Pamela Tagle

Body to Land - Stone Soup (2020- )

Pamela Tagle
Body to Land - Stone Soup (2020- )

Gluk


Over a period of years (2020-present) we are studying and recreating through video and movement, seminal works from the repertoire that explore our emotional, physical and cultural relationship to land.

Stone Soup (1995-1997) is the first work we are addressing in the Body to Land project. Underlying and central to Stone Soup is the Gitxsan concept of Gluk: a ceremony of redoing a wrong, as in replacing a rotten plank in the foundation of a structure. Doreen Jensen, Hahl Yee, Gitxsan elder, artist, writer, activist, educator and thinker, as well as a beloved friend and mentor, introduced and proposed the concept to create a dance that would fulfill a Gluk by touring BC asking permission to enter and dance on each of the First Nations territories we came to.

 


March 2020 was to be the official start of this multi-year project. Due to the pandemic and issues with gathering, lockdown, and the residential school revelations, we had to extend our timeline. Currently we are finishing work on the video component of this project. The resulting film, entitled Gluk, will premiere in early December 2024. The performative outcomes have been postponed due to circumstances beyond our control.

Notes on Gluk

As for the voice-over of Gluk, Karen Jamieson writes: “it quickly became clear that this voice could not be mine. My voice needed to be very limited. What was required was that in each Nation’s land we come to, the voice must shift to the Indigenous leader or elder who has the authority to speak about the events that took place on that land. Delhia Nahanee proposed creation of a skeletal script to be developed and then sent to each of the potential interviewees. The people I approached to be interviewed were all very interested and supportive of the project.”

Those interviewed for the film include:

Delhia Nahanee, Villages of Laxgalta’p and Gitwinsilkh, Nisga’a
Simoget Yugadets, Chief Hagbwegathu, Vince Jackson, Village of Kispiox, Gitk’san
Sharon Bryant, Village of Kitsumkalem, Tsimshian
Delores Pollard, Village of Kitimaat, Haisla
Guujaaw, Chief Gidansda, Villages of Masset and Skidegate, Haida
Chief Xalek Ian Campbell, Sekyu Siyam, Squamish, Musqueam
Yal Aubrey Jackson, Gitk’san

 

The map above was retrieved with permission from Native-Land.ca.

We were drawn to this map because of the way it represents the land in a precolonial way, allowing for the visualization of Indigenous ancestral lands and the languages that grew out of the land, without colonial borders or names. Throughout this project, we will work with maps to reflect on our evolving relationship to the land, and our commitment to learn and to respect Indigenous teaching about their lands and how to enter and comport ourselves on each Nation’s land.

Gluk Video Credits

This video is dedicated to Doreen Jensen whose spirit lives on.

With special thanks to Loretta Todd for her advice in honouring Doreen, and permission to use her footage of Doreen.

Karen Jamieson Dance was given permission by each nation and each individual speaker to record and present all events and performances, both during the 1995-1997 tour and for the creation of Gluk (2024).

Gluk (2024)

Thank you to the Storytellers and Collaborators on this Video History

Chief (Xalek) Ian Campbell - Sekyu Siyam - Squamish / Musqueam

Sharon Bryant (Liitamlaxdaaw Gyibaaw) Tsimshian

Dalgum’ha – Delhia Nahanee Nisga’a / Squamish

Chief Gidansda Giindajin

Haawasti Guujaaw

Raven, Gakyaals Kiigawaay Clan - Haida Nation

Yal Aubrey Jackson - Gitk’san

Vince Jackson - Chief Ha’gbi’gwaxtu, of the Fireweed Clan, Gitk’san Nation

Chief Dolores Pollard - Beaver Clan, Haisla Nation

Karen Jamieson

Gluk Executive Producer, Stone Soup Choreographer / Creator, KJD Artistic Director

Flick Harrison

Editor / Media Artist

Pamela Tagle

Gluk Executive Producer, KJD Managing Director

Charlotte Leonard

Project Archivist, KJD Company Archivist

KJD Archivists:

Clare Asquith Finegan

Emma Metcalfe Hurst

KJD Board of Directors:

