Puppet performance shines light on the return of Banff's bison

A group of artists have come together for a puppetry performance celebrating the return of bison toBanff National Park.

In February, Parks Canada reintroduced the first wild bison to roam Banff in more than 100 years, and thepuppet showIinisikimm: A Homecoming for the Buffalo of Banff National Park, istelling the story of the buffalo returnusinglighted lantern-puppets.

• Bison to be reintroduced to Banff National Park

Combining lanternsand puppets for the show was an organic decision by the artists, says Peter Balkwill, producing director ofIinisikimmandco-artisticdirector at theOld Trout Puppet Workshop.

"In working with members of the Blackfoot community we began to realize the significance of light in their stories and their spiritual beliefs, and it just really made a lot of sense." Balkwill said.

The bisonreturn

Iinisikimmisproduced by the Canadian Academy of Mask and Puppetryand is supported byBison Belong in Banff National Park, a not-for-profit organization supporting the reintroduction of bison to Banff.

Balkwillsaid both Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists worked on the project thatchallenged his artistic ability and offered a glimpse into Blackfoot culture.

"I've alwayshad a greatcuriositybut never really had access or a conduit into the [Indigenous]community," Balkwill said."So the culturalimplicationsfor meare as big, if not bigger, than what I've learned as an artist."

Sixteen studentsfromCamp Chief Hector YMCA,eightof whom are Indigenous,helped build the lantern-puppets withartistsin residence.

Final performance

Thefinal performance ofIinisikimmtakes place in Calgary at the YMCA Camp Riveredgeon Friday evening.Iinisikimmwas only performed two other times;once at Camp Chief Hectorand againin Banff on Tunnel Mountain.

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Balkwill said the puppets will go into storage after Friday's show until next summer, when he hopes to do more performances ofIinisikimm.

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"I just feel immensely fortunate to be able to practice my art, but also to learn and figure out new ways to createAnd connect to an Indigenous culture that's been on the land for thousands of years before anybody that Iwas ever connected to came here," Balkwill said.

The curtain rises onIinisikimm: A Homecoming for the Buffalo of Banff National Park at 9:30 p.m.in Calgary at the YMCA Camp Riveredge, 1215 50 Ave.S.W.

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