The Cultch & Urban Ink Present
THE MUSH HOLE
By Santee Smith
Toured by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre (Tkarón:to / Toronto)
Winner of 5 Dora Mavor Moore Awards
A theatrical dance performance about Canada’s first Indian residential school:
The Mohawk Institute, aka The Mush Hole.
Presented as part of TRANSFORM Festival 2025.
25/26 CULTCH PRESENTATION
NOV 14–16, 2025
HISTORIC THEATRE
Recommended for ages 11+
Historic Theatre
1895 Venables St,
Vancouver, BC
Phone:604-251-1363
Email: [email protected]
Summer Hours
Monday to Friday: 12–4pm
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Photo Credit: Ian R Maracle
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About the show
A heart-opening dance theatre performance that lays bare the lived truths of Canada’s first Indian Residential School, The Mohawk Institute, also known as The Mush Hole.
From 1828 to 1970, State and Church systems worked to sever Indigenous children from their families, culture, and language. Through the eyes of two generations of Survivors, The Mush Hole evokes the raw, unflinching realities of this legacy. Featuring a powerhouse all-Indigenous cast, the performance fuses visceral movement, haunting cinematic imagery, and a stirring original score to summon the experiences still held within the school’s bricks and mortar.
Inspired by Survivors’ testimonials, The Mush Hole is not only a reckoning, it’s a radiant story of resistance, remembrance, and the courage to find light in even the darkest places.
The Draw
Reviews
About The Mohawk Institute a.k.a. The Mush Hole
The Mohawk Institute is the oldest residential school in Canada, after which all others were modelled. Operated in Brantford, Ontario, from 1828 to 1970, it served as an Industrial boarding school for First Nations children from Six Nations, as well as other communities throughout Ontario and Quebec. It served as a key tool in the effort to assimilate First Nations children into European Christian society, and sever the continuity of culture from parent to child, leaving a legacy of trauma. After closing in 1970, it reopened in 1972 as the Woodland Cultural Centre.
TRAILER
SUPPORTed BY
TICKET PRICES.
Section A+:
$49
Section A:
$44
Section B:
$39
Section C:
$29
Ways to Save.
The Cultch Connects Program provides complimentary tickets to community organizations and social service groups. It also offers complimentary tickets to individuals and families who may otherwise face barriers to attending Cultch performances. To request Cultch Connects tickets, please email [email protected]
This program is made possible with the support of our generous donor community. Learn more about what your donation can do for our community.
Complimentary tickets are available for Indigenous patrons thanks to the support of the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation.
Use promo code INDIGENOUS to book up to two complimentary tickets. Those who wish to book tickets for a larger group or family can contact [email protected]
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25/26 SEASON
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