You used to call me Marie...

By Tai Amy Grauman

2024-06-12 19:30 2024-06-16 22:00 60 Canada/Eastern 🎟 NAC: You used to call me Marie...

https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/33716

In-person event

A Savage Society and NAC Indigenous Theatre Production An epic Métis love story. A love story, a historical epic, and a celebration of Métis song and dance, You used to call me Marie… brings to life the stories of the Callihoo women in Alberta. Music fills the air, and ponies dance as Marie Callihoo's story unfolds through generations and time. We follow Iskwewo, Napew, and Mistatim ('horse' in Michif) in eight intertwined love stories as the Métis...

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Babs Asper Theatre,1 Elgin Street,Ottawa,Canada
June 12 - 16, 2024
June 12 - 16, 2024

≈ 90 minutes · No intermission

Last updated: June 13, 2024

Creator's Note

“I have done a lot, but I think the people who got me here are more important than what I have accomplished.

First of all, my Mom and Dad are my foundation. They gave me the space to experience the wonderful and magical world of theatre. Thank you for the ponies, the music and dance lessons and all the love that made all my beautiful dreams come to life.

I would also like to thank Savage Society for everything they have done for me. I would not have this artistic career without their unfaltering support. Kevin and Chelsea, thank you for teaching me the true meaning of loyalty, mentorship, community and how powerful storytelling can be. 

Last but definitely not least, I would like to thank the Métis Nation of Alberta and Audrey Poitras for her 28 years of leadership. I would not be here today without all the Métis leaders in Alberta who came before me. Thank you for giving us our stories back.”

A Note From the Artistic Director, NAC Indigenous Theatre 

I am so proud to share this show with our audience here at the National Arts Centre. I first worked with Tai when I directed her in her first professional acting gig, fresh out of the University of British Columbia Theatre Program, to play another Marie in my Governor General's Award-nominated play, Thanks for Giving, which ran at the Arts Club Granville Island Theatre in October 2017. The day after opening night, I packed up my family and flew to Ottawa to begin my journey here at the National Arts Centre. Now, six and a half years later, we've come full circle, and I get to share her artistry and vision with all of you.   

Since 2017, Tai has been working with my company, Savage Society, in British Columbia, first as an actor and then as an associate artist, joining us in our annual community work creating and performing plays based on Nlaka'pamux creation stories in my hometown of Lytton. Tai has also been working with Savage Society in an associate producer role, gaining valuable experience helping us produce the innovative environmental show, The Pipeline Project

One of the exciting things we like to do at Savage Society is ask the artists we've developed relationships with if they have something they're interested in creating, and then we help guide them through the process. We offer support through playwriting and help them become artistic leaders of their own work. It has been a true honour to watch Tai grow as an artist, leading the creation of her play, utilizing the land-based dramaturgical approach of returning to the lands from which the story originates and sharing it with audiences there first before bringing it to the stage. 

In the development leading up to the world premiere of this work, Tai toured this beautiful play throughout the Métis homelands of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, playing in fields, under tents, on the land. You used to call me Marie... truly exemplifies the Indigenous Theatre mantra of "one foot in the community, one foot on the stage." I hope you enjoy this beautiful star story of lovers reunited over time. 

A Note From the Managing Director, NAC Indigenous Theatre 

I am proud to welcome Tai to the NAC stage with her first professionally produced play! It is an honour to co-produce this work with Savage Society. 

Talented, passionate, proud, and a natural leader, she is paving the way for a new generation of Indigenous artists and her community, the Métis Nation, for generations to come. 

Thank you for joining us to experience and celebrate her beautiful work. 

Creator Q&A with Tai Amy Grauman

What was your greatest challenge and your greatest joy in writing this play?

The greatest challenge and joy in writing this script lay in accurately chronicling the history of the Métis Nation in Alberta. My Nation has a rich history, and in this play, I have endeavoured to include as much as possible. However, I was still unable to document everything. It is my hope that this play will serve as a starting point for many to begin understanding the story of the Métis Nation.

How did culture play a role in the spiral format of the story?

The spiral in this play is a tribute to my Métis understanding of generations. In my perception of how time and space move, I feel as though all the Maries are with me at all times. To me, the spiral represents the convergence of generations and the ways in which I am perpetually carrying all these stories with me. All these Maries inform my daily decisions, and their lives guide the paths I choose.

What was your familiarity with the Michif and Cree languages before the play? How did this impact the story you wanted to tell?

When I began writing this play, my understanding of how the Cree language evolved into Michif through the integration of French was limited. Michif is a fusion of Cree and French. There are numerous dialects of Michif, each tied to specific areas, territories, and communities. Through the stories in the play, I have strived to accurately represent how the language has shifted and transformed over time. The Michif used in this production is the dialect that reflects the territory my family originates from.

