Cottagers and Indians Oct. 23-25

BOBCAYGEON — A play about the wild rice conflicts on Pigeon Lake, written by an author from Curve Lake First Nation, is running in Bobcaygeon at the end of the month.

Cottagers and Indians is playing at Lakeview Arts Barn on Pigeon Lake Rd. from Oct. 23 to 25.

Drew Hayden Taylor, a wellknown writer with an Indigenous focus, wrote the piece with a humorous tone.

Cottagers and Indians premiered at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre last year.

In 2015, tensions piqued between Indigenous wild rice harvesters and cottage owners when permits were issued to remove rice from the lake.

Indigenous people have a legal right to harvest the rice and traditionally do so from September through October.

Some waterfront homeowners object though, saying the rice beds are so thick they can’t navigate their boats. A group called Save Pigeon Lake was formed to stop the deliberate seeding of wild rice.

A handful of cottagers got permits from the Trent-Severn Waterway and Parks Canada to remove some of the rice plants. The permits were for a 100square-foot area.

That didn’t sit well with harvesters though, particularly James Whetung. He continued to harvest anyway.

Bobcaygeon Truth and Reconciliation Community (TRC) is bringing the play to Lakeview Arts Barn to help improve relationships with Indigenous people, settlers and the land.

“It’s just an opportunity for further understanding between the two cultures,” said Rodney Smith-Merkley, a TRC member and reverend for the Trinity Providence United Churches.

TRC came together three years ago in response to the wild rice harvesting controversy.

Cottagers and Indians features Herbie Barnes as the harvester and Brooke Johnson as the cottager. It’s directed by Melody Johnson.

Following the play, there’ll be a question and answer period with either Taylor or rice harvesters or both. James Whetung and his daughter Daemin will represent the harvesters.

TRC is also hosting two, free matinee performances for area high school students. Students start off at the Gaming Nature Centre with Taylor and the Whetungs. They’ll also take part in a hands-on workshop on wild rice and an educational session on treaties.

Before the play officially launches at Lakeview Arts Barn, there’ll also be a special, inviteonly production at Curve Lake at the Curve Lake Community Centre on Oct. 22.