Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s SKéN:NEN

St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts

Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s

SKéN:NEN

May 10-11, 2024

Photo credit: Santee Smith

TO Live would like to acknowledge Tkaronto, which is a Mohawk word meaning the place in the water where the trees are standing.

We live and work on the traditional territory of Haudenosaunee-speaking nations, including the Huron-Wendat, Seneca, and Mohawk. Haudenosauneespeaking nations have been here since time immemorial, and were more recently joined by the Mississaugas of the Credit.

This place has many Indigenous ports, including where the Humber and Rouge rivers meet other waterways such as Lake Ontario. Ancient longhouses— typical Haudenosaunee housing structures—have been found along both these rivers and in the north of Toronto near modern-day York University. This territory is covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) Confederacy and the Anishnaabe (Ojibwe) and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the lands and the relationships around the Great Lakes.

What this means is that by living and working here, we all have a responsibility to the environment and to each other, to treat each other and the environment with peace and respect. This means we have responsibilities to honour, renew, and consistently uphold the values and relationships outlined in the ancient agreements.

Today, Toronto is home to Indigenous peoples and settlers from around the world. Let us all come together in an atmosphere of respect and peace to do good work together with good minds. Let’s start building stronger and healthier relationships with each other and the spaces we inhabit in Tkaronto, Ontari:io, Kanata.

Let’s hold our minds together in kindness.

Nia:wen. Thank you. © Dawn Maracle

11

TO Live Foundation ad Updated version

We offer an entire family of Visa* cards.

And all of them are rewarding.

You’ll collect valuable rewards points with any Meridian Visa. Discover which card is best for you.

MeridianCU.ca/Visa

Sponsor ad

Trademark of Visa Int., used under license.

*

3

3

Welcome letter from TO Live Welcome to tonight’s performance of SKéN:NEN. It is the theatrical premiere of an exciting multimedia dance work by Santee Smith, an award-winning creator, director, designer, and performer from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, Turtle Clan, Six Nations of the Grand River.

First presented in 2021 as a site-specific performance and held outside in the Burgoyne Woods, near St. Catherines, Ontario, TO Live is proud to feature the world premiere of this new production, re-staged for the theatre, in our ongoing Dance Collection.

We are honoured to bring SKéN:NEN to life here in the Bluma Appel Theatre together with our partner Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, a performing arts organization that carves space for Indigenous audiences to witness themselves and their stories. Before this show, we worked with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre on the film Kakwitè:ne nikahá:wi—A Call and Response to Spring (Ga-Gweet-daynay / Knee-Ga-Ha-Wee), which was conceived and directed by Smith. An outdoor event, the film was projected across the 158 x 27-foot expanse of the west wall of Meridian Hall for eight nights in March 2022.

Designed for audiences of all ages, SKéN:NEN aims to engage, educate, and inspire dialogue on pressing environmental issues. Meaning balance or peace in Mohawk, “skén:nen” is a guiding principle for living and is a reminder of fundamental Indigenous teachings. The show poses the questions: after a climate catastrophe, what’s important? What would you rebuild and how would you rebuild it?

Congratulations to Santee and her amazing team. It’s been an honour to work with her again. We hope you enjoy tonight’s performance!

Clyde Wagner President & CEO TO Live

tolive.com

@tolivegram

@tolivebook

@tolivetweets

@tolivetok 4

About SKéN:NEN On the Edge of Collapse - Post-Apocalyptic - Indigenous futurism A Kaha:wi Dance Theatre production, created by artistic director Santee Smith Wa'tkwanonhwerá:ton, welcome. Kaha:wi Dance Theatre is grateful to be performing SKéN:NEN on the ancestral territory of the Rotinonhsión:ni, Anishinaabe-Mississaugas of the Credit, and other Indigenous peoples who traverse the lands and waters of Tkarón:to’. We acknowledge our kinship relationships and responsibilities; Sewatokwà:tshera, the Dish with One Spoon agreement, and Kaswentha/The Two Row Wampum. We acknowledge our ancestors who made it possible for us to share this time and space and whose forward-thinking actions uphold us. We acknowledge the importance of renewing our binding agreements; to activate peace, to be caretakers of nonhuman entities, and continue making positive decisions for the next generations. We acknowledge the long history of Indigenous ecological knowledge keepers, activists, and educators who have been advocating for our non-human relations and nature.

In 2024, globally we are exponentially moving past the threshold of irreversible devastation to life on Mother Earth. In SKéN:NEN we creatively address a potentially toxic future where climate action is left unchecked. Join us as we transcend time into a not-so-distant imagined future 2050, where the postapocalyptic setting becomes both guide and teacher.

Mother Earth moved, stretched her limbs, shook off the dust and decay She doesn’t depend on humans…we depend on her.

SKéN:NEN (Sgah:nah) is a Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk) word for peace and/or balance and reflects the perfect alignment and beauty of the natural world.

