The Ikidowin Indigenous People's Task Force(IPTF) Youth Theater Ensemble brings their production,"We will do it for the Water!"to the Reif Center Grand Rapids Friday morning at 10a.m. and again Friday afternoon at 1p.m. The multi-modal experience illuminates the culture and history of Ojibwe and Dakota people in terms of their commitment to protecting water.
Executive Director of IPTF Sharon Day wrote the production that begins with protecting the Coldwater Spring in the Twin Cities and ending with Standing Rock in North Dakota, the play weaves songs and prayers into a historical reflection of 10 years of water protection. Performers are all native youth and the ensemble is the longest running native theater troup in the country. Professionally trained, each actor is passionate about water protection and some actors are second generation - following in the performance footsteps of their parents. An Ojibwe woman, Day has respected and protected the water her entire life. She's led dozens of water walks around the United States, walking miles of road, carrying water, and praying every step of the way.
Sharon Day spoke with us on the morning show about her relationship with water, the Ikidowin production and shared insight on the theater ensemble.
