"The Bird Blind" by New Native Theatre at 825 Arts

Almost 20 years ago I joined an REI guided hiking trip in Northern Alaska. The trip began in Fairbanks and ended on the Arctic Ocean. We would drive North a few hundred miles, then stop, pitch our tents, and go hiking, repeating the cycle until we ran out of road. In addition to being immersed in nature, we also got to meet some locals, including a visit (via small airplane) to an Iñupiaq village. Northern Alaksa is a harsh place, but incredibly beautiful, and the people who live there are a hearty bunch, especially those who have lived there for countless generations. New Native Theatre's new play The Bird Blind tells the story of one such family living in a small village in Alaska. It's funny and sad, tragic and hopeful. Our Native communities are disproportionately plagued with alcoholism and violence due to a multitude of reasons dating back a few centuries, and this play does not shy away from that. But these sorts of family dynamics and difficulties, as well as the sense of…