Based on actual events, the one-man show Agokwe by Waawaate Fobister offers audiences a unique Ojibwan perspective of teenage two-spirit love.

Agokwe is the story of Jake and Mike, both played by Waawaate. The two teens live on different reserves in Northwestern Ontario. Waawaate, who created the show at the age of 22, grew up in a reserve in Grassy Narrows one hour north of Kenora.

"I started writing the piece in 2006 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre as part of their Young Creators’ Unit," he says. "This program was designed for young writers to create a one-man show."

"I was an artist looking for opportunities to tell stories."

Waawaate says aside from timelines, the piece is very much autobiographical. Raised in a small community the artist knows the hardships of being marginalized. At a party thrown by his babysitter Waawaate realized he was attracted to men. Coming out to his father was difficult, but his father, one of the most important people in his life, was understanding. This gave Waawaate the confidence he needed to emerge as two-spirited on his rez.

Unfortunately coming out was not met with the same understanding reception his father provided by everyone Waawaate was close to. Waawaate was called a faggot by a drunk friend, and upon confronting him, or merely asking ‘why are you calling me that’ he was beaten severely, waking up bloody in the back of an ambulance en route to hospital.

"That was a really hard time because I thought he was my friend," Waawaate shared on the program First Story.

To other teens facing the same challenges he offers these words of encouragement.

"Stay strong. Be brave. Have courage. Stay humble. Look into the culture and language. It’s very empowering. We have a very rich culture, especially about our two-spirited ancestors."

Waawaate got his artistic start in 2000 with the De-bah-jeh-muh-jig Theatre Group.

"I was 16 years old. They came to my reserve to do a workshop," he describes. "I did the workshop and they saw that I had something, so they offered me a job in the summer."

Waawaate loved the position so much he decided to pursue acting as a career. He attended acting school in Toronto upon graduating from high school, and still resides there today.

Agokwe, meaning ‘wise woman’ or ‘two spirited’, began as a short monologue and was originally performed as part of Buddies’ 2005/06 PrideCab, a 12-week youth driven cabaret, later developing into a 75-minute theatre piece when Waawaate was teamed with its current director.

This is a story of classic teenage unrequited love; the difference in this piece is its refreshing inclusion of Ojibwan elements.

Waawaate’s preparatory rituals include prayer and the smudging of sage, a commonly used medicinal herb by Ojibwans.

"I smudge the stage, the theatre, the set, and my costumes," he says. "I also do 1.5-hour warm-up – vocal, yoga, cardio, and a little physical workout. I do it to all to my favorite and inspiring tunes."

In addition to playing Mike the hockey player and Jake the dancer, Waawaate also performs the iconic, multifarious persona of Nanabush the trickster who adds an interesting dark component to the story.

Mike and Jake meet at a Kenora shopping mall and connect through their mutual love of movement, ‘however youth, distance and isolation strive to pull the threads apart when tragedy intervenes.’

Directed by Edward Roy, who has pulled in numerous awards for his work including the Dora Award for The Other Side of the Closet, and Chalmers Awards for A Secret Life and White Trash Blue Eyes, Agokwe offers audiences a ‘provocative, rhythmic and visually rich’ production.

The show won six Dora Awards when it premiered in 2009 in Toronto. This fall Alberta Aboriginal Arts, based in Edmonton, is hosting a remount of the play as it travels across Canada.