storytelling, and music. 

© 2021 Wellness Theatre/ Théâtre Bonheur. Proudly created with Wix.com 

Lauryn Carney, Sudbury, ON

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