The Relocation of Nokwsi

The Relocation of Nokwsi (ideal for ages 8 and up) is a virtual puppet production by Robert Hicks Jr, inspired by the experiences of his grandfather, the title character. Nokwsi invites audiences to gather round and listen to the story of his journey away from his people, the Cherokee, Paiute, Yakama, and Shoshone, to live and work in Chicago. No longer surrounded by nature, he begins to navigate a world of noise and lights, where buildings shade warmth from the sun, and people are always in a rush. As he adjusts to city life, he encounters a series of obstacles from homesickness, to air pollution, to racism, but eventually finds joy in his new community and beauty through the concrete. This poetic piece conveys the admiration the writer has for his grandfather with gentle day-to-day lessons on how to stay connected to ourselves, our family, and the earth even during times of change.
The Relocation of Nokwsi is the second production to emerge from the Springboard Project, an initiative launched in 2020 by Chicago Children’s Theatre to foster new works made especially for today’s young people.
Credits
Written, Narrated, and Created byRobert Hicks Jr
Illustrated byTokeya Waci U
Original Music and Sound Design byAlex Kimball Williams
Director of PhotographyJeffrey Paschal
Puppet DirectorWill Bishop
Puppet AssistantLonnae Hickman
Produced byWill Bishop and Jacqueline Russell
This performance of The Relocation of Nokwsi is a gift from our supporters’ families to yours!
The production is set during a moment in Indigenous history in America that is often overlooked. During the 50s and 60s, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) created a “relocation” program to coerce American Indians to move to urban areas, one of many “Indian termination” policies intended to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream society. “Urban Indians” faced discrimination and encountered difficulties securing jobs and housing. Rising activism eventually put an end to the program in the 1970s. In spite of racist BIA policies, Native people were resourceful and found ways to thrive. Nokwsi is a powerful reminder of their resilience.