Spirit Horse rides

Michaela Washburn says she became an actor to follow her dreams but also wanted to use her talent to help heal the Aboriginal people.

The 39-year-old Métis artist from Leduc, Alta. had dreams of becoming an actor and even acted in a few small community plays. She worked as a high school counsellor but re-evaluated her career choice after a student asked her if her job was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

Now a 25-year veteran in acting, she heard about a play called Spirit Horse in 2006 and said she thought it could make an impact on Aboriginal youth.

"It was always my dream to marry some sort of youth empowerment with being an artist," Washburn said. "This play is such a perfect match. It’s that perfect marriage of being a story teller and being that role model but at the same time look a those tough issues."

Washburn played Jesse along side Cara Gee as Jesse’s sister, Angelina and accompanied by Meegwun Fairbrother as Pa.

The play follows an Aboriginal family trying to hold onto their traditional ways while living in an urban city. The story revolves around the mythical spirit horse and how it brings healing and hope to the dysfunctional family.

Washburn and the rest of the cast performed the 50-minute production at Algonquin Avenue Public school for its Grade 3 to 8 classes on Tuesday. The travelling show stopped at the school as part of its 33-community tour. The play was performed at both the public and the catholic school board.

The play attempts to address issues facing Aboriginal youth including racism.

"The message that I’m bringing across to them is change is possible," she said. "We can choose for ourselves whether or not we grow up with influences that are prejudice or racist. That doesn’t mean we can’t make a difference on how we choose to experience the world."

Ellen Picard, local president of Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, said she started working on the Spirit Horse project in June. She said she also hopes teachers can use the play for professional learning.

About 40 teachers from each board will receive up to 10 hours of hands-on professional development as part of the Spirit Horse initiative.

"We kind of chose five schools from each school board with a high Aboriginal population," Picard said. "We’re giving (teachers) more skills on what to do with the students through drama, music, visual arts and poetry. I think this is fantastic because it is a vehicle that moves everybody involved and it is a way we can address a serious topic.

"Children do know about racism, many of our children experience racism and some of them don’t even know what to call it."

If children become more open and talk more about racism, then the play has achieved its goal, she said.

Spirit Horse is also scheduled to perform at: C.D. Howe, Sherbrooke, Whitefish Valley, École Gron Morgan, St. Pius X, St. Bernard, St. Margaret, Pope John Paul II and St. Thomas AquinasCatholicElementarySchool.