Scenes from the Nanaimo Indian Hospital

Dr. Laura Cranmer of ‘Namgis and Haida descent, an Indian hospital and residential school survivor, wrote “Scenes from the Nanaimo Indian Hospital” based on her three-year stay at the hospital as a young child. In this staged reading, the Nanaimo Indian Hospital is re-imagined to be the confluence of the Island’s great linguistic diversity embodied by the three young girls—Dorothy Myth representing Kwak’wala, Esther Williams representing Hul’q’umin’um’, and Mary Robins representing Nuu-chah-nulth—whose growing friendship in Ward B consists of delight in language comparisons while sinister medical undercurrents are revealed in the dialogue and action between the medical staff. This applied theatre research project centers on Indigenous language reawakening.

Warning: Mature content. Mental health support workers will be available for survivors & audience members.
Post-show talk in the theatre. Note: the post-show talk will be transcribed for research and education purposes.

This is an educational performance and supports for mental health. Watch about it here (all three at this link) or individual films here:

• Education and Applied Theatre (6 minutes)
• Mental Health (7 minutes)
• Reawakening Language (11 minutes)

Tickets: $30 Adult, $15 Student (+applicable taxes & fees)

Complimentary Tickets: Free tickets are available for survivors, the Ligwilda’xw peoples (the We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and Kwiakah First Nation communities), surrounding Nations, and any patrons who are in need of this gift. Please use the code VIPGuest online or call our Ticket Centre: 250-287-7465 ext. 1 to speak with someone directly. Our team is happy to assist you.