Through writing the character of Iskwewo, did you learn anything about the experiences of your own family? Did it change any of your perceptions or beliefs about the past?

In writing this play, I devoted considerable time to exploring Métis women’s religion and spirituality. Through this exploration, I discovered that many Métis women in Alberta continue to practice the Catholic faith, incorporating elements from our Cree kin. Similar to the language, Métis women’s religious and spiritual practices have become a synthesis of our French and Cree heritage. Initially, I had wanted to exclude any Catholic beliefs or symbols from the play, but during the development process, I realized that was not appropriate. Many Métis women proudly practice Catholicism, as it is an integral part of our history as a Nation.

Artists

  • graumantaiamy
    Playwright, Co-Creator, Performer (Iskwewo) Tai Amy Grauman
  • 2-aren-okemaysim
    Performer (Napew) Aren Okemaysim
  • 3-cole-alvis
    Performer (Horse 1/Dancer/Narrator) Cole Alvis
  • 4-kathleen-nisbet
    Music & Composition, Performer, Fiddle, Mandolin, Banjo, Band Captain Kathleen Nisbet
  • 5-krystle-pederson
    Music & Composition, Performer, Keyboard, Guitar, Vocal Captain Krystle Pederson
  • 6-andrea-menard
    Composer Andrea Menard
  • 7-rebecca-sadowski
    Performer (Spirit Horse, Horse 2, Dancer) Rebecca Sadowski
  • 8-lois-anderson
    Director Lois Anderson
  • 9-cecilia-vadala
    Set Designer Cecilia Vadala
  • Co-Costume Designer Evan Ducharme
  • 11-alaia-hamer
    Co-Costume Designer Alaia Hamer
  • jeff-harrison
    Lighting Designer Jeff Harrison
  • 13-aaron-macri
    Sound Designer Aaron Macri
  • andrade-candelario-headshot
    Projection Designer Candelario Andrade
  • 15-stephanie-elgersma
    Props Designer Stephanie Elgersma
  • rebecca-eamon-campbell-headshot
    Stage Manager Rebecca Eamon Campbell
  • 17-michelle-olson
    Assistant Director Michelle Olson
  • matt-oviatt
    Technical Director Matt Oviatt
  • 18-yvonne-chartrand
    Métis Jigging Yvonne Chartrand
  • 19-jessica-campbell-maracle
    Assistant Stage Manager Jessica Campbell-Maracle
  • 20-castor-angus
    Apprentice Stage Manager Castor Angus

Credits

You used to call me Marie…

Playwright, Co-Creator, Performer (Iskwewo)
Tai Amy Grauman

Performer (Napew)
Aren Okemaysim

Performer (Horse 1/Dancer/Narrator)
Cole Alvis

Music & Composition, Performer, Fiddle, Mandolin, Banjo, Band Captain
Kathleen Nisbet

Music & Composition, Performer, Keyboard, Guitar, Vocal Captain
Krystle Pederson

Composer
Andrea Menard

Performer (Spirit Horse, Horse 2, Dancer)
Rebecca Sadowski

Director
Lois Anderson

Set Designer
Cecilia Vadala

Co-Costume Designer
Evan Ducharme

Co-Costume Designer
Alaia Hamer

Lighting Designer
Jeff Harrison

Sound Designer
Aaron Macri

Projection Designer
Candelario Andrade

Props Designer
Stephanie Elgersma

Stage Manager
Rebecca Eamon Campbell

Assistant Director
Michelle Olson

Technical Director
Matt Oviatt

Métis Jigging
Yvonne Chartrand

Assistant Stage Manager
Jessica Campbell-Maracle

Apprentice Stage Manager
Castor Angus

NAC Indigenous Theatre

Artistic Director
Kevin Loring

Managing Director
Lori Marchand

Technical Director, Theatre Department
Spike Lyne

Producer
Michelle Yagi

Associate Producer
Brit Johnston

Producing Resident
Jessica Campbell-Maracle

Associate Producer #ReconcileThis
Josh Languedoc

Cultural Advocate
Mairi Brascoupé

Education Coordinator
Kerry Corbiere

Communications Strategist
Ian Hobson

Marketing Strategist
Marie-Pierre Chaumont

Senior Marketing Manager
Bridget Mooney

NAC Production Team

Head Carpenter  
Charles Martin 

Head Properties  
Michel Sanscartier 

Head Electrician   
Eric Tessier  

Assistant Properties   
Martin Racette  

Head Audio  
Jon Carter 

Assistant Audio  
Sarah Waghorn

Head Fly
Alex Griffore

Head Wardrobe  
Linda Dufresne 

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees