Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s SKéN:NEN

Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s

SKéN:NEN

May 10-11, 2024

Photo credit: Santee Smith

TO Live would like to acknowledge Tkaronto, which is a Mohawk word meaning the place in the water where the trees are standing.

We live and work on the traditional territory of Haudenosaunee-speaking nations, including the Huron-Wendat, Seneca, and Mohawk. Haudenosauneespeaking nations have been here since time immemorial, and were more recently joined by the Mississaugas of the Credit.

This place has many Indigenous ports, including where the Humber and Rouge rivers meet other waterways such as Lake Ontario. Ancient longhouses— typical Haudenosaunee housing structures—have been found along both these rivers and in the north of Toronto near modern-day York University. This territory is covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) Confederacy and the Anishnaabe (Ojibwe) and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the lands and the relationships around the Great Lakes.

What this means is that by living and working here, we all have a responsibility to the environment and to each other, to treat each other and the environment with peace and respect. This means we have responsibilities to honour, renew, and consistently uphold the values and relationships outlined in the ancient agreements.

Today, Toronto is home to Indigenous peoples and settlers from around the world. Let us all come together in an atmosphere of respect and peace to do good work together with good minds. Let’s start building stronger and healthier relationships with each other and the spaces we inhabit in Tkaronto, Ontari:io, Kanata.

Let’s hold our minds together in kindness. Nia:wen. Thank you.

© Dawn Maracle

Welcome letter from TO Live

Welcome to tonight’s performance of SKéN:NEN. It is the theatrical premiere of an exciting multimedia dance work by Santee Smith, an award-winning creator, director, designer, and performer from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, Turtle Clan, Six Nations of the Grand River.

First presented in 2021 as a site-specific performance and held outside in the Burgoyne Woods, near St. Catherines, Ontario, TO Live is proud to feature the world premiere of this new production, re-staged for the theatre, in our ongoing Dance Collection.

We are honoured to bring SKéN:NEN to life here in the Bluma Appel Theatre together with our partner Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, a performing arts organization that carves space for Indigenous audiences to witness themselves and their stories. Before this show, we worked with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre on the film Kakwitè:ne nikahá:wi—A Call and Response to Spring (Ga-Gweet-daynay / Knee-Ga-Ha-Wee), which was conceived and directed by Smith. An outdoor event, the film was projected across the 158 x 27-foot expanse of the west wall of Meridian Hall for eight nights in March 2022.

Designed for audiences of all ages, SKéN:NEN aims to engage, educate, and inspire dialogue on pressing environmental issues. Meaning balance or peace in Mohawk, “skén:nen” is a guiding principle for living and is a reminder of fundamental Indigenous teachings. The show poses the questions: after a climate catastrophe, what’s important? What would you rebuild and how would you rebuild it?

Congratulations to Santee and her amazing team. It’s been an honour to work with her again. We hope you enjoy tonight’s performance!

Clyde Wagner President & CEO TO Live

About SKéN:NEN

On the Edge of Collapse - Post-Apocalyptic - Indigenous futurism

A Kaha:wi Dance Theatre production, created by artistic director Santee Smith

Wa'tkwanonhwerá:ton, welcome. Kaha:wi Dance Theatre is grateful to be performing SKéN:NEN on the ancestral territory of the Rotinonhsión:ni, Anishinaabe-Mississaugas of the Credit, and other Indigenous peoples who traverse the lands and waters of Tkarón:to’. We acknowledge our kinship relationships and responsibilities; Sewatokwà:tshera, the Dish with One Spoon agreement, and Kaswentha/The Two Row Wampum. We acknowledge our ancestors who made it possible for us to share this time and space and whose forward-thinking actions uphold us. We acknowledge the importance of renewing our binding agreements; to activate peace, to be caretakers of nonhuman entities, and continue making positive decisions for the next generations. We acknowledge the long history of Indigenous ecological knowledge keepers, activists, and educators who have been advocating for our non-human relations and nature.

In 2024, globally we are exponentially moving past the threshold of irreversible devastation to life on Mother Earth. In SKéN:NEN we creatively address a potentially toxic future where climate action is left unchecked. Join us as we transcend time into a not-so-distant imagined future 2050, where the postapocalyptic setting becomes both guide and teacher.

Mother Earth moved, stretched her limbs, shook off the dust and decay She doesn’t depend on humans…we depend on her.

SKéN:NEN (Sgah:nah) is a Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk) word for peace and/or balance and reflects the perfect alignment and beauty of the natural world. Rotinonhsión:ni (Haudenosaunee) knowledge and practices are focused on ways of being that support living in peace and balance with nature.

Skennen kowa gen? / Do you carry great peace?

