PUBLIC ENERGY is an animator of contemporary dance, theatre, performance and interdisciplinary work. Formerly known as Peterborough New Dance, since 1994 we have presented a mainstage series of dance companies and independent choreographers drawn from across Canada, commissioned new work in concert with Welcome other Canadian presenters on the CanDance Network, and supported the development of the local dance, theatre and performance community by presenting area artists and arranging specialized classes and workshops. Public Energy is incorporated in Ontario as Peterborough New Dance and Performance, and is a registered charity. Tax deductible donations can be made to PUBLIC ENERGY or go on line at www.canadahelps.org. Welcome to O’ Kaadenigan Wiingashk (OKW) and Public Energy’s (PE) co-production of . You will notice many traces of past BOARD OF DIRECTORS Charmaine Eddy (Chair), Bill James (Secretary), Barbara Chisholm, Rez Sisters productions in this incarnation, from the most recent version Lisa Dixon, Bill Kimball, Martha Whatley mounted in Thunder Bay last winter, all the way back to the fi rst one staged in that featured Gloria May Eshkibok as Emily Dictionary. This premiere PUBLIC ENERGY SUPPORTERS Geo-Thermal ($1000+) Peterborough production was initiated by OKW member Patti Shaughnessy, Martha & Richard Whatley who has played Marie-Adele Starblanket in two productions of the play in the Hydrogen ($500+) past three years. She went to Public Energy with the idea of jointly mounting a Barbara Chisholm & Tom Miller, Charmaine Eddy, production that would bring some of the wonderful actors she’d worked with Sarah Gencey & Rob Wilkes, Old Men Dancing, Trent Photographics Wind ($100+) around the country together with some of Peterborough’s most talented the- Karen August, Susan Bunting, Nadine Changfoot, Julia and Philip Cockshutt, Margaret Cockshutt, atre artists. With this in mind director Susan Spicer and PE artistic producer David de Launay & Patricia Quinn, Su Ditta, Curtis Driedger & Barbara Ratz, Suzanne Galloway, Bill Kimball traveled to Thunder Bay last November to see Patti in the Magnus Jo Hayward Haines, Julia Harrison & John Wadland, Jim Henninger, Theatre production of Rez Sisters. There they saw the charming set created by Claire Hogenkamp, Veronica Hollinger, Bill James, John Rubie, Jeanette Sanderson, Louise Schaap, Alan & Linda Slavin, Ted Roberts that Magnus had commissioned, and it was decided that it should Powerhouse Digital Video, Carol Williams, Reem Yassawi, Yates Carpentry be purchased - along with most of the props - for the production being planned Solar ($25+) in Peterborough. We hope you now enjoy it, and this special play, as much as Mary Beth Aspinall, Ben & Jean Brien, Yvonne Booth, Liliana & Mitchel Brownstein, Paul Clifford, Lisa Dixon, Patricia Dixon, Marion Habermehl, Jenny & Barry Hutchinson, we did the fi rst time. Patricia Johnston, Barbara Kinsey, Sharon Lawes, Marlis Lindsay, Elizabeth Mann, Jean Nind,Deb Reynolds, Ravi-Inder Soligo, K. Origil & B. Scott, Jyoti Sapra Shannon, Dagobert Wyslouzil

STAFF Artistic Producer Bill Kimball General Manager Laurel Paluck Graphic Design Support Kerry Day Box Offi ce Max Price Bookkeeping Susan Newman Video Services Powerhouse Digital Video Susan & Patti in Thunder Bay, November 2008 Email News: We’ll send you details of our upcoming events by email. Contact us at [email protected]

This production of the Rez Sisters is dedicated to the memory www.publicenergy.ca of fi lmmaker, actor & Rez Sister Ellen Monague (1956-2009) A Peterborough connection to the very Cast fi rst Rez Sisters production: Larry E. Lewis (Listed in order of appearance)

