“A valuable and timely collection.” —Alan D. Filewod, author of Committing Theatre

Following the Final Report on Truth and Reconciliation, Performing Turtle Island investigates theatre as a tool for community engagement, education, and resistance.

Understanding Indigenous cultures as critical sources of knowledge and meaning, each essay addresses issues that remind us that the way to reconciliation between Canadians and Indigenous peoples is neither straightforward nor easily achieved. Comprised of multidisciplinary and diverse perspectives, Performing Turtle Island considers performance as both a means to self-empowerment and self-determination, and a way of placing Indigenous performance in dialogue with other nations, both on the lands of Turtle Island and on the world stage.

“Brilliantly introduces pedagogies that jump scale; a bundling project for future ancestors revealing knowledges for flight into kinstillatory relationships.” —Karyn Recollet, co-author of In This Together: Blackness, Indigeneity, and Hip Hop

“An important resource for those who want to introduce or incorporate Indigenous artistic perspectives in their course or work.” —Heather Davis-Fisch, author of Loss and Cultural Remains in Performance

“A very significant and welcome contribution to the growing body of work on Indigenous theatre and performance in the land now called Canada.” —Ric Knowles, author of Performing the Intercultural City

Jesse Rae Archibald-Barber is from oskana kâ-asastêki and is an associate professor of Indigenous literatures at First Nations University of Canada in Regina. He is the editor of kisiskâciwan: Indigenous Voices from Where the River Flows Swiftly and the writer and producer of the Making Treaty 4 performance project.

Jesse Rae Archibald-Barber's profile page

Kathleen Irwin is Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research in the Faculty of Media, Art, and Performance at the University of Regina.

Kathleen Irwin's profile page

Moira J. Day is a professor of drama at the University of Saskatchewan, where she also serves as an adjunct member of Women's and Gender Studies, and the Classical, Medieval and Renaissance Studies Unit. She lives in Edmonton.

Moira J. Day's profile page