York Theatre to April 19, 2026
Tickets from $44 at 604-251-1363 or www.thecultch.com
Posted April 11, 2026
The world premiere of On Native Land, described in the press release as a “sweeping musical journey”, is one of the most beautiful productions ever to grace the York Theatre stage. Set designer Alaia Hamer transforms the stage with rows of sheaves of yellow grain above which hangs a huge ‘halo’ of twisted willow. Lighting designer Jonathan Kim bathes the stage in a constantly shifting kaleidoscope of colour, light and shadow. Elevated stage right are musicians on string instruments (Emilio Suarez and Sarah Ho); on stage left, piano/musical director (Dean Edward Thiessen) and guitar (Chris Fraser). The production is tight – not a slow moment. There are fourteen songs that blend Indigenous drumming and Broadway-style songs. A dozen performers. Strong voices. Dreamlike choreography by Jera Wolfe. Constant movement. It’s simply gorgeous.
Seven years in the making by writer/director/composer/lyricist Corey Payette (Children of God, Les Filles de Roi, Starwalker), this Urban Ink (Vancouver) and Raven Theatre production, presented by the Cultch, is a much-anticipated world premiere by a Canadian writer
If you’re sensing a “but” here, you’d be right. Perhaps I was overwhelmed by the stunning visual experience, but it took me ages to figure out who was who and, to a lesser extent, what was at stake. There are at least three stories running parallel: Blood (Dustyn Forbes), lawyer Rielle (Amanda Trapp) and an elderly Chief (Taninli Wright). Blood is an urban First Nation (FN), an up-and-coming, two-spirit, singer/songwriter in a relationship with Jakob (Zac Bellward). Blood is embraced by non-FN, young music-lovers but derided by FN folk for not being indigenous enough. Raised in the city, he has no connection to the land or to his native culture.
Then there’s the passionate Rielle who’s battling in court on behalf of indigenous people for rights to the land. In view of the NDP’s current decision to make changes to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, On Native Land could hardly be more relevant.
And finally, there’s the old Chief, worn down by the struggle and unaccountably hauled off by the RCMP. I don’t know why the grey-haired old chief – a woman – is taken away by the RCMP but that may be Payette’s point. The Chief seemed involved in a peaceful protest and holding up an eagle feather hardly constitutes a violent act.
Much of the narrative is delivered through the lyrics and for those of us who experience lyrics not as words but as a musical component – yes, that’s a thing – that’s a problem. I would have to see On Native Land a second time to fully appreciate it. Choreographer Jera Wolfe and Nathan Coburn perform a sinewy, visceral pas de deux full of angst and longing – paralleling the angst and longing of Blood and Jakob – but it feels somewhat out of place, an add-on, a ‘because-we-can’ choice. But it’s beautiful.
The only sour note in the casting is the characterization of Liz, Blood’s agent, played by Sharon Crandall. We know that Blood is being manipulated by her. But Crandall takes it over the top and renders Liz as a cartoon agent – arrogant, shrill, insensitive.
The undisputed centrepiece to this show is Wahsonti:io Kirby as Land, the storyteller. With exuberance and charm – and a cheeky sparkle in their eye – they pull it all together. They tell us at the top of the show that Land has taken human form in order to tell us this story; “I will be right here all the time” and they are. Kirby simply effervesces; they probably glow in the dark. Their impressive bio says they’re 5’1” but they’re a larger-then-life presence, the happy glue that binds the three stories. Take Kirby out of On Native Land and the show would simply be earnest.
Lines that resonate: “How do you heal what’s been broken?” “We are down but not defeated.” “We are wise beyond our years.” “White people telling you what you don’t look like.”
On Native Land ends on an optimistic note. As Payette said in an interview, “I hope this musical encourages people to not lose hope, and to really see this as part of that larger journey that we’re all on together.” And by that, I’m sure he means all of us, including the NDP and the feds.