PRESENTED BY THE WERKLUND CENTRE ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

NATIONAL DAY OF TRUTH & RECONCILIATION

now BOOKING ENGAGEMENTS FOR THE 2026-27 SEASON

ABOUT

"Echoes of the Land was a creative earthquake." Josie Simon – Calgary Guardian

Echoes of the Land invites audiences to immerse themselves in a transcendent auditory journey rooted in the spirit, stories, and rhythms of the land. Led by drummer and vocalist Cedric Lightning, traditional drummer and knowledge keeper Skip Wolfleg, spoken word poet Alanna Bluebird, and multi-disciplinary settler musicians Kris Demeanor, Kenna Burima and Tauran, this unique performance transcends traditional theatre. Designed as a sound bath to engage the senses, audiences lie blindfolded, fully immersed in a meditative realm of discovery and deep reflection on the land.

Length: 60 minutes with no intermission

Ages:10 and up

Capacity: 100 +/- (Theatre-style optional)

Touring Company: 7-8

media & reviews

For booking inquiries, contact Ghost River Theatre’s Executive Director at ed@ghostrivertheatre.com.



credits

Clarence Wolfleg, Elder

Skip Wolfleg, Traditional Drummer and Knowledge Keeper

Eric Rose, Concept, Director

Kris Demeanor, Music Director, Guitar, Vocals, Spoken Word

Jennie Esdale, Assistant Director

Cedric Biggie Lightning, Stoney Nakoda Drum, Vocals

Alanna Bluebird, Spoken Word

Kenna Burima, Keyboard, Vocals

Tauran, Dulcimer, Sound Design, Audio Mix

Kat Andra Armstrong, Production Assistant (January 2025)

Matt McKinney - 2150 Creative, Photography & Videography

An original production by Ghost River Theatre in collaboration with Skip Wolfleg

Echoes of the Land premiered at the 2025 HIgh Performance Rodeo, presented in partnership with One Yellow Rabbit.

The production was made possible by Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development, and audio sponsor Canadiana Music.


creative TEAM

Clarence Wolfleg Sr.

ELDER

  • Clarence Wolfleg Sr. (Agar) is from the Siksika Nation. His traditional name, Miiksika'am, translates to “Red Crane.” This traditional Siksika name was also his fourth great grandfather’s name, who watched their eastern Siksika boundaries for many years back in the late 1700s. Clarence attended the Old Sun Indian Residential School. In 2013, Clarence finished his last term with Siksika Nation Chief & Council. He was elected for ten terms as a member of Siksika Council. He is a member of the Sacred Horns’ Society and the Brave Dog Society. He is a five-year veteran of International Peace Keeping in the mid 1960s. He then became a police officer and served 14 years as RCMP Supernumerary Constable, and later as Alberta Special Constable, as well as Chief of Police for the Siksika Nation. Clarence is recognized as a Siksika Traditional Spiritual Leader by Siksika Nation.

Eric Rose

CONCEPT & DIRECTOR

  • Eric is an award-winning director, deviser, playwright, educator, and the Artistic Director of Calgary’s acclaimed Ghost River Theatre (GRT). Eric’s work is fueled by his dyslexic brain and is characterized by a striking audio-visual aesthetic that embraces the impossible, constantly reframing and rediscovering what theatre is and what it is capable of. Eric’s passion for the creative process has inspired the diversity of his performance experience, spanning sensory, experiential, site-specific, immersive, and devised performance, as well as large-scale contemporary, classical, and design-driven theatre and dance.

    As a sought-after teacher, Eric has shared his unique approach to theatrical creation with students and professionals worldwide. For GRT, Eric has taught its 4-Day and National 3-Week Devised Theatre Intensives for the last 15 years. He has taught for the Young Vic in London UK, Prague Quadrennial of Performance and Design, Kathy Knowles Theatre Company in Accra, Revolutions International Festival in Albuquerque, and across Canada at various post-secondary institutions and festivals. Eric has been honoured to be the Playwright in Residence at Alberta Theatre Projects, be named to Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40, and receive the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Artist Award for his body of work as a theatrical innovator.

