Author: Shaunie Lewis

Today we started our day with Malcolm’s morning movement rehearsal. We were joined today by Tomantha, Michaela, and Michael from Lake Superior State University. We experimented this mornings with manipulations, effort, and flocking. Its great to feel the bond start to strengthen through the work.

After class, we spent the rest of the day helping out with the Frybread Fundraiser at the Niigaanagiizhik Ceremonial Building. We ate delicious Frybread Tacos, then rolled up our sleeves and helped out in the kitchen.

We sat down with Joe Parish, fisherman and Bay Mills member, who spoke to us about his accounts with racism both during the fishing wars and still today. Joe Parish is also the husband of Rebecca Parish who wrote 50 Cents A Pound, which includes Joe’s stories. Joe also talked about the craftsmanship it takes to be a fisherman. Joe also talked about how humans can learn so much about the world by observing nature. We can learn what foods are good for us, which are bad for us, what helps us when we’re sick or even how to catch fish all by observing nature. His fishing nets, which he sometimes makes himself by hand, were inspired by spiderwebs and how they are the nets above water. He also emphasized how fishing is his life. It travels on down through his lineage and no matter how far away he goes, he will alway has to return to the water. Malcolm also got a chance to sit down and talk with Bud Biron, Keeper of the Drum. They talked about the close relationship between Natives and nature. How Natives need to be in touch with the land because it is a part of who they are and that Non-Natives need to be more aware of that concept. He also offered to introduce Malcolm to Buckle Teeple, a Bay Mills elder, who could tell him about his experience as a Bay Mills fisherman.

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

May 15th

 

We started our day today with a brunch buffet at the Kewadin Casino. After we ate we explored the Native art that hung from the walls in the halls of the casino. Explored the casino’s theatre facilities and talked about doing a spoken word event for the locals in town.

After breakfast we had the first of our movement rehearsals with Malcolm. This rehearsal layed a basic foundation for the type of work that will perhaps be seen in our production of 50 Cents A Pound. Such as, finding ways to become water, fire, air, and earth. The class consisted of our team from University of Michigan, plus several students from Lake Superior State University and their professor Spencer. Although we all came from different places by the end of the class we were all gliding as the same bird.

After class we met with Colleen from the Soo Theatre and she gave us a tour of their facilities. Colleen has been working on rehabilitating the theatre for the past fifteen years since she’s returned to Sault Ste. Marie. It’s one of the oldest theatres in the U.P. and they put on a full season of musicals community and children’s alike

Then we met with a different Colleen from the Cultural Center Library. After talking logistics and finalizing a schedule we met Cecil Pavlat, a tribal leader and former fish cop, who shared with us his experience with the fishing wars. He talked about the unfair fishing laws, the difficulties he faced when he had to implement the law that he didn’t necessarily agree with, and how he was caught dead in the middle of the fishing wars just by doing that. Which eventually led to his resign. He also gave us advice on how to go forward with our process. He emphasized how the story being told in the play belonged to Bay Mills because it centers around Big Abe, a Bay Mills member. Although the case affected everyone its Bay Mill’s story so we should start there when looking for people to talk to and to play the roles of the Bay Mills characters.

After dinner, we concluded our day by visiting the Native Burial Grounds near Soo Locks. Cecil was telling us earlier how the Sault Ste. Marie and Army Corp. were trying to “beautify the waterfront” by putting recreational benches and landmarks over the burial grounds. Fortunately Cecil was able to spearhead an initiative to get the grounds fenced in because there was french map that had the burial grounds written in as Native Territory so it was legally their right to have this land undisturbed. Unfortunately, only a section is actually fenced. The rest has been colonized more and more over the years, from the erection of Fort Brady to the Soo Locks. Only this tiny portion of the burial grounds remain.

SaveSave