Wendy Baker

Steve Bridger

Erica Corber

Randy Enomoto

Clare Asquith Finegan

Angie Riano

Kate Wattie

David Wei

Honour Song for Doreen Jensen:

Russell Wallace - Composer

Composed in collaboration with Doreen Jensen’s Family

Catherine Blackstock (Hereditary Chief Sim'oo'git Geel) (niece)

Cindy Jensen Fisk (daughter)

Jeanne Harris (sister)

Barabara Sennott (sister)

Consultants and Advisors

Loretta Todd - Creative Consultant

Chief Xalek, Sekyu Siyam, Ian Campbell - Consultant

Mique’l Dangeli - Consultant / Advisor

Zoran Dragelj - Creative Consultant

Patti Fraser - Outside Eye

Gildedower Nîpîy apisis, Margaret Grenier, Cree, Gitk’san - Creative Consultant

Josh Hite - Outside Eye

Dalgum’ha Delhia Nahanee - Consultant / Adviser

Latash Maurice Nahanee - Consultant / Advisor

Mandy Nahanee - Consultant

Rob Thompson - Audio Consultant

Nativeland.ca maps used with permission

Digitization of analogue video by Starpost Digital

Made possible by 2010 Legacies Now grant.

Funding

Canada Council for the Arts

British Columbia Arts Council

City of Vancouver

Major Donor

The Body to Land Project has been generously supported by the Chapple Family. We are grateful for their significant, multi-year financial donations, and their deep understanding of the importance of this project.

Donors

Thank you to the individual donors to the Karen Jamieson Dance Society for their generous support through the years.

Partner

Thank you to The Dance Centre for their partnership in the production and presentation of Gluk.

Stone Soup (1995-1997)

Karen Jamieson Dance

Karen Jamieson Dance Company Dancers:

Anne Cooper

Laura Crema

Caroline Farquhar

Karen Jamieson

Donald Alfred Morin

Dean Makarenko

Jerry Longboat

Karen Jamieson - Choreographer and Artistic Director

Peter Hurst - Composer

Simon Kendall - Composer

Sanford Williams - Masks Commission

Gerald King - Set & Lighting

Marie Clements - Text

Deborah Dunn - Costume Design

C. Hatfull - Costume Producer

Alison Abell (Twisted Unions) - Costume Construction

Tanya Granneman (Twisted Unions) - Costume Construction

Daniel Collins - Photography

Jay Rankin - Managing Director & Producer, Photography

Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm - Karen Jamieson Dance Company Manager

Linda Blankstein - Administration, Sponsorship Support

Angele Cormier - Administration, Tour Publicist

Nigel Jones - Financial Services

Kay Huang Barnes - Rehearsal Director

Andrew Olewine - Rehearsal Director, Dance Teacher

Sylvain Brochu - Dance Teacher

Patrick Pennefather - Accompanist

Mia Kivari - Volunteer Coordinator

KJD Board:

Marsha Ramsden

Sonia Usmiani

Jocelyn Bearsto

Ming Song

Barbara Clausen - Sponsorship Support

Michela Sorrentino - Graphics Design

Ryan Mullins - Vancouver Publicist

Ann Rowley - Stage Manager

Tim Cardinal - Technical Director

Lorraine West - Technician, Set Painting

Scott Macdonald - Technician

Cameron Rimmer - Production Assistant

Amanda Marier - Program Design

Harry Vander Shee (Tradeworks) - Set Construction

Valerie Moffat - Set Sewing

Laxgalts’ap - Nisga’a Territory

Speakers selected by Laxgalts’ap Village Government, matriarchs, and chieftains

Chester Moore Sim’oogit Haym̓aas (Nisga’a) - Chief of the Frog Clan

Laxgalts’ap Cultural Dancers - Performer

Willard Martin - Contact, Laxgalts’ap Traditional Dancers (Greenville Recreation Centre)

Des Belton - Nisga’a School District

Gitwinksihlkw - Nisga’a Territory

Chief Jacob Nyce - Senior Chief

Nisga’a Tribal Local - Food for the luncheon

The Gitwinksihlkw Four Crest Dancers - Performer

Ron Nyce - Master of Ceremonies and President of Four Crest Dancers

Smithers - Wet’suwet’en Territory

Brenda Wilson - Performance Coordinator and food for the feast, Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre

Lila Wallace - Executive Director, Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre

Wet’suwet’en Dance Group

Helen Nikal - Performance Coordinator

Darlene Glaim - Performance Coordinator

Christine Dickinson - Principal, Smithers Senior Secondary School

Kispiox - Gitk’san Territory

People of Gitk’san heritage living in the Hazelton area - Performance presenters and food for the feast

Reinholdt Steinbeisser - Principal, Kispiox Elementary School

Thank you: The people of Gisbayakws, ‘Ksan Historical Village, Hazelton Secondary School, and Kispiox Elementary School

Hazelton - Gitk’san Territory

Alice Jeffrey - Chief Maluluk of the Frog clan, Collaborator, Consultant and Lead Gitk'san artist, Elder, Knowledge keeper

Christopher P. Sampson - Chief, Glen Vowell Band

Kenneth Herbert Russell - Chief, Gitsegulka Band

Stephen Robinson - Chief, Gitanmaax Band

Jack Sebastian - Chief, Hagwilget Band

Sheila Ryan - Principal, Hazelton Secondary School

Don Ryan - Gitk’san Wet’suwet’en Tribal Council Association

Gitsegukla Band School

Kispiox Community School

Gary Underhill - Hazelton Secondary School

Laurel Mould - ‘Ksan Performing Arts, narrator

Kitsumkalum - Tsimshian Territory

Matriarch Vera Henry of the Laxghibuu, Kitsumkalum

Terrace & District Multicultural Association - Performance coordinator

Mary Grayden - Performance coordinator, Northwest Development Education Association

Kitsumkalum Dance Group - Performer

Many Nations Dance Group - Performer

Larry Derrick - Leader, Kitsumkalum Dance Group

Benita Chapdelaine - Leader, Many Nations Dance Group

Seniors’ group at the Happy Gang Centre - Food for the feast

Legion Ladies - Food for the feast

Ladies of the Order of the Royal Purple - Food for the feast

Carol Sam - Kitsumkalum Community Hall

Terrace - Tsimshian Territory

Reg Stowell - Community Futures Office and Kitamaat Multicultural Society

Harry F. Nyce - Chief, Gitwinksihlkw Band

Melville S. Bevan - Chief, Kitselas Band

Dorothy Davidson - Kermode Friendship Society

Ray Jones - Kermode Friendship Society

Ray Jones - Director, Northern Native Broadcasting

Thomas Walker - Manager, R.E.M. Lee Theatre

Jane Dickson - Terrace and District Multicultural Association

Terry Anderson - Coast Mountains School District

Brent Scout - CFNR Radio

Fred Wilson - Northern Native Broadcasting

Karen Birkedal - Terrace Concert Society

Thomas Walker - R.E.M. Lee Theatre

Liz Williamson - Terrace Arts Council

Margaret Seguin Anderson - UNBC Regional Coordinator

Rick Miller - Executive Director, Tsimshian Tribal Council

Terry Anderson - School District 88

Kitamaat Village - Haisla Territory

Delores Pollard - Kitamaat Village Council and Performance Coordinator

Richard Pollard - Creator of Spirit Sisters song

Larry Earl Moore - Chief, Gitwangak Band

Vernon Archie Smith - Chief, Kitwancool Band

Gerald Victor Amos - Chief, Kitamaat Band

Spirit of the Kitlope Dancers - Performers and Performance Coordinator

Cathy Spanevello - Theatre Director, Mount Elizabeth Theatre

Arnie Smith - Director of Haisla Empl, Kitamaat Village Council

Bob Ivison - Kitamaat Concert Association

Kateri Akiwnenzie-Damm - Photographer

Bob Ivison - Kitamaat Concert Association

Thank you: Kitamaat Village Council, Don Stewart, Allan Hewitson, and all volunteers and supporters.

Kemano - Haisla Territory

Dolores Pollard - Performance Coordinator

Thank you: Kemano Community Association, Don Timlick, Allan Hewitson, Karen Livingston, and Anita Kalnay.