    Recent GRT credits include: Concept/Co-Creator, Echoes of the Land (Betty Award Best Musical Direction); playwright /director STRUCK (Betty Nomination Best New Play); director/co-playwright SensoryBox; director/co-playwright GIANT (Betty Mitchell Nomination Outstanding Director & New Play – Award for Outstanding Ensemble); concept/direction/co-creation of Intuition Project; co-adaptor, sound designer and director Tomorrow’s Child (Edinburgh Fringe), director/co-playwright TheLast Voyage of Donald Crowhurst (Betty Mitchell Awards for Outstanding Production, Direction, NewPlay and shortlisted for the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Prize in Playwriting).

    Additional credits include directing a lab workshop of Troilus & Cressida for Stratford Festival; concept/co-creator I am Canada, Canadian Museum for Human Rights; concept/co-creator TropiCalgary, GLOW Festival; director/co-creator A Date With The Night for The Globe Theatre; director/dramaturg a new version of Hannah Moscovitch’s The Huron Bride for Vertigo Theatre; director the Canadian premiere of The Kite Runner for Theatre Calgary/Citadel Theatre; director/co-playwright Once Upon an Atom Bomb with Jennie Esdale and David Rhymer for the Green Fools Physical Theatre; director/co-playwright Peril in Paris with Ethan Cole (Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding New Play) a new musical for Lunchbox Theatre; director/dramaturg The Forbidden Sacrifice for the Kathy Knowles Theatre Company in Ghana.

    For Film and TV, Mr. Rose recently co-wrote the feature documentary Close the Divide (AMPIA Award Best Documentary Screenwriter). He co-wrote / co-directed a new 5-part streaming series, So Dark the Sky (TOWebFest Award for Best Sci-fi Series), which has been screened at over 15 international festivals. He is currently co-writing a feature film with Kyle Thomas, which is in development for North Country Cinema.

Cedric Biggie Lightning

STONEY NAKODA DRUM & VOCALS, FLUTE

  • Hello, my name is Cedric Lightning. I’m from Morley, AB—“Mini Thni”—of the Stoney Nakoda Nation, just west of Calgary, and from Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, AB. I grew up surrounded by music and song, always pushing myself to learn and sing all styles of powwow and round dance. Singing has guided me through healing, humour, laughter, and grief—it is an energy, an expression, and a medicine.

    I am a member of the powwow drum group Krazy Creek, with whom I’ve toured across powwow trails and communities throughout Turtle Island. Beyond the powwow grounds, I’ve had the honour of sharing my voice at major festivals including the Calgary Folk Music Festival, and as part of Making Treaty 7.

    In addition to performing, I am a drumstick maker. Each stick is crafted with care, designed to carry respect for the drum, for the singers who use it, and for the communities it brings together. This work keeps me closely tied to tradition while also letting me explore design and creativity.

    This is my second collaboration with Ghost River Theatre, following The Great Alberta Sound Bath Experience. I believe that when different voices, perspectives, and cultures come together, something extraordinary is created.

Skip Wolfleg

TRADITIONAL DRUM, KNOWLEDGE KEEPER

  • Oki! I am Clarence 'Skip' Wolf Leg Jr., I am a powwow drummer. I was raised on the Siksika Nation, I am currently living in the city of Calgary. I was trained as a Blackfoot Style powwow drummer/singer with over 30 years of experience & have sung with various championship drums over the years. I am also an experienced educator & Interpreter of Blackfoot culture/history, Plains First Nations history, & teacher of Powwow Drumming. I recently worked at the Glenbow Museum as an Educator before Covid shutdowns in 2020. I was recently hired to drum for the Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society Theatre Group for 3 stage productions. I have also been hired to drum or provide teachings as a knowledge keeper throughout the city of Calgary & area since 2013.