Rotinonhsión:ni (Haudenosaunee) knowledge and practices are focused on ways of being that support living in peace and balance with nature.

Skennen kowa gen? / Do you carry great peace?

Grappling with the aftermath of an environmental catastrophe and against the backdrop of rising virus-filled waters and toxic air, a young girl named Niyoh embarks on a journey from Ohswé:ken (Six Nations of the Grand River territory) to her Kahnyen’kehàka homelands in upper state New York. Niyoh seeks refuge on high ground of the Ratirontaks (Adirondack) mountains, at a hidden bunker camp of her community. She encounters other climate survivors: a feral child, Tsítsho which means fox; a quantum engineer, Kage O:naira a.k.a. Snakes in his Hair; and an otherworldly woman, Tsikónhsase. Tsikónhsase braids the three survivors’ journeys: Niyoh and Tsítsho working in unity to listen and rebuild connections to 5

the earth, while Kage struggles with his entangled mind, a blockage to his peace.

The cohesion of the fledgling group is interrupted by the lurking Kage who is desperately trying to re-establish the imbalance of old systems. Tracking throughout the performance are the levels of toxicity, marked also by the earthquakes.

The ancestral mission to restore love, peace, and harmony back to the people is mirrored in SKéN:NEN as the characters rebuild in post-apocalyptic times. They struggle with lost, unsteady ground and emotions. Condoling with the land and realigning to the newly shifted Earth, they struggle to find their balance and way forward together. The narrative embodies Rotinonhsión:ni philosophy and concepts about the establishment of Kayaneren’kó:wa (The Great Good) and Skennen'kó:wa (Great Peace); the role of women represented by Tsikónhsase, the first person to accept skén:nen; the role of Tadodarho changing his entangled mind from destruction to peace; rites of passage; and rebuilding kinship. Epic Rotinonhsión:ni imagery represents The Tree of Peace and the White Roots of Peace, wampum belts and their encoded relationships, traditional pottery designs, and nature’s patterning. As the survivors rebalance and unify, glimmers of the Tree of Peace appear along with foundational cultural symbols: celestial domes and geometric patterning that bind the groups together to affirm Onkwehonwehnéha / way of life of the original people, and Rotinoshonni ónhwe (natural people who belong to families organized pursuant to ancient systems of Great Peace).

“There’s no planet B, there’s no planet B, there’s no planet B There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home There’s no place, There’s no home, no planet, no home…

Home”

Photo credit: Rita Taylor, Banff Centre, 2024 6

SkéN:NEN character list Niyoh (knee-yoh) The role of the Niyoh is performed by Katie Couchie. The name Niyoh is short for Ken’niyohontésha and it means strawberry. The young Kahnyen’kehàka girl begins her flight from Ohswéken as a lone survivor of her family. Coming from a long line of environmental activists and land defenders, we witness Niyoh’s journey from fleeing child to a leader, a future matriarch.

Kage O:naira (oh-nair-la) The role of the Kage is performed by Montana Summers. O:naira means snake and reflects the young Onondaga man’s “Snakes in his Hair”' character paralleling the role of Tadodarho in the original Rotinonhsión:ni Great Law teachings. His attempt to break the cohesion of the fledgling group and reestablish the imbalance of old systems reflects remnant colonial thinking: greed and patriarchal domination. His journey is from New York City to upstate New York and close to the bunker camp in the Adirondack Mountains.

Tsítsho: (jezt-sho) The role of Tsítsho is performed by Sophie Dow. Tsítsho means fox in Kanyen’kéha. Her flight to high ground crashes into Niyoh’s and they become fast friends. Wounded and voiceless, Tsítsho has survived by becoming more feral. We see a child regain her humanness and help in establishing peace within the group.

Tsikónhsase (jeet-gonh-sa-say) The role of Tsikónhsase is performed by Santee Smith. The name Tsikónhsase is reflective of the Great Law teaching as the “Mother of Nations” is recognized as the first person to accept the Great Law from the Peacemaker and establish unity within the people who became the Rotinonhsión:ni Confederacy. Her presence guides Niyoh, Kage, and Tsítsho to skén:nen.

A significant ceremony in restoring nature’s cycling and celebrating the creative power of the young, Niyoh puts herself in a ritual seclusion within the earth’s womb space, the Lodge. During her fast, she is visited by three Rotinonhsión:ni ancestors during times of historic societal upheaval. The first is Niyoh’s grandmother, whom she calls Tota (grandmother), who was killed in the line of defense during the imminent climate catastrophe times 2035. The second visit is 7

from a Seneca Elder Survivor of the Sullivan campaign. In 1790s, the U.S. Sullivan campaign was a scoured-earth tactic, and all the cornfield and storage of the Seneca were burned, marking the displacement of the Rotinonhsión:ni from their homelands. The last is Tsikónhsase /Mother of Nations from the 1000s. The three visions spur Niyoh on to continue to survive, rebuild skén:nen, and remember her strength and that she is not alone.

