Echoes of the Land (Ghost River Theatre) June 25, 2026

Echoes of the Land proclaims itself an immersive sound bath experience and certainly lives up to that proclamation. Upon entering the space the five storytellers are playing soft ambience (guitar, grandfather drum, piano, and flute) or creating traditional handiworks in a dim room. From there, we are directed to lay on the floor on yoga mats, with blindfolds if we want, and embrace the story. This setting, conceived in part by director Eric Rose, offered attendees the ability to choose what they most needed to take from the experience, be it a nap, relaxation, or the message of the music.

The story begins with Cedric Lightning on the grandfather drum while sharing the beginning of the story of Treaty 7 and inviting us into the storytelling process. Through song and gentle words we follow what it is to live on Treaty 7 territory, through a settler's eyes (Kris Demeanor), through farming (Kenna Burima), through the ancestors (Alanna Bluebird), and through your father (Skip Wolfleg). These various routes of connection offer perspectives into what these artists feel.

The choice to end the piece with music from Clarence Wolfleg Sr, Skip’s father, showcasing the bridging of Western music with Indigenous storytelling traditions was genius as it created a space where everyone left feeling like a part of the creation process. The overall sound and experience of being surrounded by storytellers on every side creating, jamming, and sharing their story was delightful.