Kris Demeanor

MUSICAL DIRECTOR, GUITAR & VOCALS

  • Kris Demeanor is a singer songwriter, born and raised in Mohkinstis (Calgary) by parents who instilled a love of and respect for nature, a curious mind and a hunger for adventure.

    Collaborating with Ghost River and creating music with Cedric, Alanna, Skip, Tauran, Kenna and Eric represents the ultimate coming together of these interests and values.

    Kris dedicates his work to daughter Aviva and partner Deborah, in celebration of the ongoing joy and beauty in a turbulent world.

Jennie Esdale

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

  • Jennie Esdale is thrilled to return to Ghost River Theatre! She is a performer, playwright, and director. Jennie is Education & Outreach Associate at Theatre Calgary. She ran the Theatre School and wrap around programming at Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton, Ontario.

    Jennie has worked with theatres across the country, including the National Arts Centre, Banff Centre for the Arts, Theatre Calgary, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, The Cultch, Ghost River, The Only Animal/ Vancouver Olympics, and numerous children’s, arts, folk and puppet fest. Jennie was co-Artistic Director of Calgary’s Green Fools Theatre from 2004-2017. Her original works and collaborations have toured Canada and internationally, to the U.S., Brazil and Japan. Jennie also co-founded a Brave New Works festival, Spotlight Youth performers festival and numerous other initiatives in Hamilton. 

    Jennie has been recognized through theatre awards and nominations (Elizabeth Sterling Haynes & Betty Mitchell and Hamilton Arts Award), including: Outstanding Actress in a Drama, Outstanding Achievement TYA, Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical and Outstanding Performance in TYA.

Kenna Burima

KEYS & VOCALS

  • In her adopted hometown of Calgary (Moh’kinsstis, Treaty 7), Kenna Burima has earned a reputation as someone who can turn ideas into big projects, teach the unteachable and inspire people to come together. Since doing her time in the institutional hallowed halls of classical music education, Kenna’s love for all musical forms has driven her involvement in a diversity of projects. From the indie-folk of Woodpigeon and the sweaty garage sludge of Beaver Squadron; grandiose projects abound, nurturing Kenna’s compositional skill and style. Kenna’s solo albums span classical-cabaret-pop-rock and jazz; musical affairs that draw on her vast technical and artistic know-how. The complexities of her songwriting reflect the heart of an artist who is never content to restrict herself to one genre, one project, or one ideal.

    Her cherished collaboration with Ghost River Theatre continues to offer her unique opportunities to engage with music and sound for community building and collective healing.

Tauran

DULCIMER, SOUND DESIGN & AUDIO MIX

  • Tauran is a disabled queer designer born and raised on Treaty 7 territory in Mohkinstis (Calgary). She loves working with technology to make art that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Selected credits include: Sound Design and Original Composition for Imperfect Symmetry (Jupiter Theatre), Lead Programmer for STRUCK (Ghost River Theatre), and Lighting Designer for Someday (Calgary Young People’s Theatre) and The Room Sculpture Experience (Ghost River Theatre.) In the (rare) moments when she isn't working on theatre, she fences foil, makes electronic gadgets, and reads and re-reads all the books she can.

Alanna Bluebird

SPOKEN WORD

  • Alanna is a multimedia specialist with over a decade of experience in photography and film. Alanna has worked on numerous creative projects, including directing and producing the Tsuut'ina animation Cutknife Creek. As the Tsuut'ina Gunaha Resource Development Assistant they contributed to revitalizing the Tsuut'ina language and culture. A published children’s book author and spoken word performer, Alanna draws inspiration from Indigenous resilience and healing, blending storytelling with visual and literary arts to create meaningful work. Alanna's dedication to uplifting others has left an indelible mark on the artistic community, while their own creative endeavours serve as a continuous wellspring of inspiration and transformation. In essence, Alanna is a genuine artistic trailblazer, constantly pushing boundaries and encouraging others to do the same.