Grappling with the aftermath of an environmental catastrophe and against the backdrop of rising virus-filled waters and toxic air, a young girl named Niyoh embarks on a journey from Ohswé:ken (Six Nations of the Grand River territory) to her Kahnyen’kehàka homelands in upper state New York. Niyoh seeks refuge on high ground of the Ratirontaks (Adirondack) mountains, at a hidden bunker camp of her community. She encounters other climate survivors: a feral child, Tsítsho which means fox; a quantum engineer, Kage O:naira a.k.a. Snakes in his Hair; and an otherworldly woman, Tsikónhsase. Tsikónhsase braids the three survivors’ journeys: Niyoh and Tsítsho working in unity to listen and rebuild connections to

the earth, while Kage struggles with his entangled mind, a blockage to his peace. The cohesion of the fledgling group is interrupted by the lurking Kage who is desperately trying to re-establish the imbalance of old systems. Tracking throughout the performance are the levels of toxicity, marked also by the earthquakes.

The ancestral mission to restore love, peace, and harmony back to the people is mirrored in SKéN:NEN as the characters rebuild in post-apocalyptic times. They struggle with lost, unsteady ground and emotions. Condoling with the land and realigning to the newly shifted Earth, they struggle to find their balance and way forward together. The narrative embodies Rotinonhsión:ni philosophy and concepts about the establishment of Kayaneren’kó:wa (The Great Good) and Skennen'kó:wa (Great Peace); the role of women represented by Tsikónhsase, the first person to accept skén:nen; the role of Tadodarho changing his entangled mind from destruction to peace; rites of passage; and rebuilding kinship. Epic Rotinonhsión:ni imagery represents The Tree of Peace and the White Roots of Peace, wampum belts and their encoded relationships, traditional pottery designs, and nature’s patterning. As the survivors rebalance and unify, glimmers of the Tree of Peace appear along with foundational cultural symbols: celestial domes and geometric patterning that bind the groups together to affirm Onkwehonwehnéha / way of life of the original people, and Rotinoshonni ónhwe (natural people who belong to families organized pursuant to ancient systems of Great Peace).

“There’s no planet B, there’s no planet B, there’s no planet B There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home

There’s no place, There’s no home, no planet, no home… Home”

Photo credit: Rita Taylor, Banff Centre, 2024

SkéN:NEN character list

Niyoh (knee-yoh)

The role of the Niyoh is performed by Katie Couchie. The name Niyoh is short for Ken’niyohontésha and it means strawberry. The young Kahnyen’kehàka girl begins her flight from Ohswéken as a lone survivor of her family. Coming from a long line of environmental activists and land defenders, we witness Niyoh’s journey from fleeing child to a leader, a future matriarch.

Kage O:naira (oh-nair-la)

The role of the Kage is performed by Montana Summers. O:naira means snake and reflects the young Onondaga man’s “Snakes in his Hair”' character paralleling the role of Tadodarho in the original Rotinonhsión:ni Great Law teachings. His attempt to break the cohesion of the fledgling group and reestablish the imbalance of old systems reflects remnant colonial thinking: greed and patriarchal domination. His journey is from New York City to upstate New York and close to the bunker camp in the Adirondack Mountains.

Tsítsho: (jezt-sho)

The role of Tsítsho is performed by Sophie Dow. Tsítsho means fox in Kanyen’kéha. Her flight to high ground crashes into Niyoh’s and they become fast friends. Wounded and voiceless, Tsítsho has survived by becoming more feral. We see a child regain her humanness and help in establishing peace within the group.

Tsikónhsase (jeet-gonh-sa-say)

The role of Tsikónhsase is performed by Santee Smith. The name Tsikónhsase is reflective of the Great Law teaching as the “Mother of Nations” is recognized as the first person to accept the Great Law from the Peacemaker and establish unity within the people who became the Rotinonhsión:ni Confederacy. Her presence guides Niyoh, Kage, and Tsítsho to skén:nen.

A significant ceremony in restoring nature’s cycling and celebrating the creative power of the young, Niyoh puts herself in a ritual seclusion within the earth’s womb space, the Lodge. During her fast, she is visited by three Rotinonhsión:ni ancestors during times of historic societal upheaval. The first is Niyoh’s grandmother, whom she calls Tota (grandmother), who was killed in the line of defense during the imminent climate catastrophe times 2035. The second visit is

from a Seneca Elder Survivor of the Sullivan campaign. In 1790s, the U.S. Sullivan campaign was a scoured-earth tactic, and all the cornfield and storage of the Seneca were burned, marking the displacement of the Rotinonhsión:ni from their homelands. The last is Tsikónhsase /Mother of Nations from the 1000s. The three visions spur Niyoh on to continue to survive, rebuild skén:nen, and remember her strength and that she is not alone.

