Performance in Protest: Solidarity with Chippewa of the Thames

An urgent fundraiser for a landmark cause!

—-

Performance in Protest is an afternoon of performances and visual arts from Indigenous and non-Indigenous theatre creators, musicians, visual artists and storytellers at the Buddies In Bad Times Theatre Cabaret Space in solidarity with the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. The Chippewas of the Thames will be going to the Supreme Court of Canada on November 30th to fight for the legal right of Indigenous peoples to be consulted over energy projects going through their territory.

Sunday November 20th, 2016

2:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street

All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation legal fund.

FEATURING:

MYEENGUN HENRY

— Elder and band councillor for Chippewas of the Thames First Nation —

MICHAEL GREYEYES

— Plains Cree Actor/Director/Choreographer/Educator whose work on stage and film has been shown across the continent. Currently Artistic Director of Signal Theatre, a company that explores intercultural and transdisciplinary live performance —

RED SLAM COLLECTIVE

— Hip hop fusion band currently comprised of medicine wheel poets, songwriters, rappers, musicians, composers, vocalists, representing diverse indigenous nation affiliations across Turtle Island and Internationally —

TERRA INCOGNITA COLLECTIVE

— A research-based performance group that explores the political and social dynamics relating to issues of the environment in so-called Canada and abroad —

BROADLEAF THEATRE

— Toronto-based company that creates devised works based on Canadian perspectives on local, national and global environmental issues —

AKEESHA FOOTMAN

— Anishnaabe storyteller and visual artist from Muskrat Magazine —

LISA MYERS

— Curator, chef and artist whose work has been exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions in venues including: Urban Shaman (Winnipeg), Art Gallery of Peterborough and the Art Gallery of Ontario. Recently Myers had a solo exhibition called “Blueprints” in the prints and drawings area at the AGO. She is a band member of Beausoliel First Nation and is based in Port Seven and Toronto —

GLORIA SWAIN

— Multidisciplinary artist (painting, photography, poetry, installations) whose work stimulates an understanding of mental illness. She is also a recipient of the Canadian International Black Women’s 100 Black Women to Watch —

More about the case:

Enbridge’s Line 9 is a forty year-old pipeline originally built to transport light oil between Montreal and Sarnia. The pipeline passes through the traditional territory of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, Northern Toronto, and seventeen other Indigenous communities. In the last few years, the direction of the pipeline was reversed and in December it began pumping heavy tar sands diluted bitumen. The pipeline reversal took place without consultation with, or consent from, many Indigenous nations, which is a constitutional duty of the Crown.

A spill from Line 9, made all the more likely by the age of the pipeline and the heavier oil being transported, would impact innumerable people. It is estimated that there are approximately 9.1 million people within fifty kilometres of the pipeline who could experience health impacts from a leakage. In order to fight Line 9 and the lack of consultation from Enbridge and the Crown, the Chippewas are going all the way to the Supreme Court, facing over $500,000 in legal fees. They need your support.

Tickets NOW available http://buddiesinbadtimes.com/event/performance-in-protest-art-in-solidarity-with-chippewas-of-the-thames-first-nation/
Or first come first serve at the door.
Tickets are on a sliding scale from $10-$100. We suggest your ticket price be based on your annual income so that the event is accessible for everyone. Your generous donations help tremendously!

This event is co-hosted by Rising Tide Toronto, Terra Incognita Collective and Broadleaf Theatre.
Poster design by Ava Lightbody

If you can’t make it to the event but would like to contribute, you can make a donation to the Chippewas of the Thames legal fees here: https://chippewassolidarity.org/en/donate