Weesageechak Begins to Dance 31
Annual Development Festival of New Indigenous Work
November 14-24, 2018 - Aki Studio
Native Earth welcomes you to the 31st annual performing arts festival fostering the development of Indigenous work from across Turtle Island and the world.
Taking place over two weeks in our Aki Studio, the festival brings together emerging, mid-career, and established artists to develop and showcase contemporary Indigenous theatre, dance, opera and multidisciplinary creations. The festival offers audience an opportunity to experience the richness and diversity of contemporary Indigenous art.
We are proud to partner once again with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre to present the 2-Spirit Cabaret, an exciting evening of performance, music, and spoken word by queer and 2-Spirit Indigenous artists on Friday, November 16th.
*Festival Pass does not include 2-Spirit Cabaret.
Festival Schedule
Wednesday 14 - Opening Night
BOOK LAUNCH
“Indian Act: Residential School Plays”
Edited by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
in partnership with Playwrights Canada Press
Kaahsinnoniks — Making Treaty 7
by The Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society
Saturday 17
Canoe
by Unsettled Scores
Spy Dénommé-Welch & Catherine Magowan
Shanawdithit
Libretto by Yvette Nolan, Music by Dean Burry,
in partnership with Tapestry Opera & Opera on the Avalon
PANEL DISCUSSION
Beyond Butterfly: Abandoning the exotic
for a representative opera of today
Featuring Spy Dénommé-Welch, Michael Mori, Marion Newman, and Yvette Nolan.
Thursday 21
Land of Many Waters
by Nyda Kwasowsky
Be A Babe
by Cherish Blood
Romeo Igwa Juliet
by Pamela Matthews
A Special Performance by Lacey Hill
Thursday 15
Gashkigwaaso
by Waawaate Fobister
They Are Still Talking
by Maura García Dance
In The Abyss
by Aria Evans
Tuesday 20 - Animikiig Night
Seven Pieces
by Jenn Forgie
Pouin
by Smith Purdy
Liminal
by Ty Sloane
Echoes
by Olivia Shortt
Half Breed
by Natalie Sappier
Women of the Fur Trade
by Frances Koncan
Women of Papiyek
by Quelemia Sparrow
Friday 23
You used to call me Marie
by Tai Grauman
ūtszan
by Yvonne Wallace
El buen vestir, Tlakentli
by Ondinnok
Friday 16
2-SPIRIT CABARET
Curated & Hosted by Michaela Washburn
in partnership with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
Binaeshee-Quae Couchie-Nabigon
GARY (Rebecca Benson & Cris Derksen)
Brian Solomon
Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone
Michaela Washburn with Cole Alvis & Waawaate Fobister
Plus: Yolanda Bonnell‘s White Girls in Moccasins
featuring Samantha Brown & Kathleen MacLean
Wednesday 21
The Properties of Spirit
by Jessica Lea Fleming
My Holographic Nightmares
by Olivia Shortt
Boozhoo Manoomin
by Beverley McKiver
S.O.S. Saving Our Sovereignty
by Out of Sync Collective
Theresa Cutknife, Pesch Nepoose, & Jesse Wabegijig
Saturday 24
Maggie & Me: A Healing Dance
by Christine Friday
Eloise
by Jeanette Kotowich
Consequence
by JP Longboat
Personal Development Series
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14 | 10:30-12 PM
at REGENT PARK FILM FESTIVAL
Info Session with Canada Council for the Arts
in partnership with OAC and TAC
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 | 1-3 PM at CAHOOTS THEATRE
Publishing Workshop with Donna-Michelle St. Bernard,
Annie Gibson & Blake Sproule of Playwrights Canada Press
in partnership with Playwrights Canada Press
Festival Partners
W31 Team
Festival Producer: Ulla Laidlaw
Stage Manager: Heather Thompson
Designer: Bryan-Clifford Batty
Coordinators: Lisa Nasson, Joelle Peters
Coordinator & Technician: Jessica Campbell-Maracle
Photographer: Kaytee Dalton, Mirae Lee