See-Me Street
Description
In See-Me Street: My Indigenous Journey through Homelessness, DerRic Starlight lays down the story of three years on the streets of Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge. Known for his comedy and puppets, he walked away from comedy stages and the heavy-drinking life to face homelessness head-on. What he found was a street Nation who taught him what survival really means. Through diary entries and raw stories, he shows the fights, the beatings, the bottles, and the bonds that came with life unhoused. Says DerRic, "I want you to know this: you matter. Your story matters. Every culture matters. You are part of this world, and you are never too far gone to find your way back." This is a tough, unflinching account of belonging, struggle, and resilience.
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Person
DerRic Starlight is a member of the Tsuut'ina Nation, with family ties to the Blackfoot Confederacy. He has worked as a comedian, puppeteer, screenwriter, and even a wrestling promoter with the Hart family. Inspired by Jim Henson, he started learning puppetry and storytelling as a teenager, later training in film and acting in Vancouver, Toronto, and Arizona. Since 1997, he has toured with his own cast of Native puppet characters and appeared in APTN productions, earning a Gemini Award for voice acting. In 2021, he joined The Jim Henson Company for the Calgary-based reboot of Fraggle Rock. Alongside these creative achievements, DerRic spent several years living on the street, where he began keeping the diary entries that became See-Me Street. The experience shaped both his life and his work, giving voice to stories that are too often overlooked.