Photo credit: Vladimir Kanic, Young People's Theatre, 2023 8

SKéN:NEN’s program Act 1: On the Edge of Collapse – The Journey The Escape, Condoling the Land, Washed Up, Feral Flight, Finding Balance, Testing the Air, Earthquake – Buckle and Fold Act 2: At Camp Doctoring Dance, Snakes in his Hair, Acknowledgement of the Land, Back to the Earth, Sniffing out Kage, Earthquake – Shake and Slide Act 3 New Vision Gathering at the Lodge, Lodge – Rites of Passage, Sharing the Lodge Vision, SKéN:NEN – rebuilding, Toxic Re-Vision, Earthquake – Collapse Act 4: Restoration of Balance – Moving into Skén:nen Removing the Snakes, Entanglement, Seeding the Future, Straightening the Tree of Peace.

SKéN:NEN is the third performance within Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s triptych production series: Re-Quickening, Blood Tides, and SKéN:NEN. Conceptually, the triptych centres on Indigenous female resurgence, artistic exchange, and investigation of Indigenous creative process.

Re-Quickening (2016) focused on “reasons and results” of trauma on Indigenous womyn; Blood Tides explored embodied actions for “dealing and healing” from trauma through restoration of rites of passage, re-establishing sacred alignments from cosmos to womb; and SKéN:NEN explores relationship building, dismantling of patriarchy, and restoration of balance in self, family, and community.

Photo credit: Vladimir Kanic, Young People's Theatre, 2023 9

Production credits Theatrical premiere presenter TO Live Producer Kaha:wi Dance Theatre Director/concept designer/ choreographer/dance artist Santee Smith Dance artists Katie Couchie, Montana Summers, Sophie Dow Costume/scenic designer Santee Smith Lighting designer Michel Charbonneau Composer/arrangement Jesse Zubot, “Steady” originally commissioned for Joe Ink’s DANCE:CRAFT Additional composition Hunter Sky, “The Escape;” Adrian Dion Harjo, “Tree Pulse”, “Tsikónhsase’s Song” Singer/songwriters Jennifer Kreisberg, “Three Sisters;” Semiah Smith, “Tsikónhsase’s Song” Singers Pura Fe, “Lodge”, “Back to Earth” Singer Pura Fe, “Lodge”, “Back to Earth” Voice over/additional vocals Santee Smith, “Lodge” Projection design – director Santee Smith Projection design – cinematographer, editor Shane Powless Projection design – animation Emma Lopez, Pedro Narvaez (AVA Animation & Visual Arts) Pottery Steve T Smith Additional costumes Adriana Fulop, Bruno Henry

Dramaturge Monique Mojica Production stage manager Senjuti Sarker Technical director/lightning sticks James Kendal Video performers Semiah Smith, Monique Mojica, Santee Smith, Shaina Momeni, Marie-Elena LeBlanc Bellissimo, Naomi Tyson, Larissa Christoff, Sanora Souphommanychanh, Ayla Vandenberg, Zada Britton Site builders Santee Smith, Katie Couchie, Montana Summers, Sophie Dow, Shane Powless Development advisors Louise Wakerakats:se Herne, Thohahoken Michael Doxtater, Darren Bonaparte, Kahente Horn-Miller, Leigh and Steve T. Smith Kanyen'kéha translator/advisor Tehahenteh Miller Final tuning creative support from faculty Artistic director of dance - Alejandro Ronceria (Director), Ana Sánchez-Colberg (Dramaturgy), Edgardo Moreno (Music) Creation/production partners • Developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund • Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity – Final Tuning Residency 2024 • Young People’s Theatre – Leaps & Bounds / Technical Residency 2022/2023 • Site-specific premiere: FirstON Performing Arts Centre, St. Catherines, Celebration of Nations 10

• Banff Playwright’s Colony; Banff Centre Arts & Creativity - Indigenous Arts Residency 2020 Company sponsors Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Centre, Toronto Arts Council Presenter and technical residency

The creation of SKéN:NEN is generously supported by

SKéN:NEN creation is supported by the Banff Centre for the Arts & Creativity - Final Tuning Residency 2024

SKéN:NEN creation is generously supported by

11

NIA:WEN / Thank you Kaha:wi Dance Theatre is grateful for the support of our family, friends, and colleagues. Nia:wen to all who supported the creation and development over the years and to SKéN:NEN collaborators who skillfully crafted this epic visual moving narrative. Special thanks to: Josephine Ridge and the TO Live team; Allen MacInnis, Herbie Barnes, and the Young Peoples Theatre team; Chris Dearlove, Sarah Conn, and the National Creation Fund team; Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity – Indigenous arts and dance programs; Alejandro Ronceria; Monique Mojica; and Sarah Palmieri, Annie Wilson, and the FirstON Performing Arts team.

