The Canadian Walking Youth Theatre with the Walking Theatre Company of Argyll visited the island on the weekend of 29 June 2013 with their unique, moving and polished performance of an original work “Selkirk’s New Nation” which they had previously performed at The Scottish Parliament. They are all pupils from Powerview School in Manitoba, descended from Canadian First Nations, (Cree, Ojibwe, Mètis) as well as French, Irish and Scottish settlers.
Their unique visit was the result of Powerview School teacher, Nancy Kovachik, visiting Lismore in 2011 to take a Fiddle workshop with Mairi Campbell, and, being so amazed to see the Walking Theatre performing with their first youth team, The Lismore Walking Youth Theatre, that she asked Artistic Director & Playwright, Sadie Dixon-Spain, if she could “bring this amazing thing to Canada”. And she did.
“Selkirk’s New Nation”, written by Sadie Dixon-Spain, explores the impact of Lord Selkirk’s Scots Settlers on Native Canadian history. Both groups being dispossessed, they shared an experience but came into conflict as the disinherited Scots began to settle in what they called the new world as though it were virgin territory. To see the effect the dispossessed Scots had on the native Canadians, performed by these descendants, was extremely moving particularly as the Mètis people have only this year (2013) been granted land rights after an ignored treaty of 1870. For hundreds of years the Mètis people have been a hidden people without land or identity, lost like the generations of cleared Highlanders.
Argyll’s own Walking Theatre worked in Manitoba for 3 weeks, forming the Canadian Walking Youth Theatre and giving four public performances. The staff, pupils and the community of Powerview raised over $100,000 (Canadian) so their actors could come to Scotland. Their visit has been poignant to many of group who feel they have visited their ‘home from home’. Congratulations to all involved for creating such a memorable experience.
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
The clearance letter
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
A large audience followed the players
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013
Canadian Walking Youth Theatre 2013