It is not widely known that the man who Pamela Matthews Pelajia Patchnose (sister of Philomena) directed the very fi rst production of The Rez Gloria May Eshkibok Philomena Moosetail Sisters spent time developing his theatre Cherish Violet Blood Annie Cook (sister of Marie-Adele skills in Peterborough. That fi rst production and half sister of Pelajia and Philomena) in 1986 was directed by Larry E. Lewis, who James Whetung Nanabush as the Seagull, graduated from Trent University in 1977. Nighthawk, and the Bingo Master During his time in Peterborough Larry di- Patti Shaughnessy Marie-Adele Starblanket rected and acted in productions with both (half-sister of Pelajia and Philomena) Theatre Trent and the Peterborough Theatre Susan Newman Veronique St. Pierre (sister in law of Guild. Randy Read, now artistic director of all of the women except Zhaboonigan) Peterborough’s New Stages Theatre Co., was Reneltta Arluk Zhaboonigan Peterson at Trent in those years and identifi es Larry (adopted daughter of Veronique) as a great infl uence: “At Trent, as a director Nicole Joy-Fraser Emily Dictionary (sister of Annie, Marie-Adele he already was incredibly astute, had impec- and half-sister of Pelajia and Philomena) cable taste – and was a hugely disciplined taskmaster.” Creative Team His brief but infl uential career post-Trent is Director Susan Spicer outlined well on a plaque put up in his honour Set & Lighting Design Ted Roberts by the De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Company on Costume Design Erika A. Iserhoff Manitoulin Island, where he directed numer- Music Curtis Driedger ous plays and where he was buried after his Choreography Bill James death at age 41 in 1995: “Deciding to pursue Stage Manager Patricia Levert-Thorne a career as a theatre director, he completed Production Manager Esther Vincent a Masters Degree at York University. With Assistant Stage Manager great energy and conviction, he played a & Props Coordinator Nicole Gibeault major role in bringing plays Technician Don White The Rez Sisters and Dry Lips Oughta Move Special FX Make-up Irene Rudigier to Kapuskasing to great heights, and giving Carpenters Greg Carveth, Blair Watson Native theatre a strong presence in Canadian Wardrobe Nuala Paluck Theatre. Many artists today will acknowledge Publicist Miriam Stucky Larry as being a most signifi cant mentor in Runners Sarah DeCarlo, Em Glasspool, their lives, including Drew Hayden Taylor, Hartley Stevenson Herbie Barnes, and Joe Osawabine…Larry E. The Rez Sisters premiere production was produced by Lewis lives on in our hearts, in our characters, Native Earth Performing Arts Inc. and Act IV. in our performances, and in our sacred space - the actor’s studio. Miigwetch Larry.” There will be a fi fteen minute intermission A Note on Nanabush The dream world of North American Indian mythology is inhabited by the most fantastic creatures, beings, and events. Foremost among these beings is the “Trickster,” as pivotal and important a fi gure in the Native world as Christ is in the realm of Christian mythology. “Weesageechak” in Cree, “Nanabush” in Ojibway, “Raven” in others, “Coyote” in still others, this Trickster goes by many names and many guises. In fact, he can assume any guise he chooses. Essentially a comic, clownish sort of character, he teaches us about the nature and the meaning of existence on the planet Earth; he straddles the consciousness of man and that of God, the Great Spirit. Some say that “Nanabush” left this continent when the whitemen came. We believe he is still here among us - albeit a little worse for wear and tear - having assumed many other guises. Without him - and without the spiritual health of this fi gure - the core of Indian culture would be gone forever. ~ Tomson Highway

Tomson Highway Playwright Tomson Highway is the son of legendry caribou hunter and world championship dogsled racer, Joe Highway. Born in a tent pitched in a snow bank – in December!—in northwestern Manitoba where it meets Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Saskatchewan. He is a novelist, playwright, and musician. Of the many works he has written to date, his best known are the plays, The Rez Sisters, Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing, Rose, Ernestine Shuswap Gets Her Trout, and the best-selling novel Kiss of the Fur Queen. He has, as well, several children’s books to his credit, all written bilingually in Cree (his mother tongue) and English. He divides his year between a cottage in (near Sudbury) and an apartment in the south of France. He is currently hard at work on his second novel.

