Returning for its 2nd year in a row, Echo Theatre presents Kiyanaan Indigenous Theatre Festival February 6-8th, 2026 in friendship with and hosted by Prairie Theatre Exchange.

Experience three days of theatre,visiting, feasts, music and more with an all-new slate of works by Indigenous theatre and performing artists from Manitoba. 

Enjoy something for the whole family starting with  a comedic and kid-centred take on a Nanabush tale with Nanabush and the Spirit of Thunder by emerging playwright Dezarae Meade in partnership with Oshkagoojin Indigenous Theatre for Youth. 

We jump right into Sharing Works with 2 works in process by Dannielle Morrisseau with a dark comedy about what might go wrong (or right depending who your financial advisor is)  after winning the lottery, and Rayna Masterton with a farcical look at tenant rights and bureaucracy!

Emerging artists and anyone interested in getting into the arts and making a career should come to the Star Speaker Series conversation with writer, radio host, and playwright Rosanna Deerchild who will speak about her career path through the arts. 

Stay for a special presentation of Where Are The Warriors by Michael Lawrenchuk (former Artistic Director of Red Roots Theatre and founding member of Shakespeare on The Red as well as a producer, writer, actor and director in theatre, film and television across Canada),  and a sharing of a Michif take on Mother Courage by Bertolt Brecht: a German classic translated by Carolin Schroeder (doing double duty as the festival Stage Manager) and adapted by Charlene Van Buekenhout, Philip Geller, and Genevieve Toupin (recording and touring artist Willows). Mamaan Kourazh is presented by Echo Theatre as a work in process with songs!

The evening rounds out with an exciting sneak peek reading of Jo MacDonald’s (Neechies, The Auntie Show) new play Land Claim  presented by Prairie Theatre Exchange and Manitoba Association of Playwrights. 

Kiyanaan Festival is proud to have initiated the National Indigenous Artist Development and Showcase Program in partnership with Gwaandak Theatre and their Awaken Festival in Whitehorse, and Native Earth Performing Arts Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival in Toronto.  The first recipient of this groundbreaking opportunity starts her journey at Kiyanaan Festival on Friday night before heading off to the Yukon in April and Toronto in November, Erica Wilson will present the first sharing of a new  burlesque inspired variety show (in process) called Miss Carcass Caresse: Soft Waters which will be an electric end to a night of celebration showcasing new works of comedy, poetry, theatre, and dance by local Indigenous artists in the Kiyanaan Showcase.  

The weekend ends on Sunday with a sharing of a work in process by Waawaate Fobister (storyteller, actor, dancer, playwright,choreographer, producer, and theatre instructor whose debut play Agokwe earned six Dora Mavor Moore Awards, including Outstanding New Play.)

We end the Festival off on a return visit to an older play, in the fashion of the 2025 festival’s reunion reading of the Governor General’s award winning work fareWel by the late Ian Ross, Douglas R. Nepinak’s The Crisis in Oka, Manitoba written around the 10 yr anniversary of the Mohawk Resistance at Kanesatake, will be read with Tracey Nepinak and Dave Mcleod (Tracey was married to the late playwright and directed and acted in the 2009 CBC and U of W radio version, and Dave Mcleod was in the Winnipeg Fringe production in 2000). This reading will also  invite the community, gathered to feast together on the mainstage at PTE, to come up and read the play with Tracey and Dave. This is part of the festival’s commitment to return and connect theatre and storytelling to its community roots, sharing stories and food together.

It should be noted that anytime there is food there will be music so don’t forget to come eat with us and listen to some local Indigenous musical talent!