Photo credit: Vladimir Kanic, Young People's Theatre, 2023

SKéN:NEN’s program

Act 1: On the Edge of Collapse – The Journey

The Escape, Condoling the Land, Washed Up, Feral Flight, Finding Balance, Testing the Air, Earthquake – Buckle and Fold

Act 2: At Camp

Doctoring Dance, Snakes in his Hair, Acknowledgement of the Land, Back to the Earth, Sniffing out Kage, Earthquake – Shake and Slide

Act 3 New Vision

Gathering at the Lodge, Lodge – Rites of Passage, Sharing the Lodge Vision, SKéN:NEN – rebuilding, Toxic Re-Vision, Earthquake – Collapse

Act 4: Restoration of Balance – Moving into Skén:nen

Removing the Snakes, Entanglement, Seeding the Future, Straightening the Tree of Peace.

SKéN:NEN is the third performance within Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s triptych production series: Re-Quickening, Blood Tides, and SKéN:NEN. Conceptually, the triptych centres on Indigenous female resurgence, artistic exchange, and investigation of Indigenous creative process.

Re-Quickening (2016) focused on “reasons and results” of trauma on Indigenous womyn; Blood Tides explored embodied actions for “dealing and healing” from trauma through restoration of rites of passage, re-establishing sacred alignments from cosmos to womb; and SKéN:NEN explores relationship building, dismantling of patriarchy, and restoration of balance in self, family, and community.

Photo credit: Vladimir Kanic, Young People's Theatre, 2023

Production credits

Theatrical premiere presenter

TO Live Producer

Kaha:wi Dance Theatre

Director/concept designer/ choreographer/dance artist

Santee Smith

Dance artists

Katie Couchie, Montana Summers, Sophie Dow

Costume/scenic designer

Santee Smith

Lighting designer

Michel Charbonneau

Composer/arrangement

Jesse Zubot, “Steady” originally commissioned for Joe Ink’s DANCE:CRAFT

Additional composition

Hunter Sky, “The Escape;” Adrian Dion Harjo, “Tree Pulse”, “Tsikónhsase’s Song”

Singer/songwriters

Jennifer Kreisberg, “Three Sisters;” Semiah Smith, “Tsikónhsase’s Song” Singers Pura Fe, “Lodge”, “Back to Earth”

Singer

Pura Fe, “Lodge”, “Back to Earth”

Voice over/additional vocals

Santee Smith, “Lodge”

Projection design – director

Santee Smith

Projection design –cinematographer, editor

Shane Powless

Projection design – animation

Emma Lopez, Pedro Narvaez (AVA Animation & Visual Arts)

Pottery

Steve T Smith

Additional costumes

Adriana Fulop, Bruno Henry

Dramaturge

Monique Mojica

Production stage manager

Senjuti Sarker

Technical director/lightning sticks

James Kendal

Video performers

Semiah Smith, Monique Mojica, Santee Smith, Shaina Momeni, Marie-Elena

LeBlanc Bellissimo, Naomi Tyson, Larissa

Christoff, Sanora Souphommanychanh, Ayla Vandenberg, Zada Britton

Site builders

Santee Smith, Katie Couchie, Montana

Summers, Sophie Dow, Shane Powless Development advisors

Louise Wakerakats:se Herne, Thohahoken

Michael Doxtater, Darren Bonaparte, Kahente Horn-Miller, Leigh and Steve T. Smith

Kanyen'kéha translator/advisor

Tehahenteh Miller

Final tuning creative support from faculty

Artistic director of dance - Alejandro Ronceria (Director), Ana Sánchez-Colberg (Dramaturgy), Edgardo Moreno (Music)

Creation/production partners

• Developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund

• Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity –Final Tuning Residency 2024

• Young People’s Theatre – Leaps & Bounds / Technical Residency 2022/2023

• Site-specific premiere: FirstON Performing Arts Centre, St. Catherines, Celebration of Nations

• Banff Playwright’s Colony; Banff

Centre Arts & Creativity - Indigenous Arts Residency 2020

Company sponsors

Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Centre, Toronto Arts Council

Presenter and technical residency

The creation of SKéN:NEN is generously supported by

SKéN:NEN creation is supported by the Banff Centre for the Arts & Creativity - Final Tuning Residency 2024

SKéN:NEN creation is generously supported by

NIA:WEN / Thank you

Kaha:wi Dance Theatre is grateful for the support of our family, friends, and colleagues. Nia:wen to all who supported the creation and development over the years and to SKéN:NEN collaborators who skillfully crafted this epic visual moving narrative. Special thanks to: Josephine Ridge and the TO Live team; Allen MacInnis, Herbie Barnes, and the Young Peoples Theatre team; Chris Dearlove, Sarah Conn, and the National Creation Fund team; Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity – Indigenous arts and dance programs; Alejandro Ronceria; Monique Mojica; and Sarah Palmieri, Annie Wilson, and the FirstON Performing Arts team. Nia:wen for the FB auction donors: Haudenosaunee Lacrosse/Kevin Sandy, Brenda Wivell, Onkwehonwe Games/Dal Squire, Nova Dance/Nova Bhattacharya, June & Eleanor Chithalen, Metronom Arts/ Marcia Pereira, Plastik Wrap/Adriana Fulop, Elaine Redding, Lisa M. VanEvery, Leigh Smith, and Ava Hill. Nia:wen to Madison Robinson from Dance Umbrella of Ontario for FB auction support. We offer gratitude to all of the Six Nations community members who offered advice, knowledge, and language translations such as Tehahenteh Miller. Kaha:wi Dance Theatre offers gratitude to Leigh and Steve Smith for use of the Talking Earth family site and for providing Santee with Rotinonhsyón:ni knowledge, truth, and history that informs her work and SKéN:NEN.

