Origins - Festival of First Nations
Further Events
Opening Ceremony - (4 May - The Scoop at More London - 2.30pm)
On Bank Holiday Monday, join performers from the First Nations of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA
as they celebrate the opening of Origins: Festival of First Nations.
In a spectacular welcoming ceremony, London's own Maori group, Ngati Ranana, greet the visiting artists. With Native American responses,
and, as an Elder of the British theatre community, leading actor Pete Postlethwaite, this will be a unique event in London's calendar.
Venue 7: The Scoop at More London
by City Hall, Queens Walk, London SE1. Free event - just turn up!
Native American Theatre: a panel of playwrights - (11 May – British Library – 6.30)
What makes Native American theatre distinctive? How does it express traditional culture and relate it to the contemporary world? What are its main concerns today?
The panel includes Cherokee playwright Diane Glancy, Delaware playwright Daniel David Moses, Yvette Nolan from Native
Earth Theatre, and the directors of the Huron-Wendat company Ondinnok: Yves Sioui Durand and Catherine Joncas.
Chaired by Prof. Helen Gilbert (Royal Holloway College, University of London).
Presented by the Origins Festival and the Eccles Centre for American Studies, the British Library.
Venue 8: The British Library, Euston Road, London NW1. £6 / £4 concessions. To book, contact Origins Box Office at Riverside Studios. 020 8237 1111.
www.riversidestudios.co.uk
BOOK TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT
The Origins Lecture – Alanis Obomsawin - (15 May – Riverside Studios 6.30pm)
A chance to hear the leading First Nations filmmaker, the subject of a recent retrospective at MOMA in New York, discuss her life, her culture and her craft.
For over 40 years, Abenaki filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin has directed documentaries for Canada's National Film Board.
To date, she has made over 30 films on issues affecting First Nations people in Canada, several of which are being
screened at Origins.
She is also a singer, songwriter, visual artist and political activist.
In 2008, Obomsawin was honoured with a special retrospective at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and was honoured with the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. In 2001, Obomsawin received a
Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts.
An Officer of the Order of Canada, Obomsawin's many honours also include the Luminaria Tribute for Lifetime Achievement
from the Santa Fe Film Festival, International Documentary Association's Pioneer Award, the Toronto Women
in Film and Television's (TWIFT) Outstanding Achievement Award in Direction, the Canadian Native
Arts Foundation National Aboriginal Achievement Award, and the Outstanding Contributions Award
from the Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association (CSAA). The latter marks the first time
that the CSAA has honoured someone who is not an academic in the field of sociology and anthropology.
Venue 1: Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6. £5. 020 8237 1111.
www.riversidestudios.co.uk
BOOK TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT
Storytelling – Robert Greygrass - (16 May – Riverside Studios 12 noon)
Lakota storyteller Robert Greygrass tells traditional stories for both children and adults.
Venue 1: Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6. £5. 020 8237 1111.
www.riversidestudios.co.uk
BOOK TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT
Storytelling, music and dance – Ant Hatcher - (9 May – Riverside Studios 12 noon)
Cherokee storyteller and musician Ant Hatcher with traditional material for children of all ages from 4 to 400. Also featuring Apache performer Anuki Coats.
Venue 1: Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6. £5 (£3). 020 8237 1111.
www.riversidestudios.co.uk
BOOK TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT
Maori Voices – A Panel Discussion - (8 May – Soho Theatre 6.15pm)
James Ashcroft, Tumuaki (Artistic Director) of Taki Rua, discusses contemporary Maori theatre and culture with indigenous New Zealanders now living in London.
Venue 2: Soho Theatre, 21, Dean Street, London W1D 3NE £3. 0207 478 0100.
www.sohotheatre.com
BOOK TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT
Identity: Ethnic or Cultural? – A Panel Discussion - (9 May – Soho Theatre 5.30pm)
A discussion of what constitutes a First Nations identity, with Daniel David Moses, Yvette Nolan (Artistic Director – Native Earth)
James Ashcroft (Tumuaki - Artistic Director - Taki Rua) and others tbc.
Venue 2: Soho Theatre, 21, Dean Street, London W1D 3NE £3. 0207 478 0100.
www.sohotheatre.com
BOOK TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT
Native Voices, Native Languages – A Panel Discussion - (10 May – Riverside Studios 3pm)
Daniel David Moses discusses the languages of First Nations Theatre with Jeremy Turner, Artistic Director of Arad Goch, a Welsh-language company.
Venue 1: Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6. £3. 020 8237 1111.
www.riversidestudios.co.uk
BOOK TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT
Filming First Nations – A Panel Discussion - (12 May – Riverside Studios 6.30pm)
Vilsoni Hereniko (director – The Land Has Eyes) and Alanis Obomsawin (director – Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance)
discuss First Nations film with Ian Conrich (Director – Centre for New Zealand Studies, Birkbeck, University of London)
and Ian Henderson (Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, King's College, University of London).
Venue 1: Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6. £3. 020 8237 1111.
www.riversidestudios.co.uk
BOOK TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT
Frank Davey – Aboriginal Elder - (13 May – Riverside Studios 6.30pm)
Frank Davey - Aboriginal Elder. Frank Davey is an Elder from the Bardi people of Western Australia, living as part of the
One Arm Community based north of Broome in the remote North West of WA. Frank is a leading songman and musician for the Bardi Dancers, and offers some of his wisdom in conversation with Michael Walling, Director of Origins.
Venue 1:Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6. £3. 020 8237 1111.
www.riversidestudios.co.uk
BOOK TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT
David Milroy: A Personal History - (16 May – Riverside Studios 5pm)
Indigenous Australian writer and director David Milroy gives a gentle but powerful talk with slides, introducing his people, his history, the background to his writing,
and his passionate involvement with Native Title claims.
Venue 1: Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6. £3. 020 8237 1111.
www.riversidestudios.co.uk
BOOK TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT
Exhibition - (4 May - 17 May)
Maori artists George Nuku and Rosanna Raymond, display carvings and jewellery in the Riverside Studios foyer throughout the Festival.
Venue 1: Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6. FREE. 020 8237 1111.
www.riversidestudios.co.uk
Closing Ceremony - (17 May - The Scoop at More London - 2pm)
Bringing the Origins Festival to a rousing conclusion, First Nations artists join with young people from the capital in a celebration of Truth and Reconciliation,
Respect for the Earth, History and the Future.
Venue 7: The Scoop at More London
by City Hall, Queens Walk, London SE1. Free event - just turn up!