Conscient Podcast: e92 santee smith – about SKéN:NEN and interconnectedness

Conscient Podcast 
My #conscientpodcast conversation with indigenous multidisciplinary artist Santee Smith, artistic director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre on Dec 10, 2021 in Tkaronto at a CPAMO panel about art and climate where Santee talks her new post-apocalyptic work in progress ‘SKéN:NEN’, ecological calendars, permaculture and more.  

Santee Smith (Tekaronhiáhkhwa/Picking Up The Sky) is a multidisciplinary artist from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, Turtle Clan, Six Nations of the Grand River. Transformation, energetic exchange and creating mind-heart connections through performance is her lifelong work. Santee trained at Canada’s National Ballet School; holds Physical Education and Psychology degrees from McMaster University and a M.A. in Dance from York University. Premiering her first production Kaha:wi – a family creation story in 2004, one year later she founded Kaha:wi Dance Theatre which has grown into an internationally renowned company. Santee approaches her life and work in a sacred manner and the importance of sharing our gifts with others. Through her Onkwehonwe’neha creative process, Santee’s work speaks to identity and humanity, role and responsibility of artists in community. She is a sought-after teacher and speaker on the performing arts, Indigenous performance and culture. Smith is the 19th Chancellor of McMaster University.

I’ve known Santee over the years as a great dance artist, an exceptional leader and tireless advocate for indigenous arts and culture. I had the honour of moderating the CPAMO National Cultural Policy and arts in Response to Climate Change panel on December 10, 2021 (along with Anthony Garoufalis-Auger, episode 93 and Devon Hardy, episode 94).

Santee spoke of her creative work in and around environmental issues, notably her new post-apocalyptic work in progress, SKéN:NEN and answered questions from the audience, including her use of ecological calendars and interest in permaculture. I would have liked to have a follow up conversation with Santee to enrich this episode, but this not possible at this time and will be for another day. For now, I invite you to listen in to this insightful presentation by Santee. Unfortunately, the audio quality is not optimal (recorded on a laptop via Zoom). Please note that there is a short passage at 8 minutes where Santee introduces herself that has some distortion that is resolved at 8 minutes 35 seconds. Please see the bio above for this missing information. 

This is one of 6 episodes recorded during the Gathering Divergence Multi-Arts Festival & Conference Fall 2021 | Art in the Time of Healing: The Importance of IBPOC Arts in Planetary Renewal event from December 8 to 10, 2021 in Toronto.

The others are:

  • episode 90, a conversation with dance artist, choreographer, director and embodiment facilitator Shannon Litzenberger and reading her State of Emergence: Why We Need Artists Right Now essay
  • episode 91, my conversation with Keith Barker, artistic director of Native Earth Performing Arts, including a reading of his new 5 minute Climate Change Theatre Action play, Apology, My at the end of this episode
  • episode 93, a presentation (including audience questions) by Anthony Garoufalis-Auger from the National Cultural Policy and arts in Response to Climate Change panel
  • episode 94, a presentation (including audience questions) by Devon Hardy from the National Cultural Policy and arts in Response to Climate Change panel
  • episode 95, my conversation with CPAMO Executive Director Charles Smith and artistic programmer Kevin Ormsby from a keynote address including excerpts from their conversation about the Living in the Skin I am In: Experiential Learnings, Approaches and Considerations Towards Anti-Black Racism in the Arts publication  

Links mentioned in this episode:

Santee Smith. Claude Schryer, Anthony Garoufalis-Auger-Auger and Devon Hardy at CPAMO National Cultural Policy and arts in Response to Climate Change panel, December 10, 2021, Toronto

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Ma conversation #conscientpodcast avec l'artiste multidisciplinaire autochtone Santee Smith, directrice artistique du Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, le 10 décembre 2021 à Tkaronto, lors d'une table ronde de la CPAMO sur l'art et le climat. Santee y a parlé de sa nouvelle œuvre post-apocalyptique en cours, "SKéN:NEN", des calendriers écologiques, de la permaculture, etc

Santee Smith (Tekaronhiáhkhwa/Picking Up The Sky) est une artiste multidisciplinaire de la nation Kahnyen’kehàka, du clan de la Tortue, des Six Nations de la rivière Grand. La transformation, l’échange d’énergie et la création de liens entre l’esprit et le cÅ“ur par le biais de la performance sont le travail de toute une vie. Santee a été formée à l’École nationale de ballet du Canada ; elle détient des diplômes en éducation physique et en psychologie de l’Université McMaster et une maîtrise en danse de l’Université York. Elle a présenté sa première production, Kaha:wi – a family creation story, en 2004. Un an plus tard, elle a fondé le Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, qui est devenu une compagnie de renommée internationale. Santee aborde sa vie et son travail de manière sacrée et souligne l’importance de partager nos dons avec les autres. À travers son processus créatif Onkwehonwe’neha, le travail de Santee parle d’identité et d’humanité, de rôle et de responsabilité des artistes dans la communauté. Elle est une enseignante et une conférencière recherchée dans le domaine des arts de la scène, de la performance et de la culture indigènes. Santee Smith est la 19e chancelière de l’Université McMaster.

J’ai connu Santee au fil des ans comme une grande artiste de la danse, un leader exceptionnel et un défenseur infatigable des arts et de la culture autochtones. J’ai eu l’honneur de modérer le panel de CPAMO sur la politique culturelle nationale et les arts en réponse au changement climatique le 10 décembre 2021 (avec Anthony Garoufalis-Auger, épisode 93 et Devon Hardy, épisode 94).