SKéN:NEN

collaborators

Santee Smith / Tekaronhiáhkhwa Director/ concept designer/ choreographer/ dance artist

Santee is a multidisciplinary artist from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, Turtle Clan, Six Nations of the Grand River. Transformation, energetic exchange, and fostering mind-heart connections through performance and design is her lifelong work. Santee trained at Canada’s National Ballet School; holds physical education and psychology degrees from McMaster University and a M.A. in dance from York University. After premiering her first production Kaha:wi, a family creation story, in 2004, one year later she founded Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, which has grown into an internationally renowned company. Santee’s work speaks about identity, teachings, and way of life within Onkwehonwe:neha; creativity; and Indigenous artistic process. She is a sought-after teacher and speaker on the performing arts, Indigenous performance, and culture.

Katie Couchie

Projection/live dance artist

Katie is an Anishinaabekwe Oji-Cree dance artist from Nipissing First Nation now based in Tkaronto. Katie has worked with companies and choreographers including Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Human Body Expressions, Alejandro Ronceria, Christine Friday, Peggy Baker, and Jera Wolfe. She has performed at events including the FODAR Dance Festival (2023), Governor General’s Performance Awards (2023), APTN’s Indigenous Day Live (2022), film projects including The Nature of Things (2021), CBC Gem’s New Monuments (2021), and the Toronto Fringe Festival (2021). Most recently, Katie received a Dora nomination for outstanding performance by an ensemble for the production of Homelands, created by Santee Smith for Kaha:wi Dance Theatre. Katie is excited to continue working with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre on SKéN:NEN.

Montana Summers

Projection/live dance artist

Sophie Dow

Projection/live dance artist

Michel Charbonneau

Lighting designer

Montana is from Oneida Nation of the Thames. He is an emerging choreographic artist who has begun development on his first performance project in 2022 at the Banff Centre named Conditions to Strike, which he showcased in the Jenny Belzberg Theatre. Montana has been working in theatre professionally since 2015; noteworthy works Montana has performed in are The Honouring (2015-2017), The Mush Hole (2016-2023), and most recently SKéN:NEN (2021-2023). Montana has collaborated with different performance collectives over the years, like Dusk Dances (Kan^stote, 2021), Unsettled Score (Canoe, 2023), as well as Blue Bird Theatre Collective and Sweet Labour Art Collective. Additionally, Montana has acted on stage in plays such as Backyard Treater’s The Other Side of the River (2019) and The Grand Theatre’s Love Song for the Thunderbirds (2021).

Sophie is a Treaty 1-born multidisciplinary creative inspired by dance, music, film, collaboration, and Michif/ Assiniboine and French/Ukrainian roots. An avid adventurer, Sophie exudes passions for busking, yoga, and travelling on top of holding a degree in dance performance and choreography from York University. Sophie presently fulfills roles as artistic associate of O. Dela Arts, The Chimera Project, and V’ni Dansi/Louis Riel Métis Dancers; residency coordinator at Dance West Network; musician with The Honeycomb Flyers; a licensed practitioner of traditional Thai massage; a trained facilitator and student of BreathWave; a freelance dancer/choreographer/sound designer; and a puddle-jumping trickster.

Michel has designed over 100 productions and been nominated for eight Dora Mavor Moore Awards (Toronto), one Sterling Award (Edmonton), and one Leon Rabin Award (Dallas). His work has been seen or heard in France, Haiti, Brazil, and throughout North America at the Teatro Peon Contreras, the Kennedy Center, the Lajolla Playhouse, Yale Repertory Theater, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, the Cultch, Alberta Theatre Projects, Canstage, Native Earth Performing Arts, Tarragon Theatre, Factory Theatre, Theatre Passe-Muraille, GCTC, National Arts Centre,

Jesse Zubot Composer

Adrian Dion Harjo Composer, mix/ master

Centaur Theatre, Roy Thompson Hall, Koerner Hall, the Stratford Festival, and many points in between. Michel also has an extensive teaching background and has worked at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre and at York, Laurentian, and Bishop’s universities.

Jesse Zubot is a musician, producer, and composer whose praxis spans multiple genres. A four-time Juno Awardwinning musician, Zubot has produced albums including Tanya Tagaq’s Polaris Music Prize-winning album, Animism. He is currently finishing up an album with Tuscaroran/Taino singer Pura Fé.

