ICS 2017 – 3rd edition

« How will this celebration of […] history reconcile with the history experienced by Indigenous peoples in this coming year? Will this be a turning point in our national journey towards reconciliation or will this be a celebration of the status quo? »

– Ry Moran,
Director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

The third edition of Indigenous Contemporary Scene (ICS) questions the idea of reconciliation through a range of visions and performative forms. How do we move from rhetoric about reconciliation to systemic change? This edition runs from June 1 to 9, 2017, during the 375th anniversary of the city of Montréal and is presented in partnership with the OFFTA, the Agora de la danse, the Musée d’art contemporain and the Darling Foundry.

At the Unicorn, the cabaret Je me souviens brings together 7 Aboriginal voices, presenting a variety of artistic proposals, and many perspectives on colonization and decolonization: Buffalo Hat Singers, Marco Collin, Nadia Myre and Johanna Nutter, Ange Loft and ReCollection Kahnawake Collective, Carlos Rivera, Nina Segalowitz and Meky Ottawa. Interdisciplinary theatre, Reckoning (Moment of Truth) by ARTICLE 11 (Tara Beagan and Andy Moro) unfolds three stories related to the residential school system at Centaur Theatre.

At the Darling Foundry, the performative installation This Time Will be Different by Lara Kramer and Émilie Monnet, created in collaboration with painter Glenna Matoush, takes an incisive and sensitive look at Canada’s reconciliation industry and the fallout of numerous inquiries and commissions.

Piriti proposes 3 performances – a bridge between three generations of artists, three territories and three practices that are embodied in three short interventions by Skeena Reece, Charles Koroneho and Laura Ortman, in collaboration with the video collective AM (composed of Sébastien Aubin and Caroline Monnet). The OFFTA MixOFF is also an opportunity to experience a collaboration between visual artist Eruoma Awashish and ethnobotanist Alain Cuerrier.

This third edition also includes a day of conversations, with two talking circles. The first is entitled Tiotiá:ke and Mooniyaang: Recognizing the Territory and features Ellen Gabriel and Hayden King.

The second meeting of the day brings together three Aboriginal artists participating in the program to discuss their practices and their relationship to the notion of reconciliation. The performers are multidisciplinary artists Skeena Reece, Tara Beagan, co-artistic director of ARTICLE 11, and Iehente Adriana Foote, member of the ReCollection Kahnawake collective.

In keeping with its intention to offer the public a space for encounters and reflection, this edition of SCA focuses on the outspokenness, audacity and creative strength of Aboriginal artists. This edition takes place in the wake of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report and brings critical perspectives to the conversation.

Artistic Director: Émilie Monnet DProduction Director: Erika Kierulf Production Coordinator: Maritza Grégoire Communications Director and Publicist: Isabelle Bleau Technical Director: Timothy Rodrigues Graphic Designer: Sébastien Aubin Box Office and Production Assistant: Swaneige Bertrand Video Artist: Mélanie O’Bomsawin

« Pour sa deuxième année, Scène contemporaine autochtone revient avec (...) un thème: la réconciliation, mais laquelle? SCA fait partie des événements officiels du 375e anniversaire de Montréal cette année, mais sa responsable, Émilie Monnet, a choisi d'en faire un happening critique autour de la réconciliation entre les Premières Nations et le reste de la population. »

« L’artiste interdisciplinaire indique que même si l’art est un puissant vecteur pour changer les mentalités, il doit aussi y avoir une volonté politique et sociale de s’ouvrir aux cultures et aux langues autochtones. « Le mot "réconciliation" est sur toutes les lèvres, mais il faut contextualiser les choses quand on en parle. Est-ce qu’il y a déjà eu une conciliation? […] Les peuples autochtones ne sont toujours pas souverains sur leur propre territoire. »

« On dit que Montréal est la ville de la réconciliation en 2017, mais on attend encore de voir quels sont les engagements qui vont se prendre. On a décidé de saisir la chance de parler de réconciliation d'un point de vue critique. Les artistes autochtones ont beaucoup à dire à ce sujet et c'est ce que nous célébrons. »

PROGRAMMING

« Je me souviens »

Avec Buffalo Hat Singers, Marco Collin, Nadia Myre and Johanna Nutter, Ange Loft et ReCollection Kahnawake Collective, Carlos Rivera, Nina Segalowitz, Meky Ottawa

Seven performance-based interventions by Indigenous artists, either from Kahnawake or who have chosen Tiotiá:ke (Montreal) as a place to live. Seven propositions to assert, expose and deconstruct the myth of reconciliation. From the impacts of colonial policies to self-reconstruction, these artists offer a sensitive, astute and often raw view of these questions.

