Bighetty and Bighetty Puppet Show was a big hit in Portage again!

It was another successful event for the Bighetty and Bighetty Puppet Show hosted by the Portage Community Revitalization Corporation last week.

The show was kicked off by PCRC's new mascot, Ajidamoo Aki, who greeted all of the guests. Jacinda Houle provided a prayer and smudge while Ashley Anderson and co-puppeteer Ken Bighetty sang a Cree song.

Ken says he used to be the videographer and organizer of the group. His brothers Daniel and Russell were the main characters. When Russell passed away in 2018, Ken took over and started playing 'Chief'. He wanted to continue his brother's legacy, but Russell wanted Ken to become the character.

"It took me two months to find my character, and he kept saying to me, before he passed away, 'Be the character. Be the puppet. Don't be a separate character.' So, when we're at the World Puppet Conference in 2019 in Calgary, we became headliners, because every puppeteer from all over the world, their character, their puppet, was something separate. But, ours, we're the puppets. When we meet people, our stage is everywhere."

Kelsey Bighetty plays Trapper in the puppet show, and together, they sang their Pukatawagan song, which incorporated references to 'Porridge' la Prairie. At the end of the show, the kids could have their photo taken with the puppets. Ken says they always try to make a connection with the kids.

"We have a script, but we will never follow the script. Our puppets are very interactive," says Bighetty. "We look into the audience, but we're hidden behind our stage and we ask the kids, 'What's your name?' We start talking to the kids and then they feel this interaction. Once we say their name, we say, 'Nice dress' or 'Nice hair', and then we sing a song. We sing a lot of children songs to the kids, even the adults. We bring out laughter and that's the key thing, bringing out laughter."

Guests received a Seven Teachings colouring book (prepared by the late Renata Beaulieu), Portage Bear Clan stickers, beading kits, and Indigenous Culture guides.