By Nicole North

On May 30th, fourteen SFU Indigenous Languages Program (INLP) students from the Hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ cohort took the stage at the Tsawwassen First Nation Longhouse. Their debut performance was a play titled θə sciʔeł q̓em̓iʔ cəw̓aθə (Princess Tsawassa: A journey of discovery). It was performed entirely in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ by students of the language, based on an ancient traditional story of the first Tsawwassen people. A video clip that captured part of the performance can be view below or via this link. 

Heather Bliss of INLP attended the performance: “It really was an incredible day and the students did such a great job.” Five of the cast members (Kaitlyn Cunningham, Coral Baird, Kayleigh Meredith, Raven Wilson, and Lilly Cunningham-Teare) took Writing for Linguistics (LING 282W) with Dr. Bliss last year.  

Tsawwassen First Nation: “Through this performance, they honour and preserve our traditions, ensuring our language and ways of life continue to thrive and be known to all.”

As part of coursework for INLG 335 (Topics in Indigenous Language I), Dr. Donna Gerdts and her students, with help from Tara Morris, PhD student at University of Victoria, Victor Guerin, PhD student from SFU, Sophia Good, MA student from SFU, and Dr. Kirsten Sadeghi-Yekta of University of Victoria, developed the script together. 

This new play was performed before an audience of eighty attendees from First Nations of the mainland and Vancouver Island. Tsawwassen First Nation hosted the event and provided a delicious feast. Funding for the course came from FNESC Post-secondary Partnership Project and SSHRC Partnership Development Grant. 

Donna Gerdts: "But what a lovely occasion, for the play to debut at the place of its origin!"

The audience expressed deep appreciation for the ongoing work that the students are doing to strengthen the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language. The cast has indicated enthusiasm for future performances, including at the upcoming Indigenous Language Theatre festival.