Nia:wen for the FB auction donors: Haudenosaunee Lacrosse/Kevin Sandy, Brenda Wivell, Onkwehonwe Games/Dal Squire, Nova Dance/Nova Bhattacharya, June & Eleanor Chithalen, Metronom Arts/ Marcia Pereira, Plastik Wrap/Adriana Fulop, Elaine Redding, Lisa M. VanEvery, Leigh Smith, and Ava Hill. Nia:wen to Madison Robinson from Dance Umbrella of Ontario for FB auction support. We offer gratitude to all of the Six Nations community members who offered advice, knowledge, and language translations such as Tehahenteh Miller. Kaha:wi Dance Theatre offers gratitude to Leigh and Steve Smith for use of the Talking Earth family site and for providing Santee with Rotinonhsyón:ni knowledge, truth, and history that informs her work and SKéN:NEN.

SKéN:NEN collaborators

Santee Smith / Tekaronhiáhkhwa Director/ concept designer/ choreographer/ dance artist

Katie Couchie Projection/live dance artist

Santee is a multidisciplinary artist from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, Turtle Clan, Six Nations of the Grand River. Transformation, energetic exchange, and fostering mind-heart connections through performance and design is her lifelong work. Santee trained at Canada’s National Ballet School; holds physical education and psychology degrees from McMaster University and a M.A. in dance from York University.

After premiering her first production Kaha:wi, a family creation story, in 2004, one year later she founded Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, which has grown into an internationally renowned company. Santee’s work speaks about identity, teachings, and way of life within Onkwehonwe:neha; creativity; and Indigenous artistic process. She is a sought-after teacher and speaker on the performing arts, Indigenous performance, and culture.

Katie is an Anishinaabekwe Oji-Cree dance artist from Nipissing First Nation now based in Tkaronto. Katie has worked with companies and choreographers including Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Human Body Expressions, Alejandro Ronceria, Christine Friday, Peggy Baker, and Jera Wolfe. She has performed at events including the FODAR Dance Festival (2023), Governor General’s Performance Awards (2023), APTN’s Indigenous Day Live (2022), film projects including The Nature of Things (2021), CBC Gem’s New Monuments (2021), and the Toronto Fringe Festival (2021). Most recently, Katie received a Dora nomination for outstanding performance by an ensemble for the production of Homelands, created

by Santee Smith for Kaha:wi Dance Theatre. Katie is excited to continue working with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre on SKéN:NEN.

12

Montana Summers Projection/live dance artist

Sophie Dow Projection/live dance artist

Michel Charbonneau Lighting designer

13

Montana is from Oneida Nation of the Thames. He is an emerging choreographic artist who has begun development on his first performance project in 2022 at the Banff Centre named Conditions to Strike, which he showcased in the Jenny Belzberg Theatre. Montana has been working in theatre professionally since 2015; noteworthy works Montana has performed in are The Honouring (2015-2017), The Mush Hole (2016-2023), and most recently SKéN:NEN (2021-2023). Montana has collaborated with different performance collectives over the years, like Dusk Dances (Kan^stote, 2021), Unsettled Score (Canoe, 2023), as well as Blue Bird Theatre Collective and Sweet Labour Art Collective. Additionally, Montana has acted on stage in plays such as Backyard Treater’s The Other Side of the River (2019) and The Grand Theatre’s Love Song for the Thunderbirds (2021).

Sophie is a Treaty 1-born multidisciplinary creative inspired by dance, music, film, collaboration, and Michif/ Assiniboine and French/Ukrainian roots. An avid adventurer, Sophie exudes passions for busking, yoga, and travelling on top of holding a degree in dance performance and choreography from York University.

Sophie presently fulfills roles as artistic associate of O. Dela Arts, The Chimera Project, and V’ni Dansi/Louis Riel Métis Dancers; residency coordinator at Dance West Network; musician with The Honeycomb Flyers; a licensed practitioner of traditional Thai massage; a trained facilitator and student of BreathWave; a freelance dancer/choreographer/sound designer; and a puddle-jumping trickster.

Michel has designed over 100 productions and been nominated for eight Dora Mavor Moore Awards (Toronto), one Sterling Award (Edmonton), and one Leon Rabin Award (Dallas). His work has been seen or heard in France, Haiti, Brazil, and throughout North America at the Teatro Peon Contreras, the Kennedy Center, the Lajolla Playhouse, Yale Repertory Theater, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, the Cultch, Alberta Theatre Projects, Canstage, Native Earth Performing Arts, Tarragon Theatre, Factory Theatre, Theatre Passe-Muraille, GCTC, National Arts Centre,

Centaur Theatre, Roy Thompson Hall, Koerner Hall, the Stratford Festival, and many points in between. Michel also has an extensive teaching background and has worked at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre and at York, Laurentian, and Bishop’s universities.

