“Cottagers and Indians”

Rodney Smith-Merkley

One of the Bobcaygeon Truth and Reconciliation Community’s most ambitious undertakings was in hosting a Drew Hayden Taylor play around manoomin.  I have a wonderful memory of Cottagers and Indians being performed in Curve Lake.  I believe it was the first time the play was performed outside of Toronto…and the first time the dock had been built in a new location.  Beads of sweat, using dead cordless drills as screwdrivers, and borrowing scrap lumber from community members to ensure the dock would hold together all under a very tight timeline made for a memorable debut!

It was quite the way for me to meet some members of my new congregation, just beginning the process of moving from a ministry in Bobcaygeon to one in Curve Lake.  I am glad the church could join with labour unions and the arts community as well as the Curve Lake community to bring this play “home” to the Curve Lake Community Centre.

The next few days of soldout performances at the Lakeview Arts Barn proved just as memorable.  Evening shows were followed by conversation with Michii Saagiig knowledge keepers, and matinees for high school students were complemented by workshops on the land at Gamiing Nature Centre, just next door on Pigeon Lake.  There Drew Hayden Taylor captured students’ imaginations with the power of story, while tasty manoomin was shared around an open fire while learning about how it grows and how it is processed.  Chi meegwech to James and Daemin Whetung for their role in this. It felt like we were bringing people together in a good way, making a difference!