We at the Stratford Festival are delighted to have a number of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artists joining us once again this season. We are looking forward to sharing this time together on the territory governed by the Huron Tract Treaty and the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Treaty, traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Wendat, and Attiwonderonk.
At the Festival, we continue having many conversations about how we can participate in a process of truth-telling and sustainable actions of righting relations. As within most of the parts of Turtle Island that is currently known as Canada, we know that this is a long process.
We recognize that supporting the creation of Indigenous work means supporting creation processes in which Indigenous artists can feel physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and culturally safe. We are continuing to learn how we can respectfully weave Indigenous values, methodologies, and spiritual protocol into the fabric of the Festival's creative practices and logistical considerations, as part of our commitment to being good treaty partners.
We welcome ceremony and the use of medicines in Festival buildings. We are happy to invite you to smudge within our rehearsal halls and on Festival property. You are welcome to smudge in any of our spaces except stairwells and elevators (the smoke detectors are a bit finicky there). Please check with your colleagues about any scent sensitivities before smudging in a shared space; a stage manager or PSM will be happy to help you secure an alternate space if needed. Sacred medicines are available from the EDI department, please contact Meineka Kulasinghe, EDI Manager for more information, mkulasinghe@stratfordfestival.ca.
We acknowledge that you are here as individual artists, and cannot be asked to speak on behalf of all Indigenous communities. We recognize that cultural consultation is a form of labour and is separate from your work as an artist. If there is any matter on which you feel it necessary for the Festival to seek consultation, please speak to your Stage Manager or the EDI Manager, Meineka Kulasinghe at mkulasinghe@stratfordfestival.ca.
We are fortunate to have a relationship with a consulting Elder, Elizabeth Stevens from Kettle & Stony Point Chippewa First Nation. If you would like to speak with her at any
point during your time with us, we will do our best to facilitate a connection. To minimize the email burden on her, we try to keep communications with Liz centralized through a point person: if you'd like to be in touch with Liz, please contact Meineka Kulasinghe, EDI Manager, either directly via email or through your Stage Manager or the Company Manager.
Starting in 2022, we have engaged a circle of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artists to advise on programming and artistic practice, the Festival’s work culture, and building relationships with neighbouring nations and Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. For more information about the Circle please contact Meineka Kulasinghe, EDI Manager.
In any case where you are connecting with members of the Festival team to access support, your confidentiality will be respected.
We know that issues might arise along the way that we have not anticipated. Please don’t hesitate to speak with one of us if something comes up. We are eager to make sure that Indigenous artists, staff, and audiences feel supported and celebrated at the Festival.
-Antoni and Anita