Fatty Legs is set in Canada’s far north and is the true story of Olemaun Pokiak who dreamed of learning to read. But when she arrived at Residential School she was given the name Margaret, had her long braids cut off, and was made to wear itchy red wool socks as an example of her “unworthiness.” Treated cruelly by classmates and teachers, Margaret devised a plan to ensure the red stockings wouldn’t cause her any more humiliation. This show is a collaborative creation between an Inuit author, an Anishinaabe dancer, and a non-Indigenous choral ensemble. It combines ethereal singing, engaging narration, and contemporary Indigenous dance. It is a profound yet accessible story that brings to light the suffering created by residential schools while celebrating the deep strength of a child who refused to be broken by her experiences. 

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The show is an adaptation of the book Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak Fenton with illustrations by Liz Amini-Holmes and published by Annick Press.