Zubot has an extensive history touring and recording with artists including Steve Reich, Dan Mangan, Darius Jones, Stars, Hawksley Workman, Destroyer, and many others. Recently, Zubot has delved heavily into the world of composition and scored films such as Indian Horse, Two Lovers and a Bear, and Bones of Crows, for which he won a Leo and Canadian Screen Music Award. Zubot has been making music for dance for decades.

Adrian a.k.a. “A. Dion” Harjo is a multi-award-winning “Jack of all trades” when it comes to the performing arts. He started singing powwow style when he was seven, fancy dancing at 10, and hoop dancing at 12, all of which have taken him around the world many times to share his culture.

Adrian has even dabbled in the movie industry and made appearances on films such as Miss Missouri and Casino Jack, and the TV series NDNs on the Airwaves. His production company OvenBakedBeatz LLC produces music for film, TV, radio, and live theatre.

Still hitting the powwow trail, Adrian stands evenly in both worlds of traditional culture and modern music, with credits including a Native American Music Award, Canadian Aboriginal Music Award, Grammy, and RIAA gold certification. He has created compositions for Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s TransMigration, The Honouring, and NeoIndigenA, among others.

Shane is Kahnyen’kehàka from Ohswé:ken/Six Nations of the Grand River. He works as a videographer/ photographer/editor/graphic designer/lighting technician/audio technician. Over the years, Shane has travelled extensively with various dance and theatre productions, as well as musical groups providing the above services. His focus has been working within his Six Nations community to support Indigenous artists and cultural projects. He has collaborated with Woodland Cultural Centre, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Thru the Red Door, Six Nations Polytechnic Institute, Six Nations Council, Derek Miller Band, Logan Staats, Rochester Knighthawks, Lacey Hill, and more.

Emma is the creative director and partner behind AVA Animation & Visual Arts and specializes in projection design. Originally from Mexico, she started with a bachelor's degree in information design. She graduated with honours from both the visual effects for cinema and television and the interactive media design postgraduate programs at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto. She is a member of the first cohort of the #FifthWave Initiative by the Canadian Film Centre for women-led businesses.

With more than 14 years of professional experience, she has worked creating graphics and animation for renowned animation and post-production studios in Canada and abroad, among them E! Entertainment, Loop Media Inc., Enter the Picture, Tango Media Group, and ETC Canada.

Together with her partner Pedro Narvaez, Navajo started AVA Animation and Visual Arts in 2010, pioneering the field of architectural projection mapping for live events. Ever since they have created awardwinning works and installations for Mexico, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, United States, U.A.E., Lebanon, Armenia, Romania, Chile, Russia, and Canada.

Shane Powless Projection design/editor, cinematographer

Emma López Hechem Animation

Pedro Narvaez Castellanos

Animation

Pedro is the technical director and partner behind AVA Animation & Visual Arts. His background is information design with a postgraduate certificate in visual effects at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto. He has over 14 years of experience working in animation and post-production, collaborating with studios in Canada and abroad, among them Televisa, Organika, Loop Media Inc., and Zink Inc.

Together with his partner Emma Lopez, he started AVA Animation and Visual Arts in 2010, pioneering the field of architectural projection mapping for live events. Ever since they have created award-winning works and installations for Mexico, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, United States, U.A.E., Lebanon, Armenia, Romania, Chile, Russia, and Canada.

Monique Mojica (Guna and Rappahannock Nations)

Actor/playwright/ dramaturg

Monique’s artistic practice mines stories embedded in the body in connection to land and place. She has created land-based, embodied dramaturgies and taught Indigenous theatre in theory, process, and practice throughout Canada, the U.S., Latin America, and Europe. Most recently, she has played the role of Wanda in My Sister’s Rage at Tarragon Theatre and Aunt Shady in The Unnatural and Accidental Women at the NAC. She also performed in Izzie M.: The Alchemy of Enfreakment, and wrote the show with a diverse creative team.

Monique has collaborated with Santee Smith as the dramaturg for Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s tryptic, ReQuickening/Blood Tides/SKéN:NEN and for Teneil Whiskeyjack’s Ayita for Edmonton’s SkirtsAfire Festival. She is a member of the newly formed Indigenous dramaturgy circle at Tarragon Theatre, and she was the inaugural Wurlitzer.

Senjuti Sarker Production

stage manager

Senjuti (she/her) is a Bangali-Canadian, Tkaronto-based multidisciplinary artist, designer, manager, and librarian. When she’s not working to bring productions and creative visions to fruition, she’s living her socialist fantasy in the very fantastic simulation game, The Sims 4. Some of her previous involvements include working with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Other HeArts, The AMY Project, The RISER Project, and INDUSTRY and Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals.

James Kendal

Technical consultant

James Kendal is a technician, carpenter, and artist based in Toronto. His career in performance began as a youngster with training in music and many years as a classical ballet dancer. James’ career has shifted to stage technical and carpentry work following his years doing fine carpentry and home building.

