Bringing together indigenous storytelling, cultural teachings, songs and language and oral traditions, a play on now at the , weaves a tapestry of a journey to healing.

It害羞草研究所檚 the story of Old One (played by Jonathon Fisher) and his journey to reconcile with himself, his family and his community.

害羞草研究所淗e represents a lot of different people,害羞草研究所� said Renae Morisseau, the director and lead writer, explaining why they chose not to give the character a name.

As indigenous people, she said, reconciliation has been going on for a long time, as people deal with the multi-generational effects of the residential schools, of being taken away from their communities and families.

害羞草研究所淭here is a lot of sadness and grief that is tied up in that, and that goes back generations, in terms of our relationship to the spirts of the land and water, but also our own selves, our families and communities,害羞草研究所� said Morriseau.

害羞草研究所�/Weaving Reconciliation: Our Way/, is about that journey for this Old One.害羞草研究所�

The play also focuses on the resurgence of culture and practice in youth, incorporating the voices of Syilx youth in the persons of Savannah Louis and Madeline Terbasket.

害羞草研究所淭hey are not scripted. They are taking on the role of telling Old One that 害羞草研究所榚verything is OK, we害羞草研究所檝e got it. We understand our language, we know the stories of these mountains and these waters around us. We understand our place within our communities,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said Morriseau. 害羞草研究所淭hey don害羞草研究所檛 have to reconcile as much as people in their 50s and 60s. They害羞草研究所檝e been raised in a good way.害羞草研究所�

Old One害羞草研究所檚 dream-like healing journey unfolds as he opens himself to his memories: of the impact of residential school on his family, the effect of intergenerational trauma on his daughter Nicole (Tai Amy Grauman), the decline of the fishing industry and the resulting loss of a working life on the water.

Reconciling is a continual reality according to Morriseau, and takes different forms, from that of a youth finding his place in a community and family he was torn away from, to Indigenous people finding their relationship to Canadian society.

Does Old One find what he is seeking? Morisseau said it is a step-by-step journey.

害羞草研究所淏ecause the play wants to give the balance between hope and grief. We don害羞草研究所檛 want Canadians to feel guilty, but grieve with us and celebrate hope,害羞草研究所� said Morriseau. 害羞草研究所淎s parents, we all want the best for our children. We all want the best for our next generation of people coming up. And that is what the choice of Madison and Savannah are doing for us in the play.害羞草研究所�

Indigenous people have a lot of universal understandings of our relationship to our land and water, Morriseau said, and that plays a part in the production.

害羞草研究所淲e started in Vancouver, with the Coast Salish people, and they told us stories of the waterways that are now covered over in Vancouver,害羞草研究所� she said, adding that now they are here in Penticton, they are hearing stories of the Okanagan waters and mountains.

害羞草研究所淭he story we told in Vancouver is different than the story we are going to tell here,害羞草研究所� said Morriseau. 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know what Madeleine or Savannah are going to say, but we created space within the play for our Trickster character, played by Sam Bob, to have a conversation with Savannah and Madeleine about their resilience, and their cultural resurgence and what that represents in terms of their responsibilities as Okanagan people.

害羞草研究所淭he stories we have about our land and water are about being custodians and being good custodians to the earth, our mother. For any Canadian, we are in an era of time in Canada, I think we all need to be custodians. I think we all need to look after the earth and understand all sorts of things about looking after this place we call home.害羞草研究所�

Weaving Reconciliation: Our Way is co-written by award-winning artists Renae Morriseau (Saulteaux Cree) with Rosemary Georgeson (Coast Salish/Sahtu Dene) andSavannah Walling (American Canadian); enriched by contributions from the cast, knowledge-keepers and partnering communities; and developed with the assistance of Playwrights Theatre Centre (Vancouver) and the Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival (Native Earth Performing Arts, Toronto).

What: Weaving Reconciliation: Our Way

When: May 30 to June 1

Where: En害羞草研究所檕wkin Centre - 154 En害羞草研究所檕wkin Trail, Penticton, BC

Tickets: Sold at the door only, $15 regular, $10 seniors and students. Limited seating.

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime for pre-show activities: including Carole Allison, weaver; Maryssa Bonneau, traditional singer; slideshow with images and sounds of Syilx homelands co-curated by Sylix youth and Honouring our Grandmothers Exhibit- Puta?ntm i? anxa?cintet, curated by Cori Derickson.

Savannah Lewis will perform in the May 30 and 31 performances, and Madeline Terbasket on the June 1 performance.