≈ 1 hour · No intermission
Message from the Artistic Director
This play is such a gem. For our first ever season of Indigenous Theatre, it was important for me to try to bring shows from coast to coast to coast to the NAC. Having the opportunity to catch this show in Toronto at Native Earth Performing Arts introduced me to two amazing East Coast artists, Aria Evans and Natalie Sappier. For Natalie, a visual artist, this play marks her theatre debut. Natalie’s narration leads us through her journey of resilience, discovery and empowerment as Aria’s movement and interaction with the ever evolving set reveal the transformative power of finding one’s voice in a broken world. Having toured New Brunswick and parts of Ontario, we are so excited to be presenting this work here as part of our Mòshkamo festival and our inaugural season of Indigenous Theatre. I hope you enjoy this debut work from an exciting up-and-coming playwright.
Playwright's Message
Woliwon/Thank you, to the inspiring Theatre New Brunswick team, a special thank you to Thomas Morgan Jones for his amazing mentorship and friendship. Woliwon, ArtsNB and the Canada Council for the Arts for their support in the development of Finding Wolastoq Voice, to my Momo, Meme, Sagatay, Imelda and Dave Perley, my community of negotuk, Maggie Paul, Judie Acquin, Angee Acquin, Kim and Wayne Brooks, Nate Miller and his beautiful parents. Woliwon, to my phenomenal artistic team Andy Moro, Aria Evans, and Mike Doherty. Woliwon, to my family and friends for their constant inspiration, motivation, love and support. To my mother, my teacher – you are one of the strongest and most beautiful spirits in my life. Woliwon and Koselmul always.
Finding Wolastoq Voice
Last updated: September 12, 2019
Yut keti nomihtuweq amalhapomkahtimok sakihtaksik kisihtahatok Wolastoqi amalhocossawet naka tokec nutatkuhket Samaqani Cocahq (Natalie Sappier), Neqotkukew. ‘Takonutomon weckuwikitpon ‘cimaciw amsqahs pilsqehsisuwit naka letisuwit tokiw tuhkimit nikanapasihticik ‘kansuhs.
Wolastoqey translation by Opolahsomuwehs, 2019
Finding Wolastoq Voice is a powerful debut work from Indigenous artist-turned-playwright Samaqani Cocahq (Natalie Sappier) of Tobique First Nation, a leading voice in New Brunswick’s thriving Indigenous art scene.
Featuring the evocative choreography of dancer Aria Evans, this beautiful dance-theatre hybrid is the deeply personal coming-of-age story of a young Wolastoqiyik woman who is awakened by the voices of her ancestors. Evans draws on her experiences as a woman of mixed race (Mi’kmaq/Black/British) to beautifully convey feelings of sorrow, grace, and hope.
Andy Moro has created an organic, natural world that shifts and moves seamlessly, providing the foundation for this inspiring work.
Music Credits
All music (except Wolastoq Song) composed and arranged by Samaqani Cocahq.
Wolastoq Song written by Sagatay (Gwen Bear).
Wolastoq Song performed by Samaqani Cocahq, Judie and Angee Acquin.
Mother Earth Song performed by Maggie Paul.
Ancestor Voice performed by Imelda Perley.
Finding Wolastoq Voice was developed in part through support received from Arts NB.
Samaqani Cocahq (Natalie Sappier)
My name is Natalie Sappier-Samaqani Cocahq (The Water Spirit). I am a Wolastoqiyik Indigenous multidisciplinary artist from Tobique First Nation. Much of the teachings carry along the Wolastoq waters that have led me into the community of Fredericton where my arts practice is currently based. I believe if I’m always by the Wolastoq, I am home.
I have always had a creative spirit. I remember being young and always being captivated by the surroundings and people in my community. I would find stories in the forests and waters – some would say I was a child full of imagination and was always expressing myself through spoken word, song and dance.
I began my visual arts practice in early 2000 when I enrolled at New Brunswick College of Craft and Design where I met Sagatay (Gwen Bear). She became a very influential person in my life and through her guidance I began learning about traditional ceremonies, teachings, language and medicines. The teachings inspired me but also gave a larger understanding of who I am and I began expressing that through painting.
