Giiwedin

By Unsettled Scores / On

GIIWEDIN is set at a time when Indigenous peoples, and specifically Indigenous women, had their legal rights and political autonomy striped away. Indigenous sovereignty was systemically de-centered and eroded, ultimately displacing Indigenous women and their traditional and political influence. GIIWEDIN captures this history through the perspective of a strong and spirited female protagonist, Noodin-Kwe (Wind Woman), who represents seven generations of historical and traditional knowledge.

Noodin-Kwe’s resistance against colonialism is propelled by events she had witnessed as a young girl, including the signing of the Royal Proclamation of 1763, and many years of wars waged between colonial nations in their quest to claim sovereignty over Canada.

The Royal Proclamation was an important document presented by the British crown dictating that fair treaty agreements were to be negotiated with Indigenous peoples prior to the settlement or development of any lands. While being acutely aware of this document’s historical and legal significance, Noodin-Kwe lives to see the dissolution of such promises, which had enormous and forever changing impacts on Indigenous ways of living, and leaves an imprint on the land itself even today.

Awards & Recognition
2010 Dora Mavor Moore nomination “Outstanding New Musical/Opera”
2010 Dora Mavor Moore nomination “Outstanding Musical Direction”

Giiwedin
Text by Spy Dénommé-Welch
Music by Spy Dénommé-Welch & Catherine​ Magowan

120 minutes
            2 x soprano
            3 x mezzo-soprano/alto
            2 x tenor
            2 x baritone/bass

            1 x violin
            1 x violoncello
            1 x archlute
            1 x harpsichord

Performance history

February 6, 2010: Louis Riel Opera Symposium, University of British Columbia, School of Music, Vancouver, British Columbia (excerpts)
April 8 – 24, 2010: Native Earth Performing Arts / An Indie(n) Rights Reserve co-production, (Theatre Passe Muraille, supported by Ontario Arts Council Theatre Projects, Toronto Arts Council Theatre Projects)
September 28, 2013: Impact Festival / CPAMO, Waterloo, Ontario (excerpts)
February 28 – March 2, 2014: Wilfrid Laurier University, Faculty of Music, Waterloo, Ontario
September 18, 2015: Performing Turtle Island: A Gathering of Indigenous Theatre and Performance (excerpts)
February 19, 2016: Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (excerpts), London, United Kingdom

Development history

  • October 12, 2007: Weesageechak Begins to Dance XX (Native Earth Performing Arts, Berkley Theatre)
    • Text: Spy Dénommé-Welch
    • Music: Spy Dénommé-Welch & Catherine Magowan
    • Music Director: Catherine Magowan
    • Director: Judith Thompson
    • Voices: Jani Lauzon, Dawn Bailey, Anthony Malarky, Vasil Garvanliev
    • Instruments: Tanya Charles, Joanne Yu, Sara-Anne Churchill
  • May 11 – 15, 2009: workshop (Lower Ossington Theatre, supported by the Toronto Arts Council Theatre Projects, Ontario Arts Council Theatre Projects, & Native Earth Performing Arts)
    • Text: Spy Dénommé-Welch
    • Music: Spy Dénommé-Welch & Catherine Magowan
    • Music Director: Catherine Magowan
    • Stage Manager: Isidra Cruz
    • Voices: Marion Newman, Nicole Joy Fraser, Neema Bickersteth, Catherine Carew, Ken McClure, Wayne Sujo, Gilbert Anderson, Joel Benson
    • Consultants: Judith Thompson, David Fallis, Brian Wright-McLeod, Charlotte Nediger, Cristina Zacharias, Lucas Harris, Sara Churchill
  • November 23 – 28, 2009: workshop (Ernest Balmer Studio, supported by Ontario Arts Council Aboriginal Arts Projects & Native Earth Performing Arts)
    • Text: Spy Dénommé-Welch
    • Music: Spy Dénommé-Welch & Catherine Magowan
    • Music Director: Catherine Magowan
    • Voices: Marion Newman, Nicole Joy Fraser, Neema Bickersteth, Mia Lennox-Williams, Catharin Carew, Ryan Allen, James McLennan, Gil Anderson, Lawrence Cotton
    • Instruments: Edwin Huizinga, Mary Katherine Finch, Lucas Harris, Sara Churchill
    • Consultants: Brian Wright-McLeod, David Fallis, Gregory Oh
    •