Selected Rewards and Recognitions Dora Mavor Moore Awards Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award Governor General’s Literacy Award for Drama National Aboriginal Achievement Award Order of Canada Toronto Arts Award Wang Harbourfront International Festival of Authors Award Performers Gloria May Eshkibok Philomena Moosetail Reneltta Arluk Gloria, is from Manitoulin Island, an Zhaboonigan Odawa, non-treaty, unceded band Reneltta is a BFA-Acting graduate from the member of Wikwemikong of the 3 Fires University of Alberta and an alumnus of Confederacy, and of the Crane Clan of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre. Recent the Wakegijig Family. Gloria has enjoyed acting credits include: Aklavik Journal - many performances on mainstages across Stuck in a Snowbank Theatre in Yellowknife, Europe and Canada and in First Nations Toronto Fringe Festival in Artifacts -Frontal communities. She has been active in Lobe Theatre, touring Northern Ontario in Televison, Radio and Film since 1986, with: Square Eyes -Magnus Theatre, The Rez Older Than America, Dream Keepers, Dance Sisters -Magnus Theatre, touring northern Me Outside. TV: Promise The Moon, Win Greece in Utopian Floes -Caravan Stage Again, Dangerous Offender, He Who Looks Tall Ship Theatre, The Rez Sisters -Theatre Upside Down. Theatre: The Rez Sisters, Northwest and Copper Thunderbird - Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing, Aria National Arts Centre. This is her third reprisal and A Ridiculous Spectacle - all by Tomson of Zhaboonigan Peterson and dedicates her Highway, The Art Show, Gegwa and The performance to Ellen Monague. Hope you Manitoulin Incident by Alanis King; Fireweed enjoy and Mahsi! by ; Coyote City by Daniel D. Moses; Bootlegger Blues by Drew Hayden Cherish Violet Blood Taylor; The Unnatural and Accidental Women Annie Cook by Marie Clements; Medusa Rising by Cherish Violet Blood is a renaissance woman Audrey Butler; Hairy Ape by Eugene O’Neil, from the Blood reserve in southern Alberta. and Crow by Louis Nowia. Gloria would like Her career in performance started at a young to say: “Peterborough, nice to meet you” and age doing stand-up comedy, and plays “Thanks Patti for treating me like a Queen.” written by her mother. Cherish is a graduate She is proud of this production The Rez of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre full time Sisters 2009 at the Market Hall Theatre “Well program in Toronto. She would like to thank done all!” & “Hey Dano, I Love You..and all the sisters for their kindness Katie McComber and Dorothy Wassegijig.” and support through out this process. She would also like to thank Lisa Marie Cher for Nicole Joy-Fraser her love and support. Favorite theatre credits Emily Dictionary include: Emily Dictionary in The Rez Sisters, Nicole was raised in Mississauga and is of Recollet in Gegwa, Annabelle in A Series of mixed Cree and European descent. Upon Savage Events “Mokaa’kit Iikakiimaat” graduating from the Randolph Academy, she went straight into the original North American company of MAMMA MIA! and after touring the U.S. booked a visit to London, England, where she met her husband. UK credits The Penelopiad. include Jerry Springer-The Opera -West Pam graduated from Ryerson Theatre School THANK YOU End and Disney’s Beauty And The Beast in 1989 and studied directing at the Lincoln -UK Tour. With over 20 years experience Center Theatre (New York City) and at the in musical theatre and in concert work as Royal National Theatre of Great Britain. Special Thanks to Many Thanks to our Billeters a singer, Nicole is now happily emerging In 2003, she received the Gold Medal for Magnus Theatre Wimpy & Marg Borland as an actress. Since returning to Toronto Outstanding Academic Achievement from Mind Over Matter (for the bingo machine) Leah Buck & Peg Towne a year ago, she has performed for Native Ryerson University’s Department of Film and Mel McCall Earth Performing Arts, Red Sky Performance went on to complete her Masters Degree in Ojibway translations provided by Martha & Bill Puckwiss Johnston and New Harlem Productions. Many thanks Film Production (York University) in 2006. J.L. Watson Rhonda Taylor to OKW, Public Energy, Marg and Wimpy Gloria May Eshkibok Borland, the production team and cast for Susan Newman Our Show Sponsors Kubo Restaurant & Lounge making this such a rewarding experience. Veronique St. Pierre Supporters of The Rez