Local comedian explores intersection of Native humor and grief

EMILY BRIGHT: Well, maybe you can relate to the feeling of laughing through the pain. A special show tonight at the Guthrie Theater is all about that important skill. In just a few minutes, Minneapolis comedian Trish Cook will join me to talk about her event, Death, Grief, and Dying, Indigenous Humor While Crying. Plus, Minnesota is home to a number of Catholic universities, and later in the show, we'll check in with one college student who's found herself near the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church as the world mourns its leader. But first, let's get a news update from Emily Reese. Hey, Emily.

EMILY REESE: Hi, Emily. Pope Francis will be laid to rest Saturday after lying in state for three days in Saint Peter's Basilica. The Cardinals met today in the Vatican's Synod Hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis's successor. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5th and 10th. Cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10:00 AM in Saint Peter's Square, to be celebrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals. The Argentine Pope died yesterday at age 88 after a stroke put him in a coma, and led his heart to fail.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces fresh controversy over sharing sensitive information about airstrikes in Yemen outside of classified channels. Hegseth today denied that the information was classified, despite reports that it was pulled from secure communications from the head of US Central Command. He posted airstrike information into Signal chats with his wife, brother, and dozens of others. It's the second chat group where Hegseth posted the Yemen airstrike information. The first accidentally included the editor of The Atlantic.

The main Palestinian rescue service in Gaza has condemned Israel's probe into the killings of 15 medical workers last month, calling it a fabricated investigation. The army announced the results of its investigation this week, saying it had found professional failures and it dismissed a deputy commander in what it described as an accident. A total of 15 people were killed in the March 23rd incident, including eight medics with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, six members of the Hamas government's government Civil Defense Unit, and a UN staffer.

Arborists are hoping to transform vacant land on Detroit's east side by planting giant sequoias, the world's largest trees. Detroit is the pilot city for the giant sequoia filter forest. The nonprofit Archangel Ancient Tree Archive is donating sequoia saplings. The saplings will be planted by Arboretum Detroit to mark Earth Day. Archangel also plans to plant sequoia groves in Los Angeles, Oakland, and London. Emily.

EMILY BRIGHT: I am really curious about that. I didn't know sequoias could grow in Detroit.

EMILY REESE: I guess they can.

EMILY BRIGHT: We'll find out. Well, thank you. This is Minnesota Now. I'm Emily Bright in for Nina Moini. Tonight at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, a show will explore the intersections of grief and humor in Native culture. It's called Death, Grief, and Dying, Indigenous Humor While Crying. And it's a show that's very personal to its creator, Trish Cook. Trish is a comedian and a citizen of the Red Lake Nation. She joins me in studio now. Trish, thank you for being here.

TRISH COOK: Thank you for having me, Emily. I'm glad to be here. In my language, I would introduce myself as [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]. Which means my name is Pipe Woman, and I am from the Red Lake Nation, and I'm a member of the Bear Clan. But I was born and raised here in Minneapolis, in South Minneapolis. So I get the southsider bit quite a lot.

EMILY BRIGHT: Yes, indeed. So this is such a rich intersection for a show. Grief and humor. What made you want to do a show about this?

TRISH COOK: Well, it is something that I've been thinking about for a long time. For a very long time. Some of my earliest memories are of being at funerals. And traditionally, our funerals aren't as-- ours, Native people, and I can speak for myself as Anishinaabe, aren't as dark and dreary, I think, as non-Native funerals and that grieving time. And it's really an opportunity for our communities and our families to get together. It's where we share stories, where we talk, and there is a lot of laughter that cuts through the grief and the tears.

And it's something that's been on my mind, I think, for years, but really heightened after the death of my father almost four years ago. And there's something really special about finding those moments of joy and happiness and connecting with people and telling stories where you hear that laughter come out, maybe at an inappropriate time. But to share that is really a beautiful thing and I think one of the things that we do really well as Native folks.

EMILY BRIGHT: Yeah, that's really beautiful. So what are the Indigenous traditions when someone dies?

TRISH COOK: Well, we have a lot. And it depends on if your family practices traditional customs and beliefs, if they're contemporary, if they have-- sometimes we, I would say, Indigenize other mainstream religions. So we have part of the Red Lake Reservation is Catholic. That is with the Mission Church that's affiliated with St. John's University and the Abbey. We have Episcopalians there. We have other religious denominations, and then we have the Midewiwin in the furthest parts, the most remote parts of Red Lake. So it can be a combination.

