Coming Together, an Indigenous Peoples Week Reconciliation Initiative with Stone & Sky
Image description: Barbara Diabo & Victoria May perform in the quarry on Pelee Island (2023). They both wear long green and brown skirts and behind them is the rock wall of the quarry. A land acknowledgement is suspended on the left (stage right) of the photo.
As we approach the 10th anniversary of the publication of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s final report and 94 Calls to Action, and with the deepest respect for recently deceased the Honourable Murray Sinclair, who led the Commission, we feel it behooves Stone & Sky to revisit the intent of Call to Action #83:
We call upon the Canada Council for the Arts to establish, as a funding priority, a strategy for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to undertake collaborative projects and produce works that contribute to the reconciliation process.
Having recently returned from the LodgePole Arts Alliance four-day National Indigenous Presenters Gathering on Wolfe Island, we (Gord Grisenthwaite, nłeʔkepmx; Barbara Ann Scott Colaizzi, Oneida; Eathan O’Grady, Mik’Maq; and Patricia Fell) participated in diverse activities and had the opportunity to meet some incredible professional Indigenous artists and invite them to Pelee Island. “The Gathering invited Indigenous and Treaty-partner (non-Indigenous) presenters, artists, and agents from across the nation to visit their land and take in some informative panel discussions, interactive workshops, and inspiring performances" (LPAA). We heard about the LPAA gathering through the SPARC newsletter.
Image description: People sit in a circle, drums in front of them, in the quarry. There are rocks and trees all around the natural amphitheatre they are in. The drum circle is led by TJ Travis while Mayor Cathy Miller looks on.
Stone & Sky’s programs take place on Pelee Island, and we have almost no knowledge of its original peoples, even though the Pelee Island Heritage Centre has archeological artifacts on display. The display objects provide little insight into the first peoples; we don’t know who they were or how they lived. We know nothing of their culture. To address these obvious omissions and invoke Call to Action #83, Stone & Sky formed an Indigenous advisory council with the express purpose of creating Coming Together, an Indigenous Peoples Week Reconciliation Initiative.
Coming Together will take place the week prior to Indigenous Peoples Day, June 9th–15th, 2025, on, Pelee Island, Lake Erie, and include artists residencies, live performances, workshops, an artists’ market, and the dissemination of research undertaken. Christine Friday, Gord Grisenthwaite, Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler, & JP Longboat have committed to undertaking residencies, facilitating workshops, and performing at Coming Together. All performances will take place in The Quarry, a fossil-filled, rehabilitated landfill with magnificent acoustical properties.
Image description: Christina Burke wears a black and white skirt and a black short sleeved top and throws their arms in the air. Their mouth is open as if calling out. The hookah smoking caterpillar and Alice (Allison Ware) watch.
Part of the ongoing work we are undertaking to support this initiative is to gather stories from the coastal peoples of the Lake Erie shoreline to learn, and disseminate the cultural history of (Pelee) Island from an Indigenous perspective. JP Longboat/Circadia Indigena and Patricia Fell/Stone & Sky have had, and continue to have, numerous discussions to ascertain how that may be achieved within a collaborative artistic framework.
JP has begun to do the work to research and draw out ancestral narrative of land in place, and make efforts to reclaim and revive First Nations traditional and contemporary land-based art making practices, materials, and methods. The basis of Patricia’s research will entail the investigation of materials and methods of traditional art creation of Indigenous peoples through the research of archeological evidence and practical testing. Both artists hope to encourage building relationships of trust and the reciprocity of exchange. The concept of working together collaboratively is an exciting one which both parties have much to contribute to. The artists’ goal is to collaboratively inform the story of Pelee Island through research and experimentation using traditional mediums of art making which will inform their installation art performance.
Christine’s workshops inspiring and activating land based traditional artistic practices to awaken storytelling rooted in land and individual creativity, connection and healing will be rounded out by her live performance.
Gord’s week long creative writing workshops geared to emergent Indigenous writers, will culminate in his live reading performance.
JP’s workshop will focus on somatic work on the land energy to connect to deep experiences with the land and the landscape of place.
Various other inspirational and voice-finding workshops will be offered throughout the gathering by multiple artists. Traditional land-based teachings will be offered by Carrie Ann Peters of Caldwell First Nation. The artists’ fair will include artists’ wares, workshops, and a collaboration registration table to introduce Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists who would like to collaborate with each other: a sort of artistic collaborative speed dating.
Image description: the curtain call for Equllibre (2018) in the quarry. Actors stand in a semi-circle, arms extended outwards. Audience sits on two sides of the playing/stage space.
The long term goal of Stone & Sky is to replicate this model in future years with multiple collaborations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists. The role of the advisory council will help navigate these collaborations, particularly Barbara and Eathan, whose mixed ethnicity and lived experience allow them to operate through a two-eyed seeing lens, enabling them to effectively access and leverage both Indigenous and Western knowledge within their work and to help bridge the lifeways of both First Nations and Treaty Partners.
Stone & Sky would be remiss not to extend our most profound thanks to the Township of Pelee Island who have traditionally supported arts participation in our community at their properties: particularly The Quarry & the incomparable East Park Campground.
To encourage open engagement and ensure accessibility, all Coming Together events and camping accommodations are free of charge.
Please join us to stay and play at Coming Together 2025.
Contact Patricia stoneandsky2012@yahoo.com
