Bringing Culture to Life: DerRic Starlight and The Nuppets Inspire Students at SPFA

It was a special week for students at St. Patrick Fine Arts Elementary School (SPFA) when Indigenous puppeteer of "Fraggle Rock" fame, DerRic Starlight, joined them as their special Artist in Residence.

"DerRic was amazing to have work with our students this week," said SPFA Principal Kathy Jones-Husch. "He has a different type of skill that the kids maybe haven’t seen in other artists that have joined us. So, we were very fortunate to have the opportunity to afford this artist in residency through a grant in our school division."

Throughout the last week of February, Starlight spent time with students, teaching them the art of puppeteering and encouraging them to express their creativity.

"It all starts with making any character the students wanted to create with construction paper and letting their imaginations run from there," said Starlight. "I gave them the basic tools they needed to get started and the rest was up to them. It was great to see the fun characters they came up with!"

Starlight, from the Tsuut'ina Nation, is well known for his work in puppetry and his performances featuring The Nuppets—a special group of puppets that represent different Indigenous cultures.

"I call them Nuppets because they are half Native and half puppets,” Starlight explained. “It's a different, fun way to express my culture. My characters are from all over, including the Cree, Blackfoot, and Stoney Nations. I'm fortunate to be able to teach about my culture with puppets."

In addition to working with students throughout the week, Starlight put on a special performance for the entire school featuring his Nuppets. Jones-Husch described the show as a particularly powerful moment for students, especially for Indigenous students who had the opportunity to see their culture represented in such a unique and meaningful way.

"Having those Indigenous characters is huge because we have many students who are Indigenous, and they want to see themselves in the school they go to so they can make that connection. Plus, everyone likes to learn about a culture that isn’t their own,” she said. "DerRic also had a powerful message for our students about being yourself and loving yourself, which is something we should all strive for every day."

Starlight’s storytelling and puppetry left a lasting impression, not only showcasing Indigenous traditions but also inspiring students to embrace their own creativity and cultural heritage.

"We’re just like everybody else, but we blend our culture into everything we do," he shared. "I have nursery rhymes that are changed into Indigenous stories, and I use my puppets to tell them. Many of my Nuppets are also based on people I knew from growing up, including family members and friends, so it's a fun way to be able to honour them as well as my Indigenous heritage."

Starlight's time at SPFA was more than just an educational experience—it was a celebration of culture, identity, and the power of storytelling. As students continue to create and explore, they’ll carry forward the lessons of creativity, representation, and self-expression that Starlight so passionately shared with them.