Where Have All The Buffalo Gone?

Ages: Ages 9 and up (Grades 4–12)
Go to show description
A buffalo puppet, as big as a real buffalo, made with dark brown fur and see-through fabric. If you look really closely, you can actually see the puppeteer inside. It also has tiny little lights inside of it that make the buffalo look like it is filled with stars like the night sky.

Image gallery

The buffalo stands next to some sweetgrass. There are no little lights in the buffalo now.
Marie, a Métis woman, is wearing a long mustard yellow skirt and has a floral kokum scarf wrapped around her shoulders. All the girls and women in this show are called Marie or Rose. They are all Métis and played by the same actor. Behind her is a meadow and the shadow of a man pointing a rifle.
Marie has a red sash around her shoulders. Her dark brown hair is in a single braid. She is talking to the Buffalo.
Marie and Louis kneel beside the buffalo. They are both looking up at the stars.
Rose Marie wears a jean jacket over a blue dress. She is sitting, holding a book, and looking at a Métis boy in a hoodie playing with a basketball. It looks like she really wants to kiss him.
Louis has a red handkerchief tied around his neck. He and Marie are dancing the Red River Jig. Marie’s skirt is flowing. Two red sashes make an X on the floor in front of them.
Shadow of a woman putting on a wedding veil.
Rose sits on the floor beside. They’re holding a notebook together. He is holding her hand as if showing her how to write.
Marie Rose wears a yellow apron over a blue sleeveless dress. Jean, a Métis man wearing a flat cap, is kissing Marie Rose’s hand but she looks worried. This actor plays all the boys and men in the show.

Revisit History

Move through time at this powerful Métis story that helps us remember and understand our past. Where Have All The Buffalo Gone, follows two Métis souls as they journey through seven important moments in Métis history — from the birth of Métis nations on the plains to the colonization driven by the fur trade, the disappearance of the buffalo, and the rise of the Métis Association of Alberta.

This moving tale weaves together stories, a life-sized buffalo puppet, with true historical events to explore the love, loss, and resilience of Treaty 6’s Métis peoples. At its heart, this story celebrates the rich lessons and love stories of the buffalo. Watch the video below.

In association with Talking Stick. 

Producing Company: Axis Theatre

Country: BC, Canada

Genre: Theatre

Show length: 55 minutes

Resources: Study Guide

Ages: Ages 9 and up (Grades 4–12)

Curriculum Connections:

Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8 | Grade 9 | Grade 10 | Grade 11 | Grade 12

Venue: Waterfront Theatre  
1412 Cartwright St 
Vancouver, BC

In association with

Ticket Information

FOR SCHOOLS:

  • $12+GST /ticket for one show
  • $11+GST/ticket for two shows
More Info
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FOR THE PUBLIC:

  • Tickets: $13.50 per child/senior; $23.00 per adult +S/C and GST
  • Festival 4‑Pack: (4 tickets to 1 show) $62.00 +S/C and GST
more info

Festival 4‑Pack

Good things come in fours! Gather your family or friends and save big with a Festival 4‑Pack! Pricing from $62 plus service fee and GST includes 4 tickets to 1 show & 4 activity village wristbands. 

Festival 4‑Pack

Accessibility Information

Accessibility:

This show is low vision friendly, an introduction written by the creators with some essential information for people who are blind or partially sighted will be available right here in March. 

This is a low sensory show.

Lights
No blackouts 
No intense lighting effects

Sound
Background music
Loud sounds

Content
Residential schools

A visual story with detailed info will be available right here by the end of February. 
A visual story helps you decide if this show is right for you / your child(ren) or lets you prepare for the experience. 

Show times & Tickets

In person

Tuesday, May 27  Additional show info Tickets 
10:30 – 11:25 AM  Q&A Get Tickets
12:30 – 1:25 PM  Get Tickets
Wednesday, May 28  Additional show info Tickets 
10:30 – 11:25 AM  Q&A Get Tickets
12:30 – 1:25 PM  Get Tickets
Thursday, May 29  Additional show info Tickets 
10:30 – 11:25 AM  Q&A Get Tickets
12:30 PM – 1:25 AM  Get Tickets
Friday, May 30  Additional show info Tickets 
10:30 – 11:25 AM  Get Tickets
12:30 – 1:25 PM  Get Tickets

Show highlights

Rave Reviews

My class absolutely loved the show – the story, acting, puppet, lighting and set have all been talked about in our debriefs! They enjoyed all of the magic you created. Thank you as well for the Q&A at the end. Very enriching for our young audience.

S. Marriott, Norma Rose Point Elemenary 

The play was a perfect length offering an ideal amount of time to grasp the whole story. It is visually appealing for younger kids (the life size Buffalo is amazing) while the difficult material of the play is very educational for older kids.

Q. McGregor, Kitsilano Secondary (Grade 11) 

I loved the play. The play was so so so fun to watch. Thank you for the amazing play.

Grade 4 Student