A small group of concerned
individuals, who are part of a community called
Daré, are seeking
support within the larger community for Elder Vern Harper. Our mandate
to seek funds for Elder Vern at this time is two fold. In addition to
the powerful impact his work has in native and non-native communities,
Elder Vern's forced work leave due to a series of surgeries as well as
the sudden loss of his son has resulted in serious loss of income.
Our decision to raise awareness
about Elder Vern's work through presenting a benefit premiere
performance of Jerry Brodey's one-man play,
Solo: A Boy's Journey is
informed by the diverse yet common themes and creative aspects that
appear in their community work. Their individual commitments to nurture
and help guide the rites of passage processes of others extend beyond
age, race, and gender.
The work of Elder Vern and the
Daré intersect at the level of Council. Daré (pronounced dar-ray),
meaning a sacred gathering for healing purposes is rooted in the African
Shona tradition of Council. Elder Vern's work flows from council-like
processes native to the North American aboriginal Cree Nation.
At the initial 2006 meeting
between Elder Vern and the Shona healer Mandaza Kandemwa, we were
inspired by their instantaneous bonding as brothers. The bonding
effects of these men's approaches to council and spirituality widened
our understanding of the council process as both an ancient yet new
universal language with immense potential to contribute to global peace;
peacemaking that we believe necessary to healing the innumerable wounds
that divide the globe. Given the planet's current at-risk state, we
consider our support of Elder Vern’s work and ability to pass on his
council traditions a privilege as well as a duty. We hope you can join
us in supporting Elder Vern by coming to and/or supporting the benefit
on March 19th, 2008.
Following the play, Toronto
Playback Theatre will offer a special performance for you, the
audience, to share your experience of seeing Solo: A Boy's
Journey.
Toronto Playback Theatre is dedicated to creating a space for your
own stories to be heard and enacted by a professional troupe of
improvisational performers. Share your story, or just sit back,
listen and watch.
Toronto Playback Theatre is dedicated to
listening to people's stories and transforming them spontaneously into
theatre. Our mission is to provide organizations with dramatic,
audience-interactive performances and programs that build trust, deepen
dialogue and generate opportunities for personal and professional
development. Playback Theatre aims to create a ritual space where every
voice and any story - however ordinary, extraordinary, hidden or
difficult - might be heard and told. The Toronto Playback Theatre is
committed to a theatre that values community, service, and the
possibility of personal and social transformation.
Click here for
information on when, where, and how to purchase tickets or click
on the Ticket link on the left of this page.
The Art Auction
Artist Brian Marion
& Philip Cote
Brian Marion
"As an artist he
has learned to apply colour to forms that were derived, in part,
from ancient pictographs still found in the central region of
Canada. While he developed his artistic talents, he was taught
to use the meanings of the legends as a basis for composition in
his painting. He has acquired the knowledge from the visions of
our people and has come to understand our close ties with
nature. He is able to get inspiration from his native
spirituality and with the blessing of the Creator, add his own
emotional and intuitive interpretations to produce beautiful
art."
In 1994 Brian was
chosen to represent Canada at the 50th Anniversary D-Day
Celebrations in Normandy, France.
Brian
has graciously donated this beautiful painting for our art
auction.
Please visit his site
or click on the painting to get there.
