Meet people who help.   

Where can you go when you or someone you know needs to report abuse?  Listen for ideas.

Looking for what to do when you have Tenant/Landlord issues?   Legal Aid has resources.

What happens when you report a criminal violation to police? How do you prepare yourself?   An officer tells us.

Where can you go for help if it's not criminal abuse? Hear what community workers and a police officer advise.  

Other things you'll hear about include: Power of Attorney,  helping hospitalized people, the Epidemic of Greed, and a Band Council Politician's War Story, 

Speakers: Kris Keeshig, Jason Cranny, Angela Yenssen, Mary Ann Sackabuckshkum, Paul Nadjiwan, Thundercloud, david sereda,  Joan Chandler, and Pamela McDermid. 

Hosts: Tanya Coulter and Jon Farmer

Miigwech.

For more about the cast, speakers, and community listening circles visit www.sheatre.com.

 What is elder abuse?  In a public circle, stakeholders and community resources Talk About Elder Abuse in various forms.   Above all they agree – remember the first of the Seven Grandfather teachings. Respect. Elders are an invaluable, precious resource.  

Our panelists represent a wide range of people, giving you an idea of where to go if help is needed.  Hear them introduce themselves and their services. 

The discussion focuses on emotional abuse of grandparents, the growing and heart-breaking abuse of withholding access to grandchildren, and "pay per view" bribery.  

Continue on to Part Two of this episode for advice about fraud, landlord/tenants problems, disassociation, and more.

Speakers: Kris Keeshig, Jason Cranny, Angela Yenssen, Mary Ann Sackabuckshkum, Paul Nadjiwan, Thundercloud, david sereda,  Joan Chandler, and Pam McDermid. 

Hosts: Tanya Coulter and Jon Farmer

For more about the cast, speakers, and community listening circles visit www.sheatre.com.

Gloria May Eshkibok, Dorothy Kennedy and Joan Chandler recall the project’s beginnings: moments from the workshop at Kitty Bell’s house, the magic of the live play, the social context, why they wanted to address something that’s not easy to talk about -- using theatre.

“There was no pretence about it. There was no putting on airs or being in a different frame of mind, but just being there as natural as can be and I think that was what made things work for us to live in a natural way, to be open to what the world has to offer, what your destiny has to offer that day.”   Dorothy Kennedy

“The snow [that] came that day for that presentation was a sign from the Creator. It's important work that we're doing. It's important work that we're listening to. It's important work that we have to bring awareness.”  Gloria May Eshkibok

The Audio Drama Cast: Gloria May Eshkibok, Daniel Gonzales, Bernadette Eshkawkogan, Fawn Aiabens Jacko, Marjorie Trudeau, Daniel Peltier, Jeff Eshkawkogan, Brenda Wabie, Dorothy Kennedy, Kitty Bell, Danielle Roy McDonald, Paul Hartmann and Rose Peltier. Facilitated and directed by Joan Chandler.

We welcome your support of this program through a charitable donation via Canada Helps or www.sheatre.com.  Sheatre is a registered charitable organization. 

We appreciate the support of New Horizons for Seniors, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, J.P. Bickell Foundation, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, and The Ontario Arts Council.

For more about the cast, speakers, and community listening circles visit www.sheatre.com.

PART TWO: A recording of a private post-event conversation on May 18, 2022

Description:
This episode is in two parts.  

This second installment captures the group's excited private conversation afterwards, as they expressed how liberating, important and impactful it was to talk.  The conversation about issues, resources and solutions continues.

The first is the event itself.  Silent no longer, in Part One five Anishinaabe Elders speak in their own language about what they have seen, what they know, from their life experience and work experience as community workers, teachers and individuals. This can be hard to listen to. 

FROM THE EPISODE:

"Start somewhere!"
Jacob Wemigwans

"I see that this past hour recorded is going to be of value to our Nishnabemowin speaking community."   
Colleen Wassegijig

"We have to start looking at ourselves at an equal level with the professionals. ...We need to bring ourselves up. We need to feel that empowerment ... The reason why I'm saying this is because for a long time growing up, we had to talk in English in front of Zhnagenash. ...  We've always accommodated so much over our own best interests, our own morale, our own enlightenment. So I just like to point that out that we need to keep on bringing ourselves up. And we're not just tools to resource here. ... We're doing a great big thing here. This is really, uh, a big, a big ... I just can't get over that we've done it here tonight."
Dorothy Wassegijig Kennedy

It would be a good idea to listen to Part One first.


