Stolen Sisters is a first-of-its-kind play that gives voice to the lives and legacies of three Beothuk women and girls whose names have survived in historical record.

These are stories that have been mis-told, misrepresented, and mythologized by colonial interference. By shifting the lens of history to reflect Indigenous perspective and experience, the women brought to life in Stolen Sisters set the record straight, telling their own stories with both humour and unflinching honestly. Based on the oral and written Indigenous histories of colonization locally and worldwide, the voices of Stolen Sisters shine a light on the global experience of Indigenous women and girls and, in particular, Newfoundland’s part in that legacy.

Leahdawn Helena (she/they/nekm) was born and raised on the west coast of the island colonially known as Newfoundland. She is of mixed L’nu (Mi’kmaw) and French settler heritage, with family roots in the Bay St. George region of Newfoundland. She holds a BA in sociocultural studies and a BFA in Theatre from Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Grenfell Campus. Her film script Ruthless won the NL Arts and Letters award in 2020 in the senior dramatic script category. She lives in St. John's with her husband Chris, their dog Chevy, and their cat, Monty. This is her first published work.

Leahdawn Helena's profile page