« Thinking Rock Community Arts is pleased to invite you to a special screening of the full performance of Gigidoowag Ziibiik (The Rivers Speak), a co-created community play about life on the land and waters of Central Algoma, on Saturday, May 11th from 2 pm to 4 pm.

Admission is free! The event will be held at the Misswezhaging (Mississaugi First Nation) Sports Complex (In Motion Fitness Centre) at 64 Park Road. Light snacks will be served. Please feel free to bring your favourite snack to share! For more information, call us at (705) 542-1100 or email miranda[at]thinkingrock.ca.

As a non-profit community arts organization, Thinking Rock is committed to creating art with and for the people along the North Shore of Lake Huron, from Genaabaajing (Serpent River First Nation) to Bawating (Sault Ste. Marie), building relationships across cultures and communities, increasing opportunities to live, work and play in the arts, and helping to build more inclusive, vibrant and resilient communities across the region of Algoma. 

The performance being screened is the final product of a four-year process that involved hundreds of Indigenous and non-Indigenous community participants of all ages, cultures, and abilities working together with professional artists to tell their personal stories about local rivers and waterways through art. 

The Rivers Speak was conceived of and written by Artistic Director Robin Sutherland, with Co-writer/Dramaturge Elizabeth Rucker, Director Varrick Grimes, Choreographer Aria Evans, Musical Director James Stephens, Designer Miranda Bouchard, and many other artists including Marianne Alas, Nani Bell Gonawabi, Julia Hune Brown, Steafan Hannigan, Ange Loft, Adrienne Marcus Raja, Roxanne Martin, Jamie Oshkabewisens, Sasha Tate Howarth, the O’Schraves (of AlgomaTrad), and others, along with a cast of over 50 local people. The project and production were developed with the guidance from local Elders and Advisors, including Elsie Bissaillon, Max Chiblow, Marly Day, Willie Pine, Gerard Sagassige, Jon Cada and Tracy Fraser, and mentorship and support from Ruth Howard and Jumblies Theatre. Footage of the play was filmed and edited by Village Electric. »

For more information, please visit: thinkingrock.ca

-from Thinking Rock Community Arts
Read Thinking Rock Community Arts’ profile on ArtBridges’ Community-Engaged Arts Directory & Map