DJ Burnt Bannock promises viewers a wild ride of urban Indigenous experience

“What is worse than burnt bannock? Nothing,” joked Darcy Waite.

Waite is starring in the upcoming comedy series DJ Burnt Bannock. He co-stars with comedian/actor Paul Rabliauskas on the show set to air April 11 on the streaming service APTN lumi.

“I wanted a funny title that didn’t hurt anybody,” explained Waite of the series he created and writes.

“What’s a travesty?  I love bannock. I could eat it all day… But what’s the worst thing that can happen? Burnt bannock. It’s a nice easy joke that gets people laughing and doesn’t hurt anybody.”

Described as a slapstick and broad comedy, the series follows two Indigenous characters—Kevin Cardinal (played by Waite) and his cousin Allan (played by Rabliauskas) —through a variety of chaotic and hilarious situations.

“DJ Burnt Bannock is so wild, I don’t think people are ready for it, how crazy it gets,” Waite said. “I always wanted to be a comedian. I love to make people laugh. Laughter is medicine.”

Throughout the series, Kevin faces numerous issues, both personally and professionally, but his resilience keeps him motivated to push through.

“That’s kind of what Kevin, the main character, goes through,” said Waite. “He has this musical training, he’s super-uber talented, but he’s kind of a man-child so he always gets in his own way. But, he never loses that hope, being that child and that hope. Eventually it all comes together.”

Waite started writing the series in 2018. He wanted to create a comedic series, but also wanted it to touch on some real issues that face urban Indigenous communities.

“There’s so many kids like me,” he said. “Kids who have been distanced and we have lost our connection to the communities. I always felt a little bit less than, but, no, we have our own community and it is the urban Indigenous community.”

Waite grew up in foster care, spending most of his youth in Calgary, then moving to Edmonton during his teenage years.

He gives a lot of credit to the friendship centre for providing him with a place to connect to his community.

“That’s another thing we talk about in DJ BB is how do you still connect with the teachings and the traditions when you don’t have that connection to the community,” Waite said.

The friendship centre is highlighted in a number of the episodes “because it was so important to me growing up,” said Waite, adding the facility was how he kept connected to his culture.

“It was really important to me to put that in this story, to let those kids know it’s okay… We have a great (urban) community,” he said.

This message of resilience, community, tradition and “to always follow your dreams” was very important to Waite and APTN to be incorporated into the show.

“APTN lumi is proud to amplify the Indigenous stories and voices that spark meaningful conversations in our communities,” said Lisa Ducharme, director of online content at APTN in a press release. "We are thrilled to add DJ Burnt Bannock to our lineup of APTN lumi originals to share with audiences across Canada.”

The basis for Kevin’s character is written from many of Waite’s own experiences.

Waite said he had fallen in love with acting while attending nursing school and decided to drop out and follow his passion of being on set.

When he was starting out in his career as an actor, his family and friends were always concerned about what his back-up plan was, just in case he didn’t “make it.”

Once he enrolled in the acting program at Red Deer College, he knew this journey was the right path for him.

While attending school his professors encouraged him to write scripts, which he said he really started to enjoy.

After graduating college Waite moved to Winnipeg to attend the New Voices program, which he describes as “pivotal” in the success of his career.

“I think if I hadn’t gone to that program I don’t know if I really would have made it in this industry,” he said. “That was a really great program.”

Since his schooling, Waite has worked on a number of productions, both high-profile and small screen, and said he has enjoyed all the different avenues of production. But DJ Burnt Bannock is a dream come true.

“I always wanted to do an Indigenous comedy, but there have only been a couple, and I was like, if I want to work on a comedy series or play a lead on a comedy series I need to figure out how to write, direct and produce it in order to get that off the ground,” he said. 

“This is all of that coming into fruition and all my skills coming together. “

Local Journalism Initiative Reporters are supported by a financial contribution made by the Government of Canada.