“…an incredible resource for programming/education – which can be utilized as a springboard into talking about these difficult issues.”  — Tanya Coulter,  M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre 

Resources:
Indian Residential School Survivors 24-hour Crisis Line at 1-800-721-0066
Ontario Seniors Safety Line: 1-866-299-1011
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501
Talk4Healing:  1-888-200-9997 -- a helpline for Indigenous women across Ontario. Talk, text or chat . 
 
 

We welcome your support of this program through a charitable donation via Canada Helps.  Sheatre is a registered charitable organization. 

We appreciate the support of New Horizons for Seniors, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, Justice Canada, J.P. Bickell Foundation, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, and The Ontario Arts Council.

For more about the cast, speakers, and community listening circles visit www.sheatre.com.

PART ONE: A recording of a Zoom event held May 18, 2022

Kitchi Nshinaabeg dibaataanaawaa Kitchi Nshinaabeg miji doodwindwaa
 – Elders talk about Elder Abuse in Ojibwe

Aapiji go gegeti, aabdig Wii dbaamjigaade maanda nayi waabjigaadeg. Baatinat.
[This is the truth. This needs to be looked at. There is too much of it.]
Ron Odjig  
 
This episode is in two parts.  The first is the Zoom event.
 
Silent no longer, five Anishinaabe Elders speak in their language about what they have seen, what they know, from their life experience and work experience as community workers, teachers and individuals. This can be hard to listen to.  Then, these five start to talk about helpful ideas.     

The second installment captures the group's excited private conversation afterwards, as they felt how liberating, important and impactful it was to talk.  The conversation about issues, resources and solutions continues.

"Ngii bizhaamgook, ginamaa dash gonaa wgii noondaanaahdig, “Mii owa ge naadmaag”
[They came to me, probably because they heard, "That's who will help you."]
Dorothy Wassegijig Kennedy

FROM THE EPISODE:

Dorothy Wassegijig Kennedy
Wiide dibaatang naa owa kwe maage nini gaa zhiwebzowaat.  Gaawii go pane gii tesnoo owe waa zhi dibaatang wiya maanda. ... Gii znagad go.
[For a long time there was no venue for them to talk.  It is just recently that is available.]

Colleen Wassegijig
"Miigo wepii gii maajtaa’aambah miwdoowaanh gaa zhi waabjigehyaanh miidash go owe eko maadziiyaanh gii miwdowaanh.  Aazhi nsastimaa wepii."
[That is when I started to carry what I saw  and I have held it to this day. How I understood it on that day.]
Nimdana nsa baboon minig gayi ngii dibaataziin.  Gegpii ngii kendaan maanda gaa nji zhiwebag.
[For forty years I did not talk about this.  Finally I see why it happened.]

Jacob Wemigwans:
“Gaa miinwaa nga biinaasiig binoojiinhyag wiibi nbochwe’aat”.  Ji gaaza.Mii owe aapiji gonaa maanaadendam owa egidzit waabmaasig niwe ooshenhyin. Aapiji go znagat.
[“I will not bring the grandchildren to come and visit.” He is told.  And so the elder get’s very sad when they don’t see their grandchildren. It is very hard.]

David Root:
"Mii dash gonaa waabdaman genii nmesendam gonaa gayi owa Nookmiss doodaagaazwad gayi owa. ... Mii dash gii damgaazwaad. Tkwanewnini gawii gegoo nwii zhichgesiimi gii kidwag gaynwaa."
[I saw that Grandmother was ashamed of what was being done to her. ... It is hard to talk about. You will get reprimanded if you say something.]

Jacob Wemigwans:
Miinwaa gdaa wiikjitooonaa wii zhitooying, wiya gonaa gepoowepa maaba egidzit. [We should work on getting a place where the abused elders can go.]

Transcribed and translated by Dorothy Wassegijig Kennedy.

“…an incredible resource  – which can be utilized as a springboard into talking about these difficult issues.”  — Tanya Coulter,  M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre 

Resources:
Indian Residential School Survivors 24-hour Crisis Line at 1-800-721-0066
Ontario Seniors Safety Line: 1-866-299-1011
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501

We welcome your support of this program through a charitable donation via Canada Helps. 
Thank you to New Horizons for Seniors, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, Justice Canada, J.P. Bickell Foundation, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, and The Ontario Arts Council.

For more about the cast, speakers, and community listening circles visit www.sheatre.com.

