A new play in Quebec is honouring the life and legacy of the Manitoba boy whose death led to changes in how Indigenous children access government services.
“Jordan,” a play directed by Jimmy Blais and written by Yvette Nolan, will be premiering at Centaur Theatre in Montreal on April 3. The play is about Jordan River Anderson, a five-year-old boy from Norway House Cree Nation who died following a rare muscular disorder.
His death led to the creation of Jordan’s Principle, which ensures Indigenous children have equal access to public services, including health-care supports.
“It frames Jordan as a superhero, which he was,” Blais said. “And it kind of transpires from the point where he passes on and follows his journey all the way to reaching his home community.”
During the play, Jordan is accompanied by his teddy bear, Maskwa, and meets children who have been helped through Jordan’s Principle.
The play is important for Blais and Nolan, both of whom are Indigenous, and note it shifts Jordan from a victim to a figure of empowerment, something that hasn’t always happened with Indigenous people in art.
“It’s a play that honours Jordan, and it’s a play that hopefully will unveil some more truths about the relationships between Indigenous folks and in the country of Canada that have transpired over the last 20 years or so,” Blais said.
“Canadians seem to not know so much (about Jordan’s Principle), and it just feels to me like this theatre is one way of like bringing a story to the forefront and having people learn things in a really sort of gentle and inspiring way,” Nolan said.
Blais and Nolan have been in contact with Jordan’s family throughout the creative process, and they’ve given their blessing to the play.
The play runs from April 3-15 in Montreal. Blais and Nolan said they’re hoping to eventually stage the play in Winnipeg.
-With files from CTV’s William Reimer
