Taken Before Birth
by Jennifer Dawn Bishop
Premiered October 14, 2022
The eyes of a child deconstruct the world in ways that the older and wiser haven’t even contemplated. When tucking in his granddaughter, a man is struck by a loaded question.
Direction & dramaturgy by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
Assistant direction by Amanda Trapp*
Featuring Raven Dallman, Ezra Forest, and Erroll Kinistino*
Audience advisory: Content may not be suitable for children.
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Taken Before Birth was written by Jennifer Dawn Bishop
World Premiere commissioned by Burnt Thicket Theatre
direction & dramaturgy by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
assistant direction by Amanda Trapp*
performed by:
Raven Dallman (Daughter)
Ezra Forest (Nosisim Iskwesis)
Erroll Kinistino* (Mushom)
sound design, recording and audio production by Tim Bratton
casting consulting by Carol Greyeyes*
production dramaturgy by Yvette Nolan
stage management by Stephen Waldschmidt
original music by Darryl Dozlaw, Jordan Daniels, Marc Okihcihtaw and Donny Speidel
image design by Brooklynn Bitner
Gratefully created on Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Métis; in Hamilton which is situated upon the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas, land that is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, which was an agreement between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek to share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes, land that is also covered by the Between the Lakes Purchase, 1792, between the Crown and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation; and in Toronto, which has been the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat (there are many other First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples that call this place home).
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Ways to learn and take action:
Watch the video sessions from MCC Saskatchewan’s 4th Annual Peace Conference, "Land of Living Reconciliation: Seeking Common Ground”, October 21-22, 2022 in Saskatoon: https://mcccanada.ca/get-involved/events/mcc-saskatchewan-peace-conference-2022
Or find a similar event in your area.
Find an Indigenous art piece or performance you might not normally visit, go with a friend you don’t normally hang out with, and talk about your experience together. Here are some options in Saskatoon:
- downtown murals & public art - see iMaps on Saskatoon.ca
- Wanuskewin Heritage Park: https://wanuskewin.com/
- Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre: https://www.gtnt.ca/
- Remai Modern: https://collections.remaimodern.org/search/indigenous
- USask Art Galleries: https://artsandscience.usask.ca/galleries/
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This project is made possible by a Digital Now Grant from Canada Council for the Arts, and by our major sponsors Shercom Industries, SK Arts, and Creative Saskatchewan.
*The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy (DOT), and under ACTRA's National COVID-19 Response Initiative.