TALKING TREATIES SPECTACLE Returns To Fort York

Returning to Fort York for the second year in a row from October 4 - 7, 2018, The Talking Treaties Spectacle is an outdoor pageant exploring the treaty history of the Toronto area through words, song, movement and spectacle. Rooted in oral history and community collaboration, Talking Treaties will take audiences on a journey through this shared place and the way it came to be.

Inspired by historical research of Victoria Freeman and others, Director Ange Loft leads a team of professional and community performers through vignettes exploring The Dish With One Spoon, The Toronto Purchase, The Treaty of Niagara and more, with humour, boldness and beaver puppets. The Talking Treaties Spectacle takes place on the grounds of Historic Fort York, an apt and complex location to explore our shared history, responsibilities, and dreams.

Talking Treaties has engaged over 500 participants in generating symbols, poetry, and improvised maps and performances, which informed content of the production.

"Talking about treaties with knowledgeable local artists and historians was just the starting point," said Lead Artist Ange Loft. "There were countless narrative threads we could have followed; yet three main agreements are featured in the Talking Treaties Spectacle. The first is the Dish with One Spoon: the idea that you have to share your resources all across the Great Lakes region. The second is the translation of the Royal Proclamation to a visual mnemonic device: the Covenant Chain, which extended, at the Treaty of Niagara 1764, to include 24 Nations, including Haudenosaunee, Mississaugas and other Anishinaabeg...The third agreement, the Toronto Purchase with the Mississaugas of New Credit, was finally settled in 2010. We...bring in a layer of voices generated by university and artmaking communities, and now to you, to continue polishing the chain."

Talking Treaties artfully shares local Indigenous history and awareness. Launched in Spring 2015, the project resulted in the Talking Treaties Spectacle, presented at Toronto's Historic Fort York in June 2017, as part of the Indigenous Arts Festival and Jumblies' Touching Ground Festival of new works.

Talking Treaties Spectacle
Lead Artist & Director: Ange Loft
Historian & Co-Writer: Victoria Freeman
Original Music: Melody McKiver & Rosary Spence
Featured Performers: Jill Carter, Brendan Loonskin, Blaine McLeod, Jamie Oshkabewisens, Ashley Riley, Kitsuné Soleil,
Jesse Wabegijig with Candy Blair and Theresa Cutknife
Designers: Ange Loft, Sonja Rainey
Musicians: Johnny Spence, Arie van de Ven, Daev Clysdale, Gather Round Singers

When: October 4, 5, 6 at 5:30pm and October 6 & 7 at 2pm
Where: Fort York Historic Site, 250 Fort York Boulevard
Tickets are PWYC on-line or at the door
(suggested $20 or $10 for child/student/senior)
Reservations are recommended, as seats are limited

This performance runs approximately 90 minutes

This performance takes place mostly outside, and the audience moves along with the performers, with seats available for those who need them. A limited number of wheelchairs will be available on site. For more accessibility information, please contact Producer Rachel Penny.

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