On Josh Languedoc's Play "IN-COR-RI-GI-BLE: The Legend of Thundervoice", Generational Trauma, and the 60's Scoop
Josh Languedoc
Playwright in SPRINGBOARDS
My name is Josh Languedoc. I am a second generation survivor of the 60’s Scoop. My father, David Languedoc, is a first generation survivor of the 60’s Scoop. My father’s father is extremely likely to be a survivor of Residential Schools. Can I say this for sure? No. Is there any way I’ll ever know this? No. With destroyed records and a broken paper trail, the full story of my father’s side of the family will forever be a mystery.
I first sat down to write this play after I read my dad’s autobiography: IN-COR-RI-BI-BLE. Needless to say, I was inspired. Holding within my hands was an extremely detailed and vulnerable account of abuse, abandonment, depression, and severe childhood and teenage trauma that shaped the man I call my father. I understood him in a way I never had before. Something inside of me told me I could do something theatrical with his story. My dad agreed, very intrigued with how his story could live in the world of theater.
Over the years of constructing this play, I have learned one thing only to be true. This is not just a play. This is a ceremony of healing.
Currently at 66 years old, I have had the pleasure of watching my dad embark on a lifelong healing journey. Seeing him confront his own traumas and become the best version of himself has been inspirational. Seeing him learn music as a form of healing has had ripple effects on my entire family. The arts too have healed me in ways the same way music was a part of my dad’s healing journey. Through music my dad has healed trauma within himself as well as the generations before him. Within my own journey as a playwright and storyteller, I am also healing traumas within me and in generations that have come before me.
For me, I see this play as a much bigger healing journey for all of my Indigenous brothers and sisters. There are thousands of 60’s Scoop Survivors. Some of them had similar journeys as my dad. Some had more difficult journeys than my dad. But we all share a similar pain. Struggle with the same anger. Hide deep rooted feelings of worthlessness and pain. And we have all had to find journeys of hope and resilience. Art heals. Stories heal. Let’s heal together.
“Reach to the child within us all
For change must first come from within
The cycle of abuse must be broken
So healing for all our children can begin
It’s time to reach into their sadness
It’s time to end their misery
Let’s give hope to all our children
That maybe someday they’ll be free…”
“For All Our Children” word, lyrics and music by David Languedoc, Thundervoice
