Why this artist believes Indigenous stories are Canada’s DNA

In this episode of Q with Tom Power, award-winning Indigenous artist Sandra LaRonde discusses her journey as a storyteller and the profound importance of Indigenous narratives in shaping Canada's identity. Growing up in northern Ontario as part of the Teme-Augameg Anishinaabe, LaRonde never saw herself reflected in mainstream literature, which often focused on trauma and loss. This absence inspired her to write her debut children's novel, *She Holds Up the Stars*, a coming-of-age story about a young Anishinaabe girl named Misko who finds strength through connection to her community, land, and a spirited horse. Now reimagined as a multidisciplinary stage production by her company Red Sky Performance, the show blends puppetry, live music, dance, and theater to create a holistic artistic experience rooted in Indigenous ceremonial traditions. LaRonde argues that Indigenous stories are not just for Indigenous people—they are Canada’s DNA, offering a deeper, more authentic understanding of national identity. She reflects on how colonial cartography, renaming of land, and the erasure of Indigenous cosmology have severed Canadians from their true relationship with the land and sky, and calls for a reawakening through storytelling. The episode concludes with a hopeful vision of progress in Indigenous theater, driven by artists like LaRonde who continue to break artistic silos and center Indigenous worldviews. Key takeaways include: 1) Indigenous stories are essential to understanding Canada’s national identity; 2) Art should be multidisciplinary and integrated, mirroring Indigenous ceremonial life; 3) Land and sky are not obstacles but living, meaningful parts of identity; 4) Naming and mapping reflect cultural values—Indigenous names reveal intrinsic knowledge of the land; 5) Reclaiming Indigenous stories helps all Canadians see themselves more fully. The tone is deeply reflective, hopeful, and empowering, emphasizing connection, resilience, and cultural reclamation.