The Wolastoqiyik motifs naturally became part of my stories. This symbolic movement in my artwork is what I call “dancing the four directions” which represent emotions, dance, of spirit and of song through Wabanaki roots. My painted stories kept me close to my Indigenous ways of being, constantly teaching me and encouraging me to learn more. I realized early in my painting career that I was not painting just for me but I was painting for my people. I was painting for my ancestors.
Today, as I stand in the Wolastoq waters I am witnessing our language being lost, our lands hurting and our water is crying. I feel our stories need to be heard louder than a painting can speak. I began my path to open my spirit to learn courage to share my songs, strength within my voice and within my words for me to continue to share stories expressed with Indigenous heart on stage for the world to see.
Thomas Morgan Jones
Thomas is an award winning director, playwright, movement coach, dramaturg, and teacher. For over 15 years he has created theatre nationally and internationally with companies and schools that include the Stratford Festival, Theatre Direct, Theatre Passe Muraille, the Charlottetown Festival, Carousel Players, Cia EnvieZada (Brazil), NTS, Sheridan College and the Randolph Academy. He holds a BA from Guelph, an MA from UofT, and has trained with SITI Company in NYC/Madrid/Paris and SCOT in Japan and Italy.
Andy Moro
Andy Moro is a mixed Euro/Cree multi-disciplinary artist. He collaborates extensively with companies from coast to coast to coast. He is Co-founder/Artistic Director of ARTICLE 11 with partner Tara Beagan, named for the UNDRIP article protecting the right to practice, revitalize, protect and develop all manifestations of culture, such as historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature. This summer, ARTICLE 11’s newest work Deer Woman met critical acclaim in Edinburgh, Kia Mau, Aotearoa the Sydney Festival, and Arts Centre Melbourne, Australia. Deer Woman makes its Turtle Island premiere in Calgary in November 2019.
Michael Doherty
Michael Doherty is an Atlantic Canada and Toronto based composer, sound designer and music director. Recent credits include; The Penelopiad, The Wedding Singer (St. Lawrence College); Goodbye Marianne, A Herman Tale, Marion Bridge, The Space Between, Vigil, You Play Beautifully, A Christmas Carol (Theatre New Brunswick); Shrek, The Drowsy Chaperone, Guys and Dolls (Theatre New Brunswick Theatre School); Armstrong’s War, It’s a Wonderful Life, Hockey Dreams, For Life, A Christmas Carol, Red, Miracle on 34th Street (Sudbury Theatre Centre); Grace Notes, Angel’s River (The Notable Acts Theatre Festival) Michael is the composer and co-lyricist of two full length musicals; A Christmas Carol adapted with Caleb Marshall and For Life with Norm Foster. He is a multiple Merritt award (Theatre Nova Scotia) nominee and winner. He was honoured with the musician’s achievement award at East Coast Music Awards in 2008 and received the Playhouse Honours award from the Fredericton Playhouse in 2014.
Sherry Kinnear
Sherry is the costume designer for Theatre New Brunswick (TNB) Young Company and the TNB Theatre School as well as the Head of Wardrobe for all branches of the company. Sherry most recently designed costumes for A Brief History of the Maritimes and Everywhere Else, A Christmas Carol, Fortune of Wolves,The Boat, The Snow Queen, A Sunday Affair, Marion Bridge, Vigil and The Eighth Fire, as well as The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, The Drowsy Chaperon, Guys & Dolls, West Side Story, Les Misérables for TNB’s musical theatre, and has created costumes for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Frankenstein, Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life, Little Shop of Horrors, Gifts of the Magi, The Dollar Woman, Treasure Island and many other TNB productions over the past 12 years.
Tammy Faulkner
Tammy has worked in several theatres across the Maritimes including Theatre New Brunswick, Neptune Theatre, Harbourfront Theatre, Ship’s Company Theatre and Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. She has been Stage Managing for TNB for over a decade and has worked on many productions including Finding Wolastoq Voice (2017), The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, A Christmas Carol, Fortune of Wolves, Ghost Light, The Snow Queen, Little Women – The Broadway Musical and Little Shop of Horrors. Other selected theatre credits include: Beauty and the Beast (Stage Manager, Neptune Theatre), Forever Plaid (Stage Manager, Harbourfront Theatre), Goodnight Moon and the Runaway Bunny, Swimmy, Frederick & Inch By Inch (Stage Manager, Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia); Leonard Cohen World Tour 2008 (Wardrobe Assistant). Many thanks Tabatha for her never-ending love and support.