La Licorne (Grande salle)

This Time Will Be Different

Performance and sound installation by Lara Kramer and Émilie Monnet

This Time Will Be Different denounces Canadian government discourse on Indigenous Peoples and takes a critical look at the “national reconciliation industry.” From one inquiry to the next, from the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, has anything really changed in the relationship between the Government of Canada and this land’s first inhabitants?

La Fonderie Darling

Piriti

Performances by Skeena Reece, Charles Koroneho, Laura Ortman in collaboration with AM

Three generations of Indigenous artists, three distinct territories, three short interdisciplinary forms – each a celebration of creativity, cultural resistance, and the transmission of knowledge between generations and individuals. Anchored in their plural identities and their innovative artistic practice, the three guest artists/collective build a bridge – Piriti – to connect the past with the future.

Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal

Reckoning
(moment de vérité)

ARTICLE 11, Tara Beagan, Andy Moro

A triptych in movement, video and text, Reckoning is an incendiary theatrical presentation of three separate experiences with Indian Residential Schools, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the fallout that has already reverberated across the country. When the truth has been incinerated and reconciliation seems impossible, there is Reckoning.

Centaur Theatre

Conversations on reconciliation

Tiotiá:ke and Mooniyaang: Land Acknowledgment
Acknowledging a land means reaffirming the unique and lasting relationship that exists between Indigenous peoples and their traditional lands. It also means expressing our gratitude and appreciation, a way of honouring these Nations who have lived here from time immemorial. Land acknowledgment does not refer to the past… we must continue this conversation to heighten our awareness and then move to action.
–
The critical viewpoint of three indigenous artists and committed activists
A conversation between Skeena Reece, multidisciplinary artist, Tara Beagan, co-Artistic Director of ARTICLE 11 and Iehente Adriana Foote, member of ReCollection Kahnawake.

Agora de la danse

Other Events

MixOFF du OFFTA
Cross-sector encounters between artists and agricultural researchers as part of UQAM’s Exposition agriculturelle. Interdisciplinary artist Eruoma Awashish (Atikamekw/Quebecer) will be matched to the ethnobotanist Alain Cuerrier, specialized in medicinal plants.

UQAM

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A Tale of Monstrous Extravagance: On the importance of multilingualism

Conference-performance with Tomson Highway

In 5 languages and a grand piano

« How will this celebration of […] history reconcile with the history experienced by Indigenous peoples in this coming year? Will this be a turning point in our national journey towards reconciliation or will this be a celebration of the status quo? »

– Ry Moran,
Director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

PROGRAMMING

« Je me souviens »

Avec Buffalo Hat Singers, Marco Collin, Nadia Myre and Johanna Nutter, Ange Loft et ReCollection Kahnawake Collective, Carlos Rivera, Nina Segalowitz, Meky Ottawa

La Licorne (Grande salle)

This Time Will Be Different

Performance and sound installation by Lara Kramer and Émilie Monnet

La Fonderie Darling

Piriti

Performances by Skeena Reece, Charles Koroneho, Laura Ortman in collaboration with AM

Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal

Reckoning
(moment de vérité)

ARTICLE 11, Tara Beagan, Andy Moro

Centaur Theatre

Conversations on reconciliation

Agora de la danse

Other Events

UQAM

VISUALS

PARTNERS

« How will this celebration of […] history reconcile with the history experienced by Indigenous peoples in this coming year? Will this be a turning point in our national journey towards reconciliation or will this be a celebration of the status quo? »

– Ry Moran, Director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

PROGRAMMING

« Je me souviens »

Avec Buffalo Hat Singers, Marco Collin, Nadia Myre and Johanna Nutter, Ange Loft et ReCollection Kahnawake Collective, Carlos Rivera, Nina Segalowitz, Meky Ottawa

La Licorne (Grande salle)

This Time Will Be Different

Performance and sound installation by Lara Kramer and Émilie Monnet

La Fonderie Darling

Piriti

Performances by Skeena Reece, Charles Koroneho, Laura Ortman in collaboration with AM

Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal

Reckoning(moment de vérité)

ARTICLE 11, Tara Beagan, Andy Moro

Centaur Theatre

Conversations on reconciliation

Agora de la danse

Other Events

UQAM

VISUALS

PARTNERS

– Ry Moran,
Director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Reckoning
(moment de vérité)