Sisters Production BE Catering During the past year Susan Newman has Casey Shaughnessy Catalina Pamela Matthews played the role of Sarah Bright in You Dr. Carol Williams Crane Aboriginal Services Pelajia Patchnose Don’t Know the Half of It, music directed Molly Blyth Whitepath Consulting Pamela Matthews (Cree), from the Sachigo for Hungry: A Musical Hansel & Gretel (for Peter Kulchyski Ontario Arts Council Lake First Nation, is a fi lmmaker, director, which she composed the music) and taught Peterborough Community Race- Canada Council for the Arts editor and actor with 20 + years experience musical theatre at the Ontario Music Centre. Relations Committee in the industry. Her award-winning fi lms, Other recent credits include Beautiful Lady, A Shot in the Dark (a documentary on the Tell Me -4th Line Theatre, The Enchanted death of Dudley George), and Only the Forest -Patria Music Theatre, Nine Days Devil Speaks Cree have played at fi lm Wonder, The Cure for Sexual Jealousy - festivals worldwide. Pam has been teaching The Cure Collective and Skirting the Edge O’Kaadenigan Wiingashk fi lmmaking to Native youth for the American -Mysterious Entity. In December she will Indian Film Institute (San Francisco) since be directing the Convivio Chorus and (OKW) is a multi-disciplinary arts collective formed in 2004 with a focus to boost the profi le of 2003 and currently teaches in Ryerson performing with the acoustic band Carried Aboriginal arts in the Kawartha region, to provide professional mentorship and to enrich and University’s Film Studies department. Her Away at the annual In From the Cold concert. guide our artistic community. Named by teacher, mentor, Anishnaabe language speaker Taaji many fi lm and television credits include She also sits on the board of Mysterious Cameron, O’Kaadenigan Wiingashk embodies the spirit of our collective vision through our Indian Summer: the Oka Crisis, One Dead Entity Theatre. name, which translates as “weaving sweetgrass in toward the heart of the braid.” Sweetgrass Indian, The Border, Renegadepress.com, The grows in abundance in this region and has been used for generations as medicine in our First Rez, Destiny Ridge, Street Legal and North Patti Shaughnessy Nation communities. OKW believes that expression through the arts is also great medicine. of 60, for which she was nominated for a Marie-Adele Starblanket Through many partnerships we are weaving together arts communities, community groups Gemini Award for her role of Suzie Muskrat. Patti Shaughnessy is a proud member of and organizations to celebrate excellence within Aboriginal arts practices. Our home of Peter- Pam has appeared in theatres across the Curve Lake F.N. and the Peterborough arts borough, sits on traditional territory of the Anishnaabeg and is originally named and known as country, including The Rez Sisters (this is community. She studied at the Centre for Nogojiwanong (place at the end of the rapids). For thousands of years this region was known her fourth production). In 2007, Pam worked Indigenous Theatre in Toronto and at the as a gathering spot where tribes, families and leaders would converge to exchange ideas and for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Banff Centre for the Arts in the Aboriginal knowledge. In keeping with this legacy, we strive to honour this tradition of our ancestors. Stratford-Upon-Avon, England where she dance program. Patti has toured across O’Kaadenigan Wiingashk members are: Warren Arcan, Taaji Cameron, Sarah DeCarlo, William appeared in Margaret Atwood’s new play Canada with Red Sky Performance in Drew Kingfi sher, Wanda Nanibush, Patti Shaughnessy, and James Whetung. Notes on the Set Hayden Taylor’s, Raven Stole the Sun Independent fi lm credits include: Shelley and made her debut in 2007 at Theatre Niro’s Flying Head and Sarah DeCarlo’s The set design for The Rez Sisters was NorthWest (Prince George, BC) in Tomson music video, Land of the Silver Birch. James infl uenced by the art of Marc Chagall, Tom Highway’s The Rez Sisters and at Magnus is a member of O’Kaadenigan Wiingashk Thomson, and the Canadian Woodland Art Theatre’s (Thunder Bay) Rez Sisters Collective, a multi-disciplinary Aboriginal arts movement. Woodland art came into being production in 2008. Patti has worked locally collective that conceived Peterborough’s following the launch of Norval Morrisseau’s with Indigenous Performance Initiatives at annual Ode’min Giizis Festival. career in Toronto in 1962 and the success Trent University, Mysterious Entity and 4th James is thrilled to be interpreting the role of Daphne Odjig, Jackson Beardy and Alex Line Theatre. of Nanabush in this production of Tomson Janvier’s show, Treaty Numbers 22, 187, Patti is a founding member of the OKW Highway’s The Rez Sisters. 