Surmounting  colonialism, residential schools and the Sixties Scoop.

As Austin Elliott tells the personal story of his family, he reveals how seismic policies and racist decisions by "settlers" have affected Indigenous people's lives, behaviours and relationships across the generations.   In doing so, he helps us understand about consequences.  And the strength of love.

This story is a must-know for people seeking Truth and Reconciliation.
And for Indigenous people looking for perspective on current events.

A powerful tribute.

Speakers: Austin Elliott, Joan Chandler
Singer: Shirley John

Resources:
If you or someone you know is experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential school experience, call the Indian Residential School Survivors and Family 24 Hour Crisis Line. 1-800-721-0066

If you or someone you know is affected by elder abuse, you can call the
Senior’s Safety Line in Ontario anytime, anonymously and free of charge, at
1- 866-299-1011

The Audio Drama Cast (see previous episodes):
Gloria May Eshkibok, Daniel Gonzales, Bernadette Eshkawkogan, Fawn Aiabens Jacko, Marjorie Trudeau, Daniel Peltier, Jeff Eshkawkogan, Brenda Wabie, Dorothy Kennedy, Kitty Bell, Danielle Roy McDonald, Paul Hartmann and Rose Peltier. Facilitated and directed by Joan Chandler.

We welcome your support of this program through a charitable donation via Canada Helps.  Sheatre is a registered charitable organization. 

We appreciate the support of New Horizons for Seniors, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, J.P. Bickell Foundation, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, and The Ontario Arts Council.

For more about the cast, speakers, and community listening circles visit www.sheatre.com.

Kids are smart. They're observant.  This recording captures the thoughts of a youth group at M'Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre.  They listen to excerpts from the episode "Thieves," talk about what they heard, what it means, how to deal with it, and what they'd like to see next.  In the end, the Seven Grandfather Teachings  underpin their hope for how we would treat elders. 

This episode can be used by teachers, youth leaders and families to start the conversation with your own kids.  An educational guide will be coming soon on www.sheatre.com.

Speakers: Laura, Kiera, Charlotte, Lauren, Mali, Kyanna, Mara and Joan.

The Cast: Gloria May Eshkibok, Daniel Gonzales, Bernadette Eshkawkogan, Fawn Aiabens Jacko, Marjorie Trudeau, Daniel Peltier, Jeff Eshkawkogan, Brenda Wabie, Dorothy Kennedy, Kitty Bell, Danielle Roy McDonald, Paul Hartmann and Rose Peltier. Facilitated and directed by Joan Chandler.

Recorded by Trevor MacKenzie.  Edited by G.I. Holm, Wallsdown Studios.
Produced by Joan Chandler and david sereda.

Resources:
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Ontario Seniors Safety Line: 1-866-299-1011


We welcome your support of this program through a charitable donation via Canada Helps.  Sheatre is a registered charitable organization. 

We appreciate the support of New Horizons for Seniors, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, J.P. Bickell Foundation, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, and The Ontario Arts Council.

For more about the cast, speakers, and community listening circles visit www.sheatre.com.

Financial Abuse! Unspoken shames.

The Stories:  A man steals his elderly alcoholic father’s money and bank cards.  Another man neglects his mother’s spiritual well-being, forcing confinement and refusing her access to church and friends. We also hear about the beauty of wrinkles, and their meaning.

 Panel Discussion: Financial Abuse is the most commonly reported kind of elder abuse. Prevention is key. We want answers about what to do.  

Some abuse is hard to talk about. 

There's nothing wrong with reaching out and getting help. Nobody deserves to be abused.  

How do you talk about “secret” experiences? Is this normal? How do you keep a relationship with a family member and have the maltreatment stop?  It starts with discussion.  We can start right here.

 Our panelists answer these questions, discuss various responses, and All Our Relations. A panelist from a Community Legal Clinic provides advice about Power of Attorney and the law. Others address mental stress, reintegrating the family nucleus to end isolation, the psychology of abuse, reintegrating the family unit, and a personal experience with abuse. It takes great effort and strength to heal, and to end, abuse.

“Speaking in a group like this, this is going to bring these seeds of these ideas of how we're going to resolve this to fruition so that we grow the plant that produces fruit for us to stop this from occurring.”  Kris Keeshig.

