Indigenous Opera: Reclamations in Storytelling

We are joined by writer T’set kwei Vera Starbard and musician Shaaḵindustóow Ed Littlefield to discuss their path to becoming an Emmy-nominated writer, playwright, editor, professional percussionist, educator, and composer. They also talk about their experiences as the librettist, translator, and composer of an upcoming Lingít opera about Sheetkʼá (Sitka) and battles for land rights and safety that took place in the early 1800s. This episode includes short clips of the opera, which will premiere on stages within the next couple of years. They also discuss their daily creative lives and advice for aspiring Creative Natives. Check out Vera Starbard at https://verastarbard.com and Ed Littlefield at https://edlittlefield.com Songs from the upcoming opera courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute.
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