Karen Livingston - Entertainment Director, Kemano Community Association

Spirit of the Kitlope Dancers - Performers and Performance Coordinator

Prince Rupert - Tsimshian Territory

Don Acaster - Prince Rupert Performing Arts Centre

Thank you: Debbie Jeffrey, First Nations Education Services, Ric Miller, Tsimshian Tribal Council, the First Nations Elders from Friendship House, Elders from Metlakatla, Lax Kw’alaams Society, Lach Klan Society, Gitga’ata Society, and Bronwen Sutherland of PAC.

Old Masset - Haida Territory

Thank you: the Hereditary Chiefs and Elders

Claude Davidson performer and leader of Dance group

De Chinnie Dancers - Performer

Old Masset Dancers - Performer

Old Masset Community Hall

Queen Charlotte Islands Arts Council - Presenters and Organizers

Skidegate - Haida Territory

Guujaaw - Hereditary leader, Gakyaals Kiigawaay of Skedans, Consultant and Advisor

Hlgagilda Dancers - Performers and Organizers

Mable Williams - Teacher of Haida songs

Warren McIntyre - Queen Charlotte Islands Arts Council, Facilitator of all shows on Haida Gwaii

Vancouver Roundhouse Community Centre Gala Presentation

Robert Davidson - Honourary Gala Co-Chair and Ambassador

Terri-Lynn Williams - Honourary Gala Co-Chair, Ambassador, Emcee

Ming Song - Chair of the Gala Committee

Jocelyn Bearsto - Gala Committee

Marsha Ramsden - Gala Committee

Leanne Song - Gala Committee

Sonia Usmiani - Gala Committee

Gary Wyatt - Gala Committee

Christos Dikeakos - Ambassador and Creation of Gala Feast

Sophie Dikeakos - Ambassador and Creation of Gala Feast

Brian De Beck - Creation of Gala Feast

Wendy Newman - Ambassador

Spirit Wrestler Gallery - Ambassador

Ryan Mullins - Gala Producer

Musqueam Warriors (Musqueam Nation) (May 7, 1997 performance)

Children of Takaya (Burrard Nation) (May 8, 1997 performance)

Spakwus Slolem (Squamish Nation) (May 9, 1997 performance)

Bob Baker - Leader Spakwus Slolem Dance Group

The Ha’gbi’gwatxu Family Dancers (May 10, 1997 performance) - immediate family of Simoi’git Ha’gbi’gwaxtu

Kenneth B. Harris Simoi’git Ha’gbi’gwaxtu - Elder, The Ha’gbi’gwatxu Family Dancers

Margaret Harris (Cree Metis) - Elder, The Ha’gbi’gwatxu Family Dancers

Ian Campbell Xalek, Sekyu Siyam - Hereditary Chief, Squamish Nation

Members of the Musqueam Warrior Dancers (Musqueam Nation) (May 10, 1997 performance)

The Rainbow Creek Dancers (May 10, 1997 performance) - Robert Davidson, Reg Davidson, Terri-Lynn Williams , Marianne Jones, Shaun Edenshaw, Eva Edenshaw, Tanya Edenshaw

The Spakwus Slolem Dancers (May 10, 1997 performance)

The Traditional Mothers Dance Group (May 10, 1997 performance)

Charlene Grant - Musqueam Band

Gabriel George - Takaya Developments

Lorna Morrison - Native Mother’s Dance Group

Stone Soup Tour Sponsors

The Canada Council Touring Office

British Columbia Arts Council

CBC Radio & Television

Alcan Smelters and Chemicals Ltd.

B.C. Hydro

Vancity

Placer Dome Canada

Eurocan Pulp & Paper Co.

Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

Royal Bank Charitable Foundation

CMHC

Imperial Oil Charitable Foundation

Central Mountain Air

Northern Savings Credit Union

Gulf and Fraser Credit Union

1997 Gala sponsored by du Maurier Arts Ltd. (and the above)

Every effort has been made to include everyone involved in this work spanning 29 years. Sincerest apologies for any errors or omissions.

Karen Jamieson Dance Production 2024