1171 a decade later in Winnipeg. Morrisseau, Collective, a co-producer of this production a self-taught artist, developed his own and the annual Ode’min Giizis Festival. Creative Team techniques and artistic vocabulary which Long live the Market Hall! captured ancient legends and images that Curtis Driedger came to him in visions or dreams. Some James Pinesii Whetung Music of the paintings that infl uenced this design Nanabush Curtis Driedger is well into his 45th year as include Morrisseau’s Fruits of Life and Astral James is from the otter clan born on the a guitar player and is starting to wonder why World, Odjig’s Thunderbird Man, Goice north shore of Curve Lake First Nation. he’s not improving. Someone has suggested Kakegamic’s Eagle Spirit, and Roy Thomas’s James is a sugar bush hero and wild ricer. practicing, but this is a problem as he is too Preparing for Migration and Following into His artistic career spans over thirty years, busy teaching. Also he is too busy arranging Next Year, and Christian Morrisseau’s The with his fi rst theatre debut in 1977, in George for the Mandolin Society of Peterborough Shaman Wife Harriet. Kinney’s October Stranger, directed by and playing in various bands, too numerous Denis LeCroix through the Association of to remember. This is not to mention all the Native Development in the Performing and alter egos he has to maintain, and all the Silent Auction of Set Pieces Visual Arts headed by the late James Buller. other instruments he has to try. Too busy, Elements of tonight’s Rez Sisters set, de- Through the years, James has appeared that’s the problem, and spread too thin. signed by Ted Roberts, are up for grabs in a in several television series including Riel, Silent Auction. Aution sheets are in the lobby Mac and Jenny, and Sidestreet. In 1996 Nicole Gibeault - sign up at intermission or after the show. James published his fi rst children’s book Assistant Stage Manager, Props Coordinator Bids close at the end of intermission of the “Vision Seeker”. In 2002 James co-wrote a Nicole Gibeault is from Wasauksing First fi nal performance on Sat. October 17. play called Narrows with Trent University’s Nation and is a graduate of Trent University’s Are you bidding early in the run and would Cultural Studies Department head, Ian Indigenous Studies/Cultural Studies like to add to your bid at a later date? McLachlin. In 2004, James participated in program. She has worked behind the scenes At any time in the run you can make a bid or a Tomson Highway playwriting workshop in various capacities for Windmill Baby, add to your bid. which led to enrollment in the Centre for The Threshing Floor, Gegwah, and other Update your bid at any time during the run Indigenous Theatre’s summer program performances held at Nozhem: First Peoples by calling 745-1788 led by Muriel Miguel. In 2006, he co- Performance Space. She has participated or email [email protected] wrote and performed with Daystar Rosalie in writing and performance workshops we will tell you where the bidding is at on Jones’ Between Earth and Moon: Voices presented through OKW/Public Energy with your item and update it for you. of the Great Circle, in Columbus, Ohio. both Tomson Highway and Kerr Wells. Erika A. Iserhoff Le Groupe de la Place Royale, he was Ted Roberts include co-director (with Robert Desrosiers) Costume Design Artistic Director of Dancemakers, Singapore Set & Lighting for Patria Music of R. Murray Schafer’s Erika is a Cree artist from Constance Lake Fringe Festival and Atlas Moves Watching Ted Roberts is the resident designer for the wilderness opera, The Enchanted Forest First Nation, situated in Northern Ontario Dance Projects. Recent works include Vancouver Arts Club Theatre since1983, and at the Haliburton Forest. For the 4th and has been living and working in Toronto Domestic Science 2008, Weather Project has designed for set and/or lighting for 200+ Line Theatre she directed Crow Hill: The for the past nine years. She has created 2007, Progress Avenue 2005, Return to productions, 30+ premieres, 40+ provincial Telephone Play (premiere), Seton, The Devil costumes for The Scrubbing Project and Earth 2003, and Panopticon 2002. In Fall and/or National tours. His work for theatres and Joseph Scriven and The Stone Angel. The Only Good Indian by The Turtle Gals 2005 he created “Dancing in the Streets” across Canada include: Neptune Theatre- Susan has extensive experience in new play Performance. She has worked for the Centre a Peterborough, Ontario community event Halifax, Centaur Theatre-Montreal, Canadian development, contributing as dramaturge, For Indigenous Theatre on productions such featuring 400 dancers, aged 2 to 82. Since Stage Co.