What fuelled his drive to fix his life and career? In an excerpt from his new book, an Indigenous puppeteer/comedian points in part to the Muppets.
By Shari Narine Windspeaker.com Books Feature Writer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
DerRic Starlight is a Blackfoot puppeteer from the Tsuut'ina Nation near Calgary who followed his dreams into a career. "My characters are called the Nuppets," he said. "Jim Henson had called his The Muppets because they're half marionette and half puppet. So my characters are Native and puppets, so they're called the Nuppets." Starlight grew up watching The Friendly Giant and other puppet shows on television. "I used to think that Sesame Street was downtown Calgary," he said. One Christmas, he received Muppet characters as gifts. He learned how to imitate their voices, and carried that same effort into creating his own characters. Starlight started writing at age 14, while attending Fairview School in Calgary's southeast. He began acting in short films and television shows such as North of 60, and performing puppet shows for community gatherings. https://i.cbc.ca/ais/1.6237956,1717200411609/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C1280%2C720%29%3BResize%3D620
DerRic Starlight is best known for his puppetry, taking his “Nuppets” (Native puppets) across Canada, mostly to Indigenous communities. But about a decade ago, he set his puppets aside to embark on a different kind of storytelling project: writing a book about homeless communities in Alberta in an effort to explore the root causes of Indigenous homelessness. Starlight tells Q guest host Gill Deacon why he chose an immersive approach, living alongside the people whose stories he wanted to understand and share. He also talks about wanting to have the first Indigenous puppet on Sesame Street . His memoir, See-Me Street: My Indigenous Homeless Journey, is out now. The full interview with DerRic Starlight is available on our podcast, Q with Tom Power . Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Interview with DerRic Starlight produced by Diane Eros. Related Stories Blackfoot puppeteer spreads humour, anti-bullying messages with Indigenous characters
