Tzinquaw Opera

Posted on Nov 14, 2024

Tzinquaw Opera

Through the traditional story, music, and dance of today’s Tzinquaw Dance Group, we investigate the breaking of bounds of the Indian Act’s cultural oppression through the Tzinquaw Opera’s widespread acclaim in the 1940s-50’s, leading to the present-day revitalization of Cowichan culture. Framed through the preparations, rehearsals, performance, and reaction to a performance of today’s Cowichan Tzinquaw Dancers, this documentary recounts and investigates the tragedy of the banning of the stl’unuq (Coast Salish spirit dance, or potlatch) and traditional Quw’utsun...

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