But the one thing that is true that cuts across all of those other smaller details, really, is that we have at least a two day wake that happens around the clock. It's usually two to four days prior to a burial or funeral. And we never leave our deceased relative that has just crossed over, that has passed on, that is starting their journey. We always have somebody with them. And our doors are literally open around the clock. So people come, when they come to show their respects, to share a story, to have a meal, to share in tobacco.

And that is true no matter what denomination or faith or practice that people have. And that's where we really find the stories. And if there's a couple of aunties or grandmas sitting in the corner and they are really laughing, that's where I want to be. That's where we find out our family lore, where we connect. And then sometimes just things happen randomly and organically that make you laugh and carry it.

And there's something really profound, I think, when you are in that I call it a grief bubble. And there's something where your senses are so heightened and you are so aware of what's happening, but also really numb at the same time. So it's this experience where you really can have that tapestry of grief and pain and the laughter and the joy of the person that's left.

And our grief, I'm discovering, and really becoming clear on is that our grief, we're grieving for ourselves, really. It really is true that that is the love and that experience that has no place to go anymore. It's you that's hurting with wanting to pick up the phone and call to get that advice or get that information. But I also think it's just when we think of the people that have left us, that have gone on to a better place, I hear so often that the thing that we miss most is the sound of their laughter. That sound of laughter, it's so personal and you can't fake it. And you can't hide it. And what a gift.

So I've always felt like even as a young person, a really young kid, how lucky we are to have those experiences, and that we come in a space and it's not dark and it's not scary. It's serious, and we're not. I'm not laughing in the face of death. That's not what I'm saying. But I think it is a beautiful survival tool, coping mechanism, and a gift that we have that we can find the joy and humor in those dark, ungodly places that we did not volunteer to be in.

And I love that. And I want to share that. And so I'm going to be sharing personal stories of maybe being inappropriate at the wrong time, because that happens. Of funny things that have happened of funerals and send offs don't always go off without a hitch. And I think maybe that's something from beyond that's playing a joke on us or being like, you know what? We told you. You should have done it this way. You should have listened the first time.

And I love that. I'm really excited to share that with folks and thankful for the Guthrie to let this happen. They had asked if I'd be interested in coming back, which was like, of course.

EMILY BRIGHT: Yeah.

TRISH COOK: And then they said, what do you want to do? And I was like, well, how about can I talk about death? And they were like, we need to talk to the advisory committee about that. I was like, that probably isn't what they were expecting. But we talked about it. They got on board. They understood my vision of what I wanted to share, how and why, and the response has been phenomenal. I mean, it's just been--

EMILY BRIGHT: It's sold out.

TRISH COOK: Yeah, it was aggressive. And I actually thought it was a mistake. I thought it was a problem with the ticketing line or the phones. And I was not expecting that at all. But it was a really good problem to have.

EMILY BRIGHT: Yeah. Well, what do you hope that your audiences take away from the show? And who do you hope will be in the audience?

TRISH COOK: Well, I hope, really honestly, I hope my dad was probably the closest person to me ever in my life and my constant supporter and number one fan, and I hope that I feel him there tonight.

EMILY BRIGHT: Yeah.

TRISH COOK: I think there will be a number of folks from the Native community. Saying that very general. I hope that there's non-Native folks. To learn that our community and strengths are so much deeper and so much stronger, I think, than what non-Natives see of us. And this is such a personal, special part. And to be able to share that with folks, I'm really excited. And my goal is to take this to other communities and other places and have these conversations, because I think we don't get to grieve in the way that we want to or take that time or have that support.

No matter how many grief groups you have or what you do, there's just something really healing and nurturing and valuable about sitting with other people and finding those sweet spots where there's a perfect intersection of grief and the aspect of dying, but the lightness of humor that comes in. And that really is a medicine, and it really is so helpful.

And I think our folks are the best at it. I mean, really, I mean, look at the losses of American Indian folks here in the United States, what's called the United States now. And it's amazing what we've overcome and done. And I think that our laughter and humor is like a key component to that. It really is.

EMILY BRIGHT: I wish I had more time to talk to you, but I wish you a wonderful show tonight and a chance to take it on the road.

TRISH COOK: Thank you. Appreciate it. And Thank you, MPR. Appreciate being here today. Thank you.

EMILY BRIGHT: Thank you. Well, Trish Cook is the comedian behind the show Death, Grief, and Dying, Indigenous Humor While Crying. It's playing tonight at the Guthrie Theater. It's a sold out show.