From Muppets to movies to musicals, meet Indigenous people who are braiding together mainstream and Indigenous stories

DerRic Starlight always loved the Muppets, so much so that he learned all the voices – and then some. Today, the comedian and puppeteer performs over 500 voices, including those of the Nuppets, an Indigenous cast of characters based on people from the Tsuut’tina First Nation reserve.

Carol Anne and Tom Johnson first made headlines when their Mi'kmaq overdubbing of the Dreamworks film, Chicken Run, took off. Fast forward to today and the couple cannot keep up with the demand for translation and overdubbing services. That’s why they’re creating a studio in Eskasoni, Nova Scotia to encourage others in their community to get involved with this unique form of language revitalization.

Think poodle skirts but also ribbon skirts. Think doo-wop but also hip-hop. A Cree couple in Edmonton, Alberta is giving Grease the Musical an Indigenous Treaty Six twist with the creation of Bear Grease The Musical. Co-creator, Crystle Lightning, reminds us of the importance of Indigenous storytelling that focuses on humour and having fun.