Jesse Zubot Composer

Adrian Dion Harjo Composer, mix/ master

Jesse Zubot is a musician, producer, and composer whose praxis spans multiple genres. A four-time Juno Awardwinning musician, Zubot has produced albums including Tanya Tagaq’s Polaris Music Prize-winning album, Animism. He is currently finishing up an album with Tuscaroran/Taino singer Pura Fé.

Zubot has an extensive history touring and recording with artists including Steve Reich, Dan Mangan, Darius Jones, Stars, Hawksley Workman, Destroyer, and many others. Recently, Zubot has delved heavily into the world of composition and scored films such as Indian Horse, Two Lovers and a Bear, and Bones of Crows, for which he won a Leo and Canadian Screen Music Award. Zubot has been making music for dance for decades.

Adrian a.k.a. “A. Dion” Harjo is a multi-award-winning “Jack of all trades” when it comes to the performing arts.

He started singing powwow style when he was seven, fancy dancing at 10, and hoop dancing at 12, all of which have taken him around the world many times to share his culture.

Adrian has even dabbled in the movie industry and made appearances on films such as Miss Missouri and Casino Jack, and the TV series NDNs on the Airwaves.

His production company OvenBakedBeatz LLC produces music for film, TV, radio, and live theatre.

Still hitting the powwow trail, Adrian stands evenly in both worlds of traditional culture and modern music, with credits including a Native American Music Award, Canadian Aboriginal Music Award, Grammy, and RIAA gold certification. He has created compositions for Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s TransMigration, The Honouring, and NeoIndigenA, among others.

14

Shane Powless Projection design/editor, cinematographer

Emma López Hechem Animation

15

Shane is Kahnyen’kehàka from Ohswé:ken/Six Nations of the Grand River. He works as a videographer/ photographer/editor/graphic designer/lighting technician/audio technician. Over the years, Shane has travelled extensively with various dance and theatre productions, as well as musical groups providing the above services. His focus has been working within his Six Nations community to support Indigenous artists and cultural projects. He has collaborated with Woodland Cultural Centre, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Thru the Red Door, Six Nations Polytechnic Institute, Six Nations Council, Derek Miller Band, Logan Staats, Rochester Knighthawks, Lacey Hill, and more.

Emma is the creative director and partner behind AVA Animation & Visual Arts and specializes in projection design. Originally from Mexico, she started with a bachelor's degree in information design. She graduated with honours from both the visual effects for cinema and television and the interactive media design postgraduate programs at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto. She is a member of the first cohort of the #FifthWave Initiative by the Canadian Film Centre for women-led businesses.

With more than 14 years of professional experience, she has worked creating graphics and animation for renowned animation and post-production studios in Canada and abroad, among them E! Entertainment, Loop Media Inc., Enter the Picture, Tango Media Group, and ETC Canada.

Together with her partner Pedro Narvaez, Navajo started AVA Animation and Visual Arts in 2010, pioneering the field of architectural projection mapping for live events. Ever since they have created awardwinning works and installations for Mexico, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, United States, U.A.E., Lebanon, Armenia, Romania, Chile, Russia, and Canada.

Pedro Narvaez Castellanos Animation

Monique Mojica (Guna and Rappahannock Nations) Actor/playwright/ dramaturg

Senjuti Sarker Production stage manager

Pedro is the technical director and partner behind AVA Animation & Visual Arts. His background is information design with a postgraduate certificate in visual effects at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto. He has over 14 years of experience working in animation and post-production, collaborating with studios in Canada and abroad, among them Televisa, Organika, Loop Media Inc., and Zink Inc. Together with his partner Emma Lopez, he started AVA Animation and Visual Arts in 2010, pioneering the field of architectural projection mapping for live events.

Ever since they have created award-winning works and installations for Mexico, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, United States, U.A.E., Lebanon, Armenia, Romania, Chile, Russia, and Canada.

Monique’s artistic practice mines stories embedded in the body in connection to land and place. She has created land-based, embodied dramaturgies and taught Indigenous theatre in theory, process, and practice throughout Canada, the U.S., Latin America, and Europe. Most recently, she has played the role of Wanda in My Sister’s Rage at Tarragon Theatre and Aunt Shady in The Unnatural and Accidental Women at the NAC. She also performed in Izzie M.: The Alchemy of Enfreakment, and wrote the show with a diverse creative team.

Monique has collaborated with Santee Smith as the dramaturg for Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s tryptic, ReQuickening/Blood Tides/SKéN:NEN and for Teneil Whiskeyjack’s Ayita for Edmonton’s SkirtsAfire Festival.

She is a member of the newly formed Indigenous dramaturgy circle at Tarragon Theatre, and she was the inaugural Wurlitzer.

