New Indigenous Theatre Department Coming to Canada's National Arts Centre (NAC) in 2019

With the new announcement this past Fall 2015 that one of Canada's most elite theatre institutions, the National Arts Centre (NAC), located in our country's capital of Ottawa would be creating the first ever Indigenous Theatre Department beginning sometime in 2019, it was an extraordinary and historical moment for Indigenous Peoples all across Turtle Island. The impact and response this news has been slowly rippling out into Indigenous and First Nations communities all across Turtle Island and so many artists/storytellers from all different backgrounds, nations and disciplines are very excited about the future opportunities that are going to be created as a result of this new Indigenous Theatre Department on such a large national platform.

With every new and enormous undertaking such as this one there will undoubtedly be growing pains and I am personally hoping that the voices of Indigenous communities, knowledge carriers, elders, youth and other important members, not just those in higher leadership positions, will continue to be heard and consulted with as the ball continues rolling with in the development and planning processes of hiring a new Artistic Director and/or directorate for this new Indigenous Theatre Department. I was pleased to hear so many diverse and different voices/perspectives from those invited to the NAC earlier last month to begin the consultation process and next step in how the NAC will go about hiring a new Artistic Director and/or directorate. There's a lot to think about and we as Indigenous storytellers and caretakers of this land need to really make an effort to come together as communities in order to support this new, exciting and very huge undertaking. For those of us in the Indigenous arts community who weren't able to tune into livestream consultation meeting that took place at the National Arts Centre earlier in February I really encourage you all to take some time to watch a recorded version of this historical and important meeting.  I've attached the YouTube videos of the entire day meeting below which was recorded and split into morning and afternoon sessions.

Chi-Miigwetch & All My Relations,
Jeremy (Bemaashi-Niisonge')