Play “Moon Over Mission Dam” Co-Written by Native American Poet, Victor A. Charlo and Spokane Poet, Zan Agzigian Being Produced by Flathead Reservation

Production part of Npustin (an indigenous arts organization), Salish Kootenai College’s HeartLines, and the Arlee CDC’s collaborative vision to bring theater arts workshops for young adults and performances of plays by Native playwrights to the Flathead Reservation

A new production of “Moon Over Mission Dam”, a play co-written by Salish poet Vic Charlo and Spokane poet, Zan Agzigian, will be presented September 8 – 11 at the Arlee Powwow Grounds, the Johnny Arlee, Victor Charlo Theater at Salish Kootenai College, and at the 7^th Annual Peace Festival at the Garden of 1000 Buddhas.

The production is directed by Arlee Artist in Residence, Linda Grinde in collaboration with playwright Victor Charlo.  The cast of 12, made up of both Native and Non-Native actors, will perform outdoors at the Arlee Powwow Grounds on September 8 and 9 at 6:30 and a matinee at 2 on Sunday, September 11th.   There will also be a performance at SKC's Johnny Arlee, Victor Charlo Theater on Saturday, September 10 at 7:30.  It is fitting that “Moon Over Mission Dam” will be the first play performed at Vic Charlo’s namesake theater. Selected scenes will also be performed at the 7^TH Annual Peace Festival at the Garden of 1000 Buddhas in Arlee on Saturday afternoon September 10^th.

The September performances of “Moon Over Mission Dam” mark the first production of what will be a series of plays by native playwrights and initiates a strategic plan to create an Indigenous Summer Theater at the Arlee Pow Wow Grounds. 

Co-written by Charlo and Agzigian in 1993, the play is set on the fictitious Buffalo Hat Reservation in Montana in the year 1972 and centers around water issues. Although it is more than 15 years old, the play is well timed for its relevance to discussions about irrigation, ownership of dam property, and water rights issues on the Flathead Indian Reservation and on other reservations in the U.S. today.   Most importantly, it gives voice to the Native American perspective on these issues.

“Core Stories”, a theater arts camp for young adults in the tribal community took place at the Arlee Pow Wow grounds from July 18 – 28, 2011.   Myrton Running Wolf inspired, challenged and directed young people to find a story within them.   In his words, “As Indian people, we are the ones who should be telling our story.”   On July 28^th the young people in the camp performed stories and monologues they created and chose for a public audience.  Relatives, ancestors and histories came to life uniquely through their eyes and their talents.

Npustin (an indigenous arts organization), Salish Kootenai College’s HeartLines, and the Arlee CDC are collaborating to bring theater arts workshops for young adults and performances of plays by Native playwrights to the Flathead Indian Reservation.  

The production of “Core Stories” and “Moon Over Mission Dam” are the continuation of a shared dream to build an indigenous theatre program on the Flathead Indian Reservation.   The late Thomas “Bearhead” Swaney was one of the dreamers.   Funding for the portable stage came from a fund to continue his dream.   We invite you to join us in building this theater program and developing other fine arts programming for our community.  

For more information about the production of “Moon Over Mission Dam” and ways you can help support this project, visit www.arleemontana.com or call (406) 726-5550.