Senjuti (she/her) is a Bangali-Canadian, Tkaronto-based multidisciplinary artist, designer, manager, and librarian. When she’s not working to bring productions and creative visions to fruition, she’s living her socialist fantasy in the very fantastic simulation game, The Sims 4. Some of her previous involvements include working with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Other HeArts, The AMY Project, The RISER Project, and INDUSTRY and Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals.

16

James Kendal Technical consultant

James Kendal is a technician, carpenter, and artist based in Toronto. His career in performance began as a youngster with training in music and many years as a classical ballet dancer. James’ career has shifted to stage technical and carpentry work following his years doing fine carpentry and home building.

James has worked on many acclaimed productions, including those that have toured internationally.

Following his fast-paced years touring the world, James has taken on the role of senior performance technician at McMaster University, where he currently spends most of his days. James is always delighted to work with Santee Smith and is so excited for this run of SKéN:NEN.

Photo credit: Vladimir Kanic, Young People’s Theatre, 2023 17

About Kaha:wi Dance Theatre Kaha:wi Dance Theatre (KDT) is a Rotinonhsyón:ni-led company renowned for exquisitely produced and viscerally impactful performances, embodying stories that cultivate space for transformation, dialogue, and connection to Indigenous knowledge and experience. Founded in 2005 by multidisciplinary artist Santee Smith, Kaha:wi means “to carry” in Kanyen'kéha. The company carries forward new Indigenous performance and embodied and multidisciplinary storytelling with a focus on Indigenous methodology and mindset through the vision of artistic director Santee Smith. She is from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, Turtle Clan and her work speaks about identity, Indigenous narratives, creative process, and representation. Conceiving and directing many productions, Smith spearheads international Indigenous collaborative projects. Her recent work includes Gardiner Museum’s Indigenous public art for Talking Earth, 2022-23, and Homelands, presented by Harbourfront Centre. KDT tours Smith’s work The Mush Hole, which is based on the truths of Canada’s first Indian residential school, The Mohawk Institute. The company hosts Smith’s land-based “Inviting the Land to Shape Us” series for Rotinonhsyón:ni creative research at Talking Earth Studio & Gardens (Six Nations) and presented by others around the world.

KDT is a 100% Indigenous-led company with a board of directors: Janis Monture, Jessica Powless, Danbi Cho, Naomi Johnson, Stephanie Burham, Randy Schmucker, and Dr. Bernice Downey. KDT receives organizational support from the Dance Umbrella of Ontario.

Photo credit: David Hou, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s Homelands 18

Dream.

Connect.

Create.

NAC Ad

By supporting productions like SKéN:NEN, the Fund revels in the dynamism of Canadian creators.

The National Creation Fund is fuelled by National Arts Centre Foundation donors who believe in investing in Canadian creators.

19

nac - cna.ca/creationfund

The National Creation Fund, at Canada’s National Arts Centre, invests in risk, innovation, and great ideas.

STLC ad Updated version

20

Backstage with... Santee Smith Backstage with… is TO Live’s glimpse behind the scenes and inside the minds of the artists and creators of the shows currently on stage.

Santee Smith is a multidisciplinary artist from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, Turtle Clan, Six Nations of the Grand River. A sought-after teacher and speaker on the performing arts and Indigenous performance and culture, Smith’s work focuses on identity and Indigenous narratives. Her body of work includes 14 productions and many short works that have toured internationally. In 2005, she founded Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, a non-profit that creates space for Indigenous audiences to witness themselves.

In this Backstage With... Smith shares how creativity runs in her family, what she’s making space for, and her favourite shop on Queen St. West.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in many things and especially when mind and heart connections are activated, fleeting moments that stir the soul—people, place/space, story, nature, music, and design.

What led you to become an artist?

I grew up in an artistic family, so I was surrounded by creative people who researched, discussed concepts, and were always making, crafting, and devising. My gift is embodied performance and from an early age my go-to form of expression was dance.

Photo credit: Make Emarthle

21

What’s the importance of the performing arts in your life?

Performance is how I navigate the world. It offers me a way to tap into the creative force, to be a storyteller and transformer of space, to be responsive, a conduit for energetic exchange, a sharer of truth and beauty; performance makes me feel alive.

What are you making space for in your life?

I am making space for cultivating: earth, organic gardening, clay works, and Indigenous models of sustainability in action.

What can’t you live without?

I can’t live without my family, including my fur babies, or without having a creative outlet.

What’s your pre-show ritual?

Physical warmups and smudging, and affirmations of being grateful for my gifts, body, ancestors, and for the opportunity to perform and share again at this moment in time.

What’s your favourite thing to do in Toronto?

More than one favourite for sure—fabric and ribbon shopping on Queen St. West, summer café dining, and strolling the streets while people watching.

22

23

24

TO Live donor listing We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of our Friends of TO Live community through donations to TO Live and the TO Live Foundation.