-Toronto, Magnus Theatre-Thunder writer and performer on many projects. She as Stolen, Wiora, From Darkness the Light 2006, Bill has been working with Old Men Bay, Persephone Theatre-Saskatoon, Citadel was co-creator for Nine Days’ Wonder and is Heard, All My Relations, and Dead White Dancing, a Peterborough group of men who Theatre-Edmonton, Western Canada Theatre The Cure for Sexual Jealousy, both of which Writer on the Floor. She also worked with love to dance. Co.-Kamloops, Firehall Arts Centre, Bard were performed at the Market Hall, and Earth In Motion World Indigenous Dance on the Beach-Vancouver, Belfry Theatre- acted for Mysterious Entity in Skirting the Company on their production Agua. She Patricia Levert-Thorne Victoria. He is the recipient of six Vancouver Edge. recently won a Dora Mavor Moore award for Stage Manager Jessie Awards for Outstanding Design. Some Best Costume Design for the play Agokwe Last year, Patricia stage managed the world recent design highlights include Mesa- Esther Vincent written by Waawaate Fobister and produced premier of Hungry for Public Energy at Western Canada Theatre, The Rez Sisters- Production Manager by Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Erika is Market Hall. She attended Humber College’s Magnus Theatre, It’s A Wonderful Life- Arts Esther Vincent has over 20 years experience currently completing a degree in Fiber Arts at Theatre Technical Program where she Club Granville Island Stage, The Producers- making things happen. She has put together the Ontario College of Art & Design. Curently studied set, costume, lighting and sound Arts Club Stanley Theatre and Urinetown- and managed theatre and dance shows, she is a part of The Chocolate Woman designs, props building, and theatrical Firehall Arts Centre. trade shows, festivals, readings series, Collective and the ‘Omushkego Artists painting. Patricia has been fortunate to work special events, benefi ts and all sorts of other Collective as a costume and set designer. at The Shaw Festival, Le Théâtre Français de Susan Spicer things where people get together and do Toronto, Soulpepper Theatre Company, RBC Director stuff. She has overseen countless theatre Bill James Festival of Classics, Lorraine Kimsa Theatre Susan Spicer is a director, actor and performances from two-handers in 40 seat Choreography for Young People, Factory Theatre and dramaturge with over 25 years of experience. theatres to medium sized productions with Bill James is best known for his vision of Necessary Angel... just to name a few. She Most recently she directed Adele Finney’s large casts. She has toured shows to small dance in unconventional spaces, with an enjoys giving back to the theatre community new play, You Don’t Know the Half of It towns and large cities locally, nationally and aim toward a new perceptive relationship by mentoring and teaching SM seminars and the hit musical Hungry (Story, Fortin, in the US. She is also an avid photographer. between the audience and the art. He in her spare time. She has been involved Newman) with Public Energy. Other credits You can see her work at evmustang.ca. creates performances that bridge disciplines as an adjudicator for the Sears Festival in and include collaboration in various art Northern Ontario Region in 2006 and 2009. practices, sciences and technologies. Bill Patricia has also been involved as Head has worked with many composers, visual Representative for the Toronto International artists and fi lmmakers in performance, Film Festival since 2003. Recently: Patricia installation, fi lm and media art projects was the Artistic Administrator and Company throughout his 35-year career, in North Production Manager for 4th Line Theatre for America, Europe and Asia. Following a the past 3 years. 12-year career as a dancer, notably with