fund the indigenous theatre at the NAC

Letter to Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism

Dear Mr. Rodriguez,

We are writing today as the Canadian Latinx Theatre Artist Coalition (CALTAC), a collective of professional theatre artists of Latin-American descent – we are immigrants, refugees and settlers of this land. The colonial history of our countries means we carry a complicated history in our work as theatre artists, and in our work as a community. CALTAC was formed not only to give a voice to an under represented minority but also to stand in solidarity with other marginalized theatre artists in the community.

In 2017, we celebrated the news that the National Arts Centre would open the Indigenous Theatre department, a long-awaited and desperately needed affirmation of Indigenous arts, sitting as an equal alongside the French and English Theatre departments. We celebrated in solidarity with our Indigenous colleagues, who have withstood not only ongoing acts of colonial violence against their lives and cultures, but continue to face intense systemic barriers to creating and disseminating their artistic work. 

Yesterday we learned from our colleague Kevin Loring, the Artistic Director of the Indigenous Theatre at the National Arts Centre, that the 2019 Federal Budget has allocated no funding to his department.

This is unacceptable.

Once again, the actions of the Canadian government uphold supremacy of English and French culture over the original cultures, languages, and traditions of this land. Without tangible financial and structural support of Indigenous art, equal to and surpassing that given to settler culture in this country, the government sends a clear message that they do not support the revitalization, reclamation and proliferation of Indigenous art and culture. The promises issued in words, through commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and through the words of this government are once again broken, perpetuating the cycle of colonial violence enacted by this government against Indigenous people.

The Indigenous Theatre at the National Arts Centre must be funded at equal to or above the level of the English and French Theatre departments. We write today to urge you to immediately take action and make it so. Indigenous art and artists have survived centuries of colonial violence from this government, but there is no time to lose. We stand in solidarity with our Indigenous colleagues, and demand immediate action on this unconscionable decision.

Sincerely,

Canadian Latinx Theatre Artist Coalition