Last November, I packed my puppet cases with puppet making supplies and, of course, my puppets Magrau the bird and Kamilla the frog.
I had been invited to perform two sets of ventriloquist shows and two 50 minute puppet making workshops, first to the children at the Nisga’a Museum and, later that night, to the members of the Nisga’a community.
I was ready for an adventure, and being invited in the first place meant a lot to me.

The Nisga’a Museum is located in the Nass Valley, about 2 hours away from Terrace B.C.

The Museum is known as Hli Goothl Wilp-Adokshl Nisga’a, which means “the Heart of Nisga’a House Crests,” a name that acknowledges and celebrates the importance of the four tribes that make up the Nisga’a Nation. Through educational programs, the Nisga’a Museum promotes engagement and learning about artifacts and art objects in a beautiful setting. I was told that the children had not yet seen a ventriloquist in their community, however I knew that Magrau and Kamilla would in their usual way, make a lot of friends and introduce me.

I arrived at the Museum on the morning of the show and instantly knew I had entered a very sacred space. I was allowed into the entrance of the Museum collection to see the beginning of the treasures. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many of these Nisga’a treasures left the Nass Valley. The Nisga’a elders and leaders fought to ensure this scattered legacy would find its way back home. Anhooya’ahl Ga’angigatgum’ (the Ancestors’ Collection) is a gathering of priceless artifacts.

I felt a deep sense of emotion and I couldn’t explain it but it was very peaceful and welcoming. I sat inside the entrance of the curtain by myself for a few moments. I would be performing on the other side of the curtain under a magnificent piece of art. I wasn’t nervous because I kept thinking of the kids. How can you get nervous when you picture kids and their faces.

Now here’s the thing…I was ready to do my regular show for the children, however I found myself leading the children in improvisation: howling like wolves and flying like eagles. I felt the space and the energy and it was fantastic. The kids were laughing and the adults and elders were engaged and it was a very good feeling. After the show we made puppets out of socks and the children’s puppets were incredible! Later that night we had over 60 children making sock puppets all at once, dancing to the music in my show and then doing a sock puppet parade following me and the puppets like the Pied Piper. The staff and folks from the community welcomed us and we shared many good conversations.  Many children told stories to my puppets. That’s the thing, with Kamilla and Magrau, the children seem to open up, holding the puppet’s hands and skipping, talking about Kamilla’s dress and twirling with Magrau. They took home their sock puppet pal and the day and night was complete.

That night I opened my window at the B&B where I stayed and smelled the wood smoke of the fire places and heard…nothing!
Now being used to downtown Vancouver, it was definitely quiet. It was so quiet and serene with a blanket of snow falling (I laugh as I write this because it sounds like something I read once in a Dicken’s novel). I breathed in a big breath of air and suddenly I heard the dogs barking. They had heard me…breathing. Now if you know me, I have always wanted to have a dog again like I had on our farm where I grew up. Hearing the dogs barking and seeing the snow was the perfect way to get to sleep. I usually have a hard time coming down with my energy after a show but this night’s sleep was going to be a piece of cake and I don’t remember much other than waking up the next day.

If anyone has the opportunity to head to the Nisga’a Nation I would urge you to go visit and explore. It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen and the people in the community are welcoming and wonderful. I wonder how much the children have grown since last November and it’s already springtime! I’m excited for spring and summer and for our shows that we have coming. If you’d like to join our newsletter, you can follow us and hear about our new adventures. Seeing the kid’s faces as they watch the puppets always makes me laugh. They believe in the magic! Dancing, laughing and singing with the puppets helps them feel good about themselves.
How cool is that?

Kellie