That ’70s Ho: Buffy the Wetigo Slayer

Description:

As a part of the That ’70s Ho: A Celebration of Women and Performance Circa 1970 performance series, Cheli Nightraveller created and performed Buffy the Wetigo Slayer: The Buffy Sainte-Marie Fountain Opera.

Nightravaller paid tribute to Sainte-Marie as she could not find any well-known or visible Indigenous female performance artists active in the '70s while researching online. However, Sainte-Marie’s name appeared in reference to her musical performance in Mick Jagger’s 1970 film, Performance. 

Taking place by the former fountains at the plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery (and eventually in the fountain), Nightraveller’s vaudevillian performance included improvised vocals imitating opera, spoken word, puppetry and costumes (referencing Sainte-Marie’s appearance on Sesame Street), and folk instruments. 

Video documentation is available upon request.