1R32 Foundation 2608701 Ontario Inc. Jocelyne Achat & Kenneth Maclean Patricia Alps Shirley Arnold Arts Capital John & Claudine Bailey Bashirat Balogun Barbara Basta Eva Bednar Sandra Bellisario Bruce Bennett Shira Bernholtz Eleanor Bothwell Elspeth Bowler Stephanie Canarte Doris Chan Dr. Donette Chin-Loy Chang Wendy Chong Lesley Clark Diana Cockburn Judith C. Cole Bob Collins Leona Cotoia Cheryl Cottle Jacqueline Cushnie Ashley D'Andrea Lori DeGraw Suzanne Denis Anne Dumais Maame Adjoa Duncan Karen Ebanks Penelope Evans Alicia Excell Leah Faieta Shirley Farr Mary Ann Farrell Matt Farrell Shiming Fei Alan Feller David Fiske

25

Nina Flowers Darrell Flynn Clarence Ford Robert & Julia Foster Linda Galen Janet Gates Derek Genova Charles Gibbs Deborah Gourgy Peter Grav Wayne Hawes Elaine Iannuzziello IATSE Local 58 Charitable Fund Lev Ioussoufovitch Rob Italiano Janice Johnson Sherry Kaufman Christine Kelsey Andrew Kempa Megan Kotze & Michael Longfield Laura Lee Kozody Young Wook Kwon Maggie Lam Alan Levine Kathryn Liedeman Karen Liedeman Jodi Lindsay Edith Lo Jennifer MacLachlan Hailee Mah Ruth & Harold Margles Imaginus Canada Mark Laurie Markus Giacomina Mastromarco Steve McAdam Randy McCall David McCracken Cayla McCullough Linda McGuire William Milne Leslie Milthorpe Susan Moellers Peter Neuschild Sorina Oprea Jennifer Parkin Frances Patterson Brenda Polzler John Quirke Grant Ramsay Brandon Rattan

Josephine Ridge Christian Roderos Phillip Roh Jeffrey Rohrer Carol Rowntree Carole Sisto Stephanie Slobodnik David Smith Debbie Smith Natalia Sorokov Karyn in Toronto Karyn Spiesman Richard Spooner St. Lawrence Market BIA Evelyn Steinberg Katie Sultan Josie Tait Erinn Todd Peter Tsatsanis Alicja Turner Asha Varadharajan Isabel Vicente Menanno Vida Peene Fund Taylor Vince Peeranut Visetsuth Vital Link Ice Cream Clyde Wagner & Steven Tetz Patricia Wheelan Denise Wise Edwin Zukowski Anonymous (5) Donor recognition list as of April 11, 2023.

TO Live staff and board Board of directors Lori DeGraw Chair Councillor Lily Cheng Vice Chair Councillor Paula Fletcher Councillor Chris Moise Robyn Citizen Brian Astl Myriam Gafarou Mustafa Humayun Owais Lightwala Gave Lindo Wasifa Noshin Sun Young Yoon Executive management Clyde Wagner President & CEO Isabel Vicente Menanno Director of the Office of the CEO & Board Relations Development Sandra Bellisario Vice President of Philanthropy & Sponsorship Madeleine Skoggard Director of Philanthropy & Sponsorship Nikita Patel Halyna Polischuk Senior Manager, Leadership Giving Sahar Alamgir Assistant Manager, Philanthropy & Sponsorship Finance and administration William Milne Vice President of Finance & Administration Hayde Boccia Director of Finance Michael Johnson Controller Sabrina Li Senior Financial Manager Paul Gagnon Dorian Barton Client Settlement Services Manager Gladys Torres Payroll Manager Nelum Dissanayake Payroll Specialist

Fiona Liu Accounting Assistant, Treasury Analyst Fiona Wan Accounting Assistant, Financial Analyst Nooshin Ashraf-Zadeh Accounting Assistant Ramsha Zulfiqar Accounting Assistant, Settlements Coordinator Charles Mayne Office Clerk Information technology David McCracken Director of Information Technology Chahat Khandhar Systems Administrator Michael Cadiz IT Support Technician Scott Spence IT Coordinator Human resources Michelle Carter Vice President of Human Resources & Organizational Culture Mohamed Othman Director of Human Resources Dawn Maracle Director of Indigenous Affair & Engagement Melissa Creighton HR Generalist Marketing and communications Jeff Rohrer Vice President of Marketing & Communications Stephanie Canarte Director of Marketing Grant Ramsay Media Relations Officer Stephen Crooks Senior Digital Marketing Manager Vanessa Grant Senior Content Marketing Manager Lauren Finateri Marketing Manager, Promotions & Partnerships Emma Forhan Creative Content Producer Shaun Lee Graphic Designer Jaya Arora Social Media & Web Content Coordinator Joshua DeFreitas Marketing Specialist Box office Tom Kerr Director of Ticketing Services

