Ronathahon:ni Host Theatre Arts & Hoop Dance Workshops

During the week of June 29 to July 2nd the Ronathahonni Cultural Center hosted and sponsored a Theatre Arts and Hoop Dance workshops that had a duration of six hours per day for four days in the “Children’s Octagon Building”.  Both workshops were instructed by Rosa, Melvin & Crystal “Beanie” John of the “Indigenous Peoples Theatre of Toronto.”

The first couple of day Rosa John instructed on the preparation of body readiness through exercise and stretching and we worked on critical thinking through movement and freeze stance. This allowed us to express ourselves more confidently.  The children had a great time and thought it was all fun, not really realizing they were becoming actors and actresses.

On the second day we were introduce our scripts to the Play we were to perform on Thursday, July 2nd.  The play “How the Strawberry Became” needed three main people and cast of many to be Berries.   Louie David was the Hunter, Morgan White the wife and Honni David the Sun, Strawberries Ienatsotha Thompson, Kawehnokwiio Thomas; Raspberries Gracie Martin, Emma Martin, & Tyanna Benedict; Blueberries Kanienkwirentha Thomas & Sunni Benedict; Blackberries Taylene Hall, Raylynn Sunday, & Peter Martin III.  

Also on the second day Crystal ‘Beanie’ John explain the meaning of Native hoop dancing to be a form of storytelling, where we will incorporate a number of hoops into our story by creating pictures, dynamic shapes, or formations, representing various animals and storytelling elements. Beanie John  gave three of her hoops to each of us to begin our hoop dance process. The children were very keen on being attentive to each movement and creating a shape with their hoop.  After a while most children expressed to how easy it was to this.

On the third day, we did more creative movement to warm-up before we rehearse our Play “How the Strawberry Became”.  How the strawberry became was basically started with the Hunter (Louie David) having selfish needs and the Wife trying to please him and then it ends up in argument.  The wife (Morgan White) takes off into the deep forest and the hunter goes after her feeling down and hurt but unable to catch up to her.  The hunter (Louie David) meets up with the Sun (Honni David), the Sun asks are you still upset with your wife, the Hunter (Louie David) replies no I feel bad that I didn’t appreciate the things my wife (Morgan White) has done for me and now she has run off and I cannot catch up to her to apologies.  The Sun (Honni David) said I will help you , I will shine as bright as can be to make the most tasteful berries to slow her down, so in sequence he made the Raspberries, then the Blueberries, she (Morgan White) look and complemented on how beautiful the berries were but didn’t stop, she continued and walked by the Blackberries and then Sun said I will make the tasty and brightest berry that she cannot resist., and popped up the Strawberries and she could not resist and decided to pick some for her husband the hunter (Louie David), while she was picking strawberries, the hunter (Louie David) was able to catch up to her and apologies.

After our rehearsal of our play, Melvin John gave our materials for construction of our hoops.  We worked most of the day creating our own hoops out of pipe flex and used colored electrical tape to cover the hoops.  We chosen our own colors and we created five hoops.  These hoops would be ours to keep to practice and dance with.  We then practice with the hoops and worked up to working with five hoops to create shapes in sequence that would later become our routine.

Thursday July 2nd morning was the rehearsal day for our Play and our hoop dance.  While we were rehearsing the play Melvin John was preparing a fire for a ceremony to bless our hoops and our children as they prepare to enter the “Hoop Dance Circle”.    The fire was ready; we sat down quietly listening to the blessing words of “Grand Chief Kanentakeron Mitchell” and the songs from Josh Sargeant.  The children were very at tentative as they received this blessing.  

 Later in the afternoon we presented our Play, Hotinonhson:ni songs and our hoop dance at 2:00 p.m. behind the Ronathahon:ni cultural center on their stage in front of parents, family and elders.  Kahnastatsi & Rosa John were the masters of ceremonials.  Louie David, Joanne Swamp & “Grand Chief Mitchell gave out