James has worked on many acclaimed productions, including those that have toured internationally. Following his fast-paced years touring the world, James has taken on the role of senior performance technician at McMaster University, where he currently spends most of his days. James is always delighted to work with Santee Smith and is so excited for this run of SKéN:NEN.

Photo credit: Vladimir Kanic, Young People’s Theatre, 2023

About Kaha:wi Dance Theatre

Kaha:wi Dance Theatre (KDT) is a Rotinonhsyón:ni-led company renowned for exquisitely produced and viscerally impactful performances, embodying stories that cultivate space for transformation, dialogue, and connection to Indigenous knowledge and experience. Founded in 2005 by multidisciplinary artist Santee Smith, Kaha:wi means “to carry” in Kanyen'kéha. The company carries forward new Indigenous performance and embodied and multidisciplinary storytelling with a focus on Indigenous methodology and mindset through the vision of artistic director Santee Smith. She is from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, Turtle Clan and her work speaks about identity, Indigenous narratives, creative process, and representation. Conceiving and directing many productions, Smith spearheads international Indigenous collaborative projects. Her recent work includes Gardiner Museum’s Indigenous public art for Talking Earth, 2022-23, and Homelands, presented by Harbourfront Centre. KDT tours Smith’s work The Mush Hole, which is based on the truths of Canada’s first Indian residential school, The Mohawk Institute. The company hosts Smith’s land-based “Inviting the Land to Shape Us” series for Rotinonhsyón:ni creative research at Talking Earth Studio & Gardens (Six Nations) and presented by others around the world. KDT is a 100% Indigenous-led company with a board of directors: Janis Monture, Jessica Powless, Danbi Cho, Naomi Johnson, Stephanie Burham, Randy Schmucker, and Dr. Bernice Downey. KDT receives organizational support from the Dance Umbrella of Ontario.

Photo credit: David Hou, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s Homelands

Dream. Connect. Create.

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The National Creation Fund, at Canada’s National Arts Centre, invests in risk, innovation, and great ideas. By supporting productions like SKéN:NEN, the Fund revels in the dynamism of Canadian creators.

The National Creation Fund is fuelled by National Arts Centre Foundation donors who believe in investing in Canadian creators.

Backstage with... Santee Smith

Backstage with… is TO Live’s glimpse behind the scenes and inside the minds of the artists and creators of the shows currently on stage.

Santee Smith is a multidisciplinary artist from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, Turtle Clan, Six Nations of the Grand River. A sought-after teacher and speaker on the performing arts and Indigenous performance and culture, Smith’s work focuses on identity and Indigenous narratives. Her body of work includes 14 productions and many short works that have toured internationally. In 2005, she founded Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, a non-profit that creates space for Indigenous audiences to witness themselves.

In this Backstage With... Smith shares how creativity runs in her family, what she’s making space for, and her favourite shop on Queen St. West.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in many things and especially when mind and heart connections are activated, fleeting moments that stir the soul—people, place/space, story, nature, music, and design.

What led you to become an artist?

I grew up in an artistic family, so I was surrounded by creative people who researched, discussed concepts, and were always making, crafting, and devising. My gift is embodied performance and from an early age my go-to form of expression was dance.

What’s the importance of the performing arts in your life?

Performance is how I navigate the world. It offers me a way to tap into the creative force, to be a storyteller and transformer of space, to be responsive, a conduit for energetic exchange, a sharer of truth and beauty; performance makes me feel alive.

Photo credit: Make Emarthle

What are you making space for in your life?

I am making space for cultivating: earth, organic gardening, clay works, and Indigenous models of sustainability in action.

What can’t you live without?

I can’t live without my family, including my fur babies, or without having a creative outlet.

What’s your pre-show ritual?

Physical warmups and smudging, and affirmations of being grateful for my gifts, body, ancestors, and for the opportunity to perform and share again at this moment in time.

What’s your favourite thing to do in Toronto?

More than one favourite for sure—fabric and ribbon shopping on Queen St. West, summer café dining, and strolling the streets while people watching.

TO Live donor listing

We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of our Friends of TO Live community through donations to TO Live and the TO Live Foundation.

