While he was writing his new play inspired by and set immediately after the 2008 Government of Canada apology to residential-school survivors, Meegwun Fairbrother tried to translate “sorry” into the Obijway language and could not find a word., which he translates back into English as “an understanding” – and which is now the title of his solo show having its world premiere through Bound to Create Theatre and Native Earth Performing Arts in Toronto.
And so, Brendan is quickly set on a mission to Kenora, Ont., to interview a mysterious old woman named Virginia – but, after he arrives there, he meets a series of men and women while trying to track her down who change his thoughts about his job and reconciliation, and help him discover who he really is.
His Indigenous men are the most vividly drawn – the brother of Virginia who tries to sell him the chair off his front porch, constantly upping the price rather than lowering it as he haggles; or the teetotalling warrior he meets in a bar who is training for what he imagines will be an eventual showdown with the Canadian government.
As the play’s only performer, Meegwun Fairbrother incarnates a half-dozen characters over the course of the show.The climax of the show – in which Fairbrother, who is of Ojibwa and Scottish origin from Grassy Narrows First Nation, draws upon his skills as a singer and Northern Traditional dancer – is quite powerful.