Santee a parlé de son travail créatif sur et autour des questions environnementales, notamment de sa nouvelle œuvre post-apocalyptique en cours, SKéN:NEN, et a répondu aux questions du public, notamment sur son utilisation des calendriers écologiques et son intérêt pour la permaculture. J’aurais aimé avoir une conversation de suivi avec Santee pour enrichir cet épisode, mais ce n’est pas possible pour le moment et ce sera pour un autre jour. Pour l’instant, je vous invite à écouter cette présentation perspicace de Santee. Malheureusement, la qualité audio n’est pas optimale (enregistrée sur un ordinateur portable via Zoom). Veuillez noter qu’il y a un court passage à 8 minutes où Santee se présente qui a une certaine distorsion qui est résolue à 8 minutes 35 secondes. Veuillez consulter la bio ci-dessus pour cette information manquante. 

Ceci est l’un des 6 épisodes enregistrés lors du festival et de la Gathering Divergence Multi-Arts Festival & Conference Fall 2021 | Art in the Time of Healing: The Importance of IBPOC Arts in Planetary Renewal du 8 au 10 décembre 2021 à Toronto.

  • épisode 90 est une conversation avec l’artiste de la danse, chorégraphe, metteur en scène et facilitatrice d’incarnation Shannon Litzenberger et une présentation de son essai State of Emergence : Pourquoi nous avons besoin d’artistes maintenant
  • épisode 91, ma conversation avec Keith Barker, directeur artistique de Native Earth Performing Arts, y compris une lecture de sa nouvelle pièce de théâtre d’action sur le changement climatique de 5 minutes, APOLOGY, MY à la fin de cet épisode.
  • épisode 93 est une présentation (avec des questions du public) par Anthony Garoufalis-Auger à la table ronde National Cultural Policy and arts in Response to Climate Change.
  • épisode 94 est une présentation (avec questions du public) par Devon Hardy à la table ronde National Cultural Policy and arts in Response to Climate Change.
  • épisode 95 est ma conversation avec Charles Smith, directeur général du CPAMO, et Kevin Ormsby, programmateur artistique, lors de leur présentation ‘keynote’, y compris des extraits de leur exposé sur le projet Living in the Skin I am In: Experiential Learnings, Approaches and Considerations Towards Anti-Black Racism in the Arts (Apprentissages expérientiels, approches et considérations concernant la lutte contre le racisme noir dans les arts). 

Liens mentionnés dans cet épisode :

The post e92 santee smith – about SKéN:NEN and interconnectedness appeared first on conscient podcast / balado conscient. conscient is a bilingual blog and podcast (French or English) by audio artist Claude Schryer that explores how arts and culture contribute to environmental awareness and action.

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About the Concient Podcast from Claude Schryer

The conscient podcast / balado conscient is a series of conversations about art, conscience and the ecological crisis. This podcast is bilingual (in either English or French). The language of the guest determines the language of the podcast. Episode notes are translated but not individual interviews.

I started the conscient project in 2020 as a personal learning journey and knowledge sharing exercise. It has been rewarding, and sometimes surprising.

The term ‘conscient’ is defined as ‘being aware of one’s surroundings, thoughts and motivations’. My touchstone for the podcast is episode 1, e01 terrified, based on an essay I wrote in May 2019, where I share my anxiety about the climate crisis and my belief that arts and culture can play a critical role in raising public awareness about environmental issues. The conscient podcast / balado conscient follows up on my http://simplesoundscapes.ca (2016–2019) project: 175, 3-minute audio and video field recordings that explore mindful listening.

Season 1 (May to October 2020) explored how the arts contribute to environmental awareness and action. I produced 3 episodes in French and 15 in English. The episodes cover a wide range of content, including activism, impact measurement, gaming, arts funding, cross-sectoral collaborations, social justice, artistic practices, etc. Episodes 8 to 17 were recorded while I was at the Creative Climate Leadership USA course in Arizona in March 2020 (led by Julie’s Bicycle). Episode 18 is a compilation of highlights from these conversations.

Season 2 (March 2021 – ) explores the concept of reality and is about accepting reality, working through ecological grief and charting a path forward. The first episode of season 2 (e19 reality) mixes quotations from 28 authors with field recordings from simplesoundscapes and from my 1998 soundscape composition, Au dernier vivant les biens. One of my findings from this episode is that ‘I now see, and more importantly, I now feel in my bones, ‘the state of things as they actually exist’, without social filters or unsustainable stories blocking the way’. e19 reality touches upon 7 topics: our perception of reality, the possibility of human extinction, ecological anxiety and ecological grief, hope, arts, storytelling and the wisdom of indigenous cultures. The rest of season 2 features interviews with thought leaders about their responses and reactions to e19 reality.

my professional services

I’ve been retired from the Canada Council for the Arts since September 15, 2020 where I served as a senior strategic advisor in arts granting (2016-2020) and manager of the Inter-Arts Office (1999-2015). My focus in (quasi) retirement is environmental issues within my area of expertise in arts and culture, in particular in acoustic ecology. I’m open to become involved in projects that align with my values and that move forward environmental concerns. Feel free to email me for a conversation : claude@conscient.ca

acknowledgement of eco-responsibility

I acknowledge that the production of the conscient podcast / balado conscient produces carbon. I try to minimize this carbon footprint by being as efficient as possible, including using GreenGeeks as my web server and acquiring carbon offsets for my equipment and travel activities from BullFrog Power and Less.

a word about privilege and bias

While recording episode 19 ‘reality’, I heard elements of ‘privilege’ in my voice that I had not noticed before. It sounded a bit like ‘ecological mansplaining’. I realize that, in spite of good intentions, I need to work my way through issues of privilege (of all kinds) and unconscious bias the way I did through ecological anxiety and grief during the fall of 2020. My re-education is ongoing.

Go to conscient.ca

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