1R32 Foundation

2608701 Ontario Inc.

Jocelyne Achat & Kenneth Maclean

Patricia Alps

Shirley Arnold

Arts Capital

John & Claudine Bailey

Bashirat Balogun

Barbara Basta

Eva Bednar

Sandra Bellisario

Bruce Bennett

Shira Bernholtz

Eleanor Bothwell

Elspeth Bowler

Stephanie Canarte

Doris Chan

Dr. Donette Chin-Loy Chang

Wendy Chong

Lesley Clark

Diana Cockburn

Judith C. Cole

Bob Collins

Leona Cotoia

Cheryl Cottle

Jacqueline Cushnie

Ashley D'Andrea

Lori DeGraw

Suzanne Denis

Anne Dumais

Maame Adjoa Duncan

Karen Ebanks

Penelope Evans

Alicia Excell

Leah Faieta

Shirley Farr

Mary Ann Farrell

Matt Farrell

Shiming Fei

Alan Feller

David Fiske

Nina Flowers

Darrell Flynn

Clarence Ford

Robert & Julia Foster

Linda Galen

Janet Gates

Derek Genova

Charles Gibbs

Deborah Gourgy

Peter Grav

Wayne Hawes

Elaine Iannuzziello

IATSE Local 58 Charitable Fund

Lev Ioussoufovitch

Rob Italiano

Janice Johnson

Sherry Kaufman

Christine Kelsey

Andrew Kempa

Megan Kotze & Michael Longfield

Laura Lee Kozody

Young Wook Kwon

Maggie Lam

Alan Levine

Kathryn Liedeman

Karen Liedeman

Jodi Lindsay

Edith Lo

Jennifer MacLachlan

Hailee Mah

Ruth & Harold Margles

Imaginus Canada Mark

Laurie Markus

Giacomina Mastromarco

Steve McAdam

Randy McCall

David McCracken

Cayla McCullough

Linda McGuire

William Milne

Leslie Milthorpe

Susan Moellers

Peter Neuschild

Sorina Oprea

Jennifer Parkin

Frances Patterson

Brenda Polzler

John Quirke

Grant Ramsay

Brandon Rattan

Josephine Ridge

Christian Roderos

Phillip Roh

Jeffrey Rohrer

Carol Rowntree

Carole Sisto

Stephanie Slobodnik

David Smith

Debbie Smith

Natalia Sorokov

Karyn in Toronto

Karyn Spiesman

Richard Spooner

St. Lawrence Market BIA

Evelyn Steinberg

Katie Sultan

Josie Tait

Erinn Todd

Peter Tsatsanis

Alicja Turner

Asha Varadharajan

Isabel Vicente Menanno

Vida Peene Fund

Taylor Vince

Peeranut Visetsuth

Vital Link Ice Cream

Clyde Wagner & Steven Tetz

Patricia Wheelan

Denise Wise

Edwin Zukowski

Anonymous (5)

Donor recognition list as of April 11, 2023.

TO Live staff and board

Board of directors

Lori DeGraw

Chair

Councillor Lily Cheng

Vice Chair

Councillor Paula Fletcher

Councillor Chris Moise

Robyn Citizen

Brian Astl

Myriam Gafarou

Mustafa Humayun

Owais Lightwala

Gave Lindo

Wasifa Noshin

Sun Young Yoon

Executive management

Clyde Wagner

President & CEO

Isabel Vicente Menanno

Director of the Office of the CEO & Board Relations

Development

Sandra Bellisario

Vice President of Philanthropy & Sponsorship

Madeleine Skoggard

Director of Philanthropy & Sponsorship

Nikita Patel

Halyna Polischuk

Senior Manager, Leadership Giving

Sahar Alamgir

Assistant Manager, Philanthropy & Sponsorship

Finance and administration

William Milne

Vice President of Finance & Administration

Hayde Boccia

Director of Finance

Michael Johnson

Controller

Sabrina Li

Senior Financial Manager

Paul Gagnon

Dorian Barton

Client Settlement Services Manager

Gladys Torres

Payroll Manager

Nelum Dissanayake

Payroll Specialist

Fiona Liu

Accounting Assistant, Treasury

Analyst

Fiona Wan

Accounting Assistant, Financial

Analyst

Nooshin Ashraf-Zadeh

Accounting Assistant

Ramsha Zulfiqar

Accounting Assistant, Settlements

Coordinator

Charles Mayne

Office Clerk

Information technology

David McCracken

Director of Information Technology

Chahat Khandhar

Systems Administrator

Michael Cadiz

IT Support Technician

Scott Spence

IT Coordinator

Human resources

Michelle Carter

Vice President of Human Resources & Organizational Culture

Mohamed Othman

Director of Human Resources

Dawn Maracle

Director of Indigenous Affair & Engagement

Melissa Creighton

HR Generalist

Marketing and communications

Jeff Rohrer

Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Stephanie Canarte

Director of Marketing

Grant Ramsay

Media Relations Officer

Stephen Crooks

Senior Digital Marketing Manager

Vanessa Grant

Senior Content Marketing Manager

Lauren Finateri

Marketing Manager, Promotions & Partnerships

Emma Forhan

Creative Content Producer

Shaun Lee

Graphic Designer

Jaya Arora

Social Media & Web Content

Coordinator

Joshua DeFreitas

Marketing Specialist

Box office

Tom Kerr

Director of Ticketing Services

Fran Holywell

Holly Merkur-Dance

Box Office Manager

Sandie Chui

Manager of Ticketing Services

Annaijah Dacres

Alexander Jackson

Jennifer Norman

Thomas Quinlan

Box Office Assistant Manager

Brittney Channer

Clayton Batson

Michelle Cruz

Zen Peterson

Box Office Duty Manager

Operations

Matthew Farrell

Vice President of Operations

Edward Delavari

Director of Capital Projects

Luke Belfontaine

Senior Project Manager

BahramAghakhan

Nerin Carvalho

Zane Elliott

Bruce Bennett

Project Manager

Patron and Event Services

Sean Tasson

Director of patron and event services

Andrew Fong

Executive Chef

Juliana Fay

Senior Manager, Food and Beverage Services

Jamie Johnson

Assistant Manager, Food & Beverage Services

Agnessa Voloshina

Saba Resaei

Tera Harnish-Christie

Duty Manager, Kitchen

Natalie Ireland

Senior Manager, Events

Yuki Daloste

Events Manager

Fiona Alexander

Assistant Event Services Manager

Lina Welch

Lynn Frenette

Tara Hitchman

Tracey Fyfe

Patron Services Manager

Bruna Pisani

Corrine Engelbrecht

Hugo Ares-Gonzalez

Kizzie St Clair

Maria Waslenko

Peter Harabaras

Patron Services Duty Manager

Jai Bittles

Sous Chef

Facilities

Abiodun Ojekunle

Director of Facilities

Jarryd Fish

Facilities Manager

Evan Ramdin

Chief Building Operator

Robert MacLean

Roderick Padasdao

Building Operator

Ehsan Rahman

Ryan Nerona

Marciano Ramos

Junior Building Operator

Eduardo Costales

Matthew Pannel

Handyperson

Omar Nurse

Stage Door Security Supervisor

Colin Dyble

Henry Fernandes

Margreta Kristiansen

Mohammed Shaikh

Mohuddin Memon

Pema Lakshey

Reza Moradi

Sangay Lhamo

Tushar Somani

Stage Door Security

Mohamed Zuhair

Maintenance Supervisor

Ahmed Akinpelu

Catherine Patrick

Himal KC

Mizrak Mohamed

Roger Alves

Robert Bischoff

Rosalina Silva

Rosa Victoria

Vivian Hije

Maintenance

John Vickery

Housekeeping Supervisor

Adam Sikora

Alicia Surujbally

Andre O'Hare

Elliott Lewis

Ian Romero

Karrie Smith

Lauren Smith

Mabel Liwag

Rhowen Jane Bunda

Housekeeping

Programming

Max Rubino

Director of Programming

Sierra da Silva-Canadien

Indigenous Cultural Curator

Ariana Shaw

Sascha Cole

Senior Producer

Kafi Pierre

Shannon Murtagh

Producer

John Kiggins

Programming Manager

Nathan Sartore

Programming & Accessibility

Coordinator

Courtney Voyce

Bookings Manager

Martina Strautins

Alex Whitehead

Bookings Coordinator

Scott North

Director Corporate & Private Events

Michaela Aguirre

Social Media Specialist

Communities and outreach

Tasneem Vahanvaty

Director of Communities & Outreach

Dani De Angelis

Communities & Outreach

Coordinator

Production

Kristopher Dell

Director of Production

Anthony (TJ) Shamata

Zoe Carpenter

Senior Production Manager

Peter Suchostawski

Senior Manager, Theatre Systems &

Special Projects

Armand Baksh-Zarate

Chris Carlton

Kristopher Weber

Susanne Lankin

Production Manager

Emma Pressello

Production Coordinator

Meridian Hall stage crew

IATSE Local 58

Richard Karwat

Head Electrician

Steve McLean

Head Carpenter

Marcus Sirman

Head of Properties

David Baer

Assistant Carpenter

Zsolt Kota

Assistant Sound Operator

Jason Urbanowicz

Assistant Electrician

Michael Farkas

Assistant Electrician – AV

St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts

stage crew

IATSE Local 58

Wes Allen

Property Master, Bluma Appel

Theatre

Jay Blencowe

Head Carpenter, Bluma Appel

Theatre

Keijo Makela

Head Sound Technician, Bluma Appel Theatre

Benn Hough

Head Technician, Jane Mallet

IATSE Local 822

Susan Batchelor

Wardrobe Head, Bluma Appel Theatre

Meridian Arts Centre stage crew

IATSE Local 58

Aaron Dell

Head Technician, George Weston

Recital Hall

Patrick Hales

Assistant Head Technician, George Weston Recital Hall

Grant Primea

Head Technician, Greenwin Theatre

Duncan Morga

Head Technician, Studio Theatre

Ian Parker

Head Technician Lyric Theatre

St. Lawrence Centre

Redevelopment

Leslie Lester

Vice President of STLC

Redevelopment

Carolyn Tso

Senior Manager, Capital Fundraising

The TO Live Foundation is committed to creating a future where art engages and inspires all Torontonians. A future where all the creative voices of our diverse communities are heard and celebrated. A future where artists have the support they need to experiment and grow.

Visit tolivefoundation.com to learn more about how our Foundation is committed to building a better city through the arts.