Please Do Not Touch the (Indians) Mi’kmaq is a play written by Joseph A. Dandurand, a member of the Kwantien First Nation located on the Fraser River. I saw the production at The Boardmore Theatre at Cape Breton University.

I recommend the experience.

We were in our seats a little early and Morgan Toney was playing the fiddle. Wow. My uncle and I watched Toney playing the fiddle on virtual Celtic Colours in 2020 but this was the first time I saw him live. He plays beautifully throughout the play.

The set was very cool, with stark dark trees standing in a cool pink light; it had the vibe of a clearing in a forest. There were artistic projections showing in the backdrop, so a salmon would appear when a salmon was being talked about in a story, and so. The pamphlet we received credits artist Ceilidh Isadore with projections illustration. You can see some of her work here Portfolio | CeilidhPitaw

The stories that are told immediately draw you in, they are told with imagination and let you see a little bit of an aboriginal culture. I laughed a lot. You get to like the characters. The director Wayne MacKay seemed to know just how to pace the play so that it moved ahead just as it seemed it should.

There is darkness. As the stories turn to the different horrors the Mi’kmaq were subjected to over time, it is difficult to watch. The sounds become jarring and unsettling.

There is a meaningful ending that I will not share here.

I’ve watched many a play in Cape Breton. My partner and I used to usher plays so that we could see them for free many years ago when we went to what was then UCCB. This is the first time I have watched a play with Mi’kmaq actors and themes. I hope to see more.

If you are looking for a way to participate in reconciliation, you could take in this play. I find myself still thinking about it.