Special Presentation
QWALENA:The Wild Woman Who Steals Children
With storyteller Dallas Yellowfly, 3 Crows Productions
Co-presented with Zee Zee Theatre
An evening of Indigenous storytelling, music, vendors and sweet treats, in honour of National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
A dark theatre reverberates with the sounds of a drum ushering in Dallas Yellowfly’s spine-chilling tale of a girl born different who, tormented by kids within her community, is driven to hide in the woods where she becomes Qwalena – the wild woman who eerily whistles to hide her forest movements and steals children who dare venture into the woods in search of her.
Yellowfly’s Qwalena is an allegorical creature representing the Indian Agents who stole Indigenous children from their families under the Canadian government’s aggressive assimilation policy. Blending oral tradition, multimedia, mature content and a bit of humour, Yellowfly delivers an unforgettable experience that examines the intergenerational impact of the Indian Act on his family and countless others across the country and how Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island are trying to break cycles of oppression caused by Residential Schools.
Donations collected will benefit the following organizations:
- Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society
- Aboriginal Mother Center Society
- Urban Native Youth Association
- Greater Vancouver Native Cultural Society 2-Spirit Organization
- Kílala Lelum Urban Indigenous Health and Healing Cooperative
SCHEDULE
6:30 – Indigenous Market & Music
7:30 – Show Performance followed by Q&A and complimentary treats
A special thank you to Earnest Ice Cream for their generous contribution to the event.
Get this event with a Season Pass subscription.
DATES:
Sept 21, 2024
WHERE:
Historic Theatre, The Cultch
RUNNING TIME:
90 mins
SCHEDULE:
6:30PM Indigenous Market & Music | 7:30PM Performance followed by Q&A and complimentary treats
CONTENT WARNING
This performance includes potentially triggering conversations surrounding physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, and homicide. Strobe lights for those who are photosensitive and loud sounds to those with auditory sensitivities also may be a trigger. Suitable for ages 13+
ABOUT THE STORYTELLER
Dallas Yellowfly is a member of the Siksika First Nation. In his earliest years Yellowfly lived on his ancestral territories in Calgary, AB but spent most of his childhood on Coast Salish territories in Chilliwack, BC. Growing up on and off reserve amongst Coast Salish family he felt that he was living in two different worlds that coexisted.
After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of the Fraser Valley Yellowfly’s career path began as an Indigenous Youth Care Worker in the Abbotsford School District. He noticed the two worlds he experienced as a youth seemed prominent in his work in education. Finally, after years of witnessing Indigenous youth affected by the inequities inherent in the education system he tried to bridge the gap in knowledge by sharing stories and Indigenous perspectives in classrooms. His work as a Youth Care Worker transformed into a full time presenter in the district. This inspired him to create unique storytelling presentations for education. To supplement some of the presentations he taught himself how to film short documentaries. The multimedia presentations became popular and soon he was getting booked beyond his own school district.
At night and in his free time, over the course of 15 years, he also pursued both music and stand up comedy professionally. He played guitar in 3 rock metal bands, recorded two albums which gained radio and internet following, toured Canada as a professional guitar player, simultaneously performing stand up comedy in Vancouver theaters and on CBC Radio.
In 2010 Yellowfly founded 3 Crows Productions blending his experience in music, stand up comedy, storytelling and filmmaking to make theatrical storytelling performances and unique documentary films. It wasn’t until 2017 that he officially left the safety of his position in schools and began working for himself.
3 Crows Productions has quickly grown into a nationally recognized brand known for their unique storytelling performances and documentary films. Whether its corporate clients like Staples, government agencies like Corrections Canada or a theatre full of students, Yellowfly has maintained the same focus since his childhood, bridging the gap between two worlds helping people understand each other.
About Three Crows:
3 Crows Productions is a unique group of Indigenous Educational Storytellers dedicated to increasing awareness of culture, history and experience from an Indigenous perspective. As a 100% Indigenous owned and operated company, each member has verifiable ancestry and lived experience to share. Each member is dedicated to educating the future generations of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members through presentations, Oral Storytelling, live theatre performances and documentary filmmaking.
Please visit
www.3crowsproductions.com
