Indigenous storyteller Dallas Yellowfly brings “Qwalena: The Wild Woman Who Steals Children” to life in this unique theatrical presentation. In a dark theatre, to the steady beat of a drum, Dallas tells a startling and thought provoking scary tale of a girl who is born disfigured, bullied and ostracized by kids in her own community. She runs away to the forest where she stays hidden. Over time Qwalena becomes the wild woman who makes eerie whistling sounds like the wind and steals children who dare to chase her in the woods. During the presentation Yellowfly uses elements of video and sound that fill the theatre, creating a chilling atmosphere.
The purpose of this presentation is to create awareness, especially among non-Indigenous audiences, about the inter-generational impact of Indian residential schools. Using the ancient tradition of storytelling, Dallas Yellowfly blends his live narrative with modern multimedia to create intrigue on a controversial subject. Qwalena is an allegorical creature that represents the Indian agents who stole Indigenous children from their families and forced them into government funded Indian residential schools under Canada’s aggressive assimilation policy. Yellowfly’s own father was one of these children. Using his experience in stand-up comedy, film making, and song writing, Yellowfly creates an engaging and memorable experience for audiences of all ages. This presentation also promotes a deeper understanding among today’s Indigenous youth and enables them to develop a strong cultural identity in the wake of residential schools.