Fran Holywell Holly Merkur-Dance Box Office Manager Sandie Chui Manager of Ticketing Services Annaijah Dacres Alexander Jackson Jennifer Norman Thomas Quinlan Box Office Assistant Manager Brittney Channer Clayton Batson Michelle Cruz Zen Peterson Box Office Duty Manager Operations Matthew Farrell Vice President of Operations Edward Delavari Director of Capital Projects Luke Belfontaine Senior Project Manager BahramAghakhan Nerin Carvalho Zane Elliott Bruce Bennett Project Manager Patron and Event Services Sean Tasson Director of patron and event services Andrew Fong Executive Chef Juliana Fay Senior Manager, Food and Beverage Services Jamie Johnson Assistant Manager, Food & Beverage Services Agnessa Voloshina Saba Resaei Tera Harnish-Christie Duty Manager, Kitchen Natalie Ireland Senior Manager, Events Yuki Daloste Events Manager Fiona Alexander Assistant Event Services Manager Lina Welch Lynn Frenette Tara Hitchman Tracey Fyfe Patron Services Manager Bruna Pisani Corrine Engelbrecht Hugo Ares-Gonzalez Kizzie St Clair Maria Waslenko Peter Harabaras Patron Services Duty Manager Jai Bittles Sous Chef 26

Facilities Abiodun Ojekunle Director of Facilities Jarryd Fish Facilities Manager Evan Ramdin Chief Building Operator Robert MacLean Roderick Padasdao Building Operator Ehsan Rahman Ryan Nerona Marciano Ramos Junior Building Operator Eduardo Costales Matthew Pannel Handyperson Omar Nurse Stage Door Security Supervisor Colin Dyble Henry Fernandes Margreta Kristiansen Mohammed Shaikh Mohuddin Memon Pema Lakshey Reza Moradi Sangay Lhamo Tushar Somani Stage Door Security Mohamed Zuhair Maintenance Supervisor Ahmed Akinpelu Catherine Patrick Himal KC Mizrak Mohamed Roger Alves Robert Bischoff Rosalina Silva Rosa Victoria Vivian Hije Maintenance John Vickery Housekeeping Supervisor Adam Sikora Alicia Surujbally Andre O'Hare Elliott Lewis Ian Romero Karrie Smith Lauren Smith Mabel Liwag Rhowen Jane Bunda Housekeeping Programming Max Rubino Director of Programming Sierra da Silva-Canadien Indigenous Cultural Curator Ariana Shaw

27

Sascha Cole Senior Producer Kafi Pierre Shannon Murtagh Producer John Kiggins Programming Manager Nathan Sartore Programming & Accessibility Coordinator Courtney Voyce Bookings Manager Martina Strautins Alex Whitehead Bookings Coordinator Scott North Director Corporate & Private Events Michaela Aguirre Social Media Specialist

St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts stage crew IATSE Local 58 Wes Allen Property Master, Bluma Appel Theatre Jay Blencowe Head Carpenter, Bluma Appel Theatre Keijo Makela Head Sound Technician, Bluma Appel Theatre Benn Hough Head Technician, Jane Mallet

Communities and outreach Tasneem Vahanvaty Director of Communities & Outreach Dani De Angelis Communities & Outreach Coordinator

Meridian Arts Centre stage crew IATSE Local 58 Aaron Dell Head Technician, George Weston Recital Hall Patrick Hales Assistant Head Technician, George Weston Recital Hall Grant Primea Head Technician, Greenwin Theatre Duncan Morga Head Technician, Studio Theatre Ian Parker Head Technician Lyric Theatre

Production Kristopher Dell Director of Production Anthony (TJ) Shamata Zoe Carpenter Senior Production Manager Peter Suchostawski Senior Manager, Theatre Systems & Special Projects Armand Baksh-Zarate Chris Carlton Kristopher Weber Susanne Lankin Production Manager Emma Pressello Production Coordinator Meridian Hall stage crew IATSE Local 58 Richard Karwat Head Electrician Steve McLean Head Carpenter Marcus Sirman Head of Properties David Baer Assistant Carpenter Zsolt Kota Assistant Sound Operator Jason Urbanowicz Assistant Electrician Michael Farkas Assistant Electrician – AV

IATSE Local 822 Susan Batchelor Wardrobe Head, Bluma Appel Theatre

St. Lawrence Centre Redevelopment Leslie Lester Vice President of STLC Redevelopment Carolyn Tso Senior Manager, Capital Fundraising

#ArtsStartHere, and it begins with you.

The TO Live Foundation is committed to creating a future where art engages and inspires all Torontonians. A future where all the creative voices of our diverse communities are heard and celebrated. A future where artists have the support they need to experiment and grow.

Visit tolivefoundation.com to learn more about how our Foundation is committed to building a better city through the arts.