Workshops
Shakespeare on the Rez
Reclaiming Our Stories
Core Goal: To create a collaborative space where community members explore how classic texts like Twelfth Night can be used to tell Lakota stories and histories.
Scene Study: Participants will analyze key scenes from the adaptation, such as "The Colonizer's Gaze," which reimagines the romantic tension between Orsino and Viola as a complex interaction between BIA Agent Royer and Thoša.
Cultural Reclamation: The workshop examines how Shakespearean tropes are transformed through a Lakota lens, such as replacing a traditional veil with a smudging ceremony to change the meaning of a character's isolation.
Creative Adaptation: Participants will break into groups to brainstorm how to adapt other well-known stories (like fairy tales or films) into a modern reservation context.
Building Community: This workshop emphasizes that there are "no wrong answers" and concludes with a shared meal to foster connection and dialogue.
History as Drama
Wrestling with the Colonizers
Core Goal: To empower participants to see historical documents as powerful sources for new creative work and character building.
Finding the Story: The session begins by exploring where history is found—from oral stories and family members to museum records and historical markers.
Deconstructing the Past: Using excerpts from texts like the Wounded Knee Massacre description or the Dawes Act, the group will identify "characters," "settings," and central "conflicts" within the facts.
From Fact to Feeling: Participants will move beyond history books to imagine the internal worlds of historical figures—such as a young mother or a U.S. soldier—brainstorming their objectives, stakes, and potential dialogue.
Collaborative Scripting: The workshop culminates in a group activity where historical facts are transformed into a short, 5–10 line scene of human dialogue.
The Heyoka’s Voice
Singing Through the Trauma
Core Goal: To explore the intersection of contemporary music and traditional storytelling as tools for cultural expression and resilience.
The Power of the Soundtrack: Participants will engage in listening sessions featuring traditional Lakota songs alongside modern tracks by local musicians, discussing how music expresses feelings words cannot.
Deconstructing the Ghost Dance: The workshop provides context for the play’s Ghost Dance scene, breaking down how specific sounds—like a heartbeat drum, distorted guitar, or vocal chants—create the scene's emotional energy.
Creating Our Own Voice: Working together, the group will write a 4-line "protest song" or spoken word piece addressing a contemporary issue relevant to the community.
Performance: Participants will have the opportunity to perform their creative work, supported by rhythm and phrasing guidance from experienced musicians.