We as Indigenous people do not separate arts and culture. They are one and the same. They are part of our DNA.

On April 30, 2019, the National Arts Centre - Indigenous Theatre – the first national Indigenous theatre in the world – will announce its first season. Our Stories are Medicine: the driving theme behind the programming that offers a diversity of work featuring a diversity of languages and cultures, that celebrates the strength, beauty and resilience of Indigenous women.

The NAC supported the creation of the department in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions seminal Calls to Action in order to offer a national platform to preserve, promote and revitalize Indigenous languages and culture. The announced programming offers tangible evidence of what ongoing financial support from the federal government could mean in terms of creating a dedicated place on the national stage for Indigenous voices and experiences: transformative for Indigenous People and Canadian society as a whole.

As Indigenous artists and allies we believe that reparations must be made for serious lack of support for Indigenous artistic initiatives, knowledges and dialogues. Financial support must be ongoing, sustaining and reflect the high calibre of Indigenous performance and programming at the NAC under the leadership of Artistic Director Kevin Loring and Managing Director Lori Marchand; work that is recognized nationally and internationally.

Support for this programming must not come in the form of a superficial, one-shot deal to repair the relationships between our Nations, but must encompass an immediate and meaningful level of funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage and other National funding organizations.  

We deserve more than a financial band-aid, given the nature of ongoing, systematic denial of rights and the legacy of colonialism on our territories and in our everyday lives.  We are all treaty people, Indigenous peoples living in this part of Turtle Island deserve to be heard, to activate deep-seated conversations towards a future that includes our voices in the artistic and cultural heritage of this country.

To watch the inaugural Indigenous Theatre Programming announcement on Tuesday, April 30 @ 3:30pm EST:

Livestream Programming announcement

Click here to donate to the National Arts Center’s - Indigenous Theatre program.

Email addresses to share your opinion:

• Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau - justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca
• Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez - pablo.rodriguez@parl.gc.ca
• Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, The Honourable Carolyn Bennett carolyn.bennett@parl.gc.ca