Resources:
Indian Residential School Survivors 24-hour Crisis Line at 1-800-721-0066
Ontario Seniors Safety Line: 1-866-299-1011
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501

Speakers: Const. Kristopher Keeshig, Angela Yenssen, Mary Ann Sackabuckshkum, Dorothy Wassegijig-Kennedy, Austin Elliott

 The Cast: Gloria May Eshkibok, Daniel Gonzales, Bernadette Eshkawkogan, Fawn Aiabens Jacko, Marjorie Trudeau, Daniel Peltier, Jeff Eshkawkogan, Brenda Wabie, Dorothy Kennedy, Kitty Bell, Danielle Roy McDonald, Paul Hartmann and Rose Peltier. Facilitated and directed by Joan Chandler.

We welcome your support of this program through a charitable donation via Canada Helps.  Sheatre is a registered charitable organization. 

We appreciate the support of New Horizons for Seniors, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, J.P. Bickell Foundation, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, and The Ontario Arts Council.

For more about the cast, speakers, and community listening circles visit www.sheatre.com.

The Story:
For years her husband abused her; now that he’s had a stroke, she’s getting her revenge. a wife who can’t properly care for her invalid husband, overmedicates him and neglects his medical needs -- and she refuses to get him better care because her government benefit cheque would be reduced.

The Discussion:
The panel highlights the multiple kinds of abuse depicted in the story, and talks about the fears that propel the characters' behaviour.  It's not uncommon for there to be more than one problem happening at once.  Finding and connecting to resources can be challenging, in both remote communities and in cities. Who can help? From Moosonee to Owen Sound to Toronto, the panelists reveal strategies and organizations that have been found to be helpful. 

The Speakers: Elder Selina Van Kooten, Kevin Moyse, Tanya Coulter, David Root, Jodi Bradfield, Thundercloud, Mary Ann Sackabuckshkum, and Joan Chandler.

The Cast: Gloria May Eshkibok, Daniel Gonzales, Bernadette Eshkawkogan, Fawn Aiabens Jacko, Marjorie Trudeau, Daniel Peltier, Jeff Eshkawkogan, Brenda Wabie, Dorothy Kennedy, Kitty Bell, Danielle Roy McDonald, Paul Hartmann and Rose Peltier. Facilitated and directed by Joan Chandler.

Resources:
Indian Residential School Survivors 24-hour Crisis Line at 1-800-721-0066
Ontario Seniors Safety Line: 1-866-299-1011
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501
Talk4Healing:  1-888-200-9997 -- a helpline for Indigenous women across Ontario. Talk, text or chat .  

For more about the cast, speakers, and community listening circles visit www.sheatre.com.

The stories:
Two stories focus on multi-generational abuse and relationships.   In "Mockery" a youngster makes fun of a disabled elder.  In "Let Grandma Take Care of It",  when their child asks to be cared for, alcoholic parents sluff off their responsibilities onto grandmother, who lacks the financial resources and stamina for the job .   

The discussion:
The crux of the discussion is about reconnecting to self and others: using culturally specific and mainstream approaches to reduce dependencies and  contribute to individual and family well being.  Questions arise about the relevance of the Seven Grandfather Teachings and the place of ceremony in today's world.  What can the journey to wellness look like? 

Elder David Root talks about his experience and what he has seen in his community.  "It took me a lot to turn my life around."

The Speakers:  Host Tanya Coulter speaks with David Root, the Building Healthy Communities Coordinator from Mino Bimaadiziwin Health Centre at Saugeen First Nation.   They are joined by Mary Ann Sackabuckshkum, Thundercloud, Joan Chandler and Austin Elliott.

The Cast: Gloria May Eshkibok, Daniel Gonzales, Bernadette Eshkawkogan, Fawn Aiabens Jacko, Marjorie Trudeau, Daniel Peltier, Jeff Eshkawkogan, Brenda Wabie, Dorothy Kennedy, Kitty Bell, Danielle Roy McDonald, Paul Hartmann and Rose Peltier. Facilitated and directed by Joan Chandler.

Resources:
Indian Residential School Survivors 24-hour Crisis Line at 1-800-721-0066
Ontario Seniors Safety Line: 1-866-299-1011
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501
Talk4Healing:  1-888-200-9997 -- a helpline for Indigenous women across Ontario. Talk, text or chat .  

We welcome your support of this program through a charitable donation via Canada Helps.  Sheatre is a registered charitable organization. 

We appreciate the support of New Horizons for Seniors, The Ontario Trillium Foundation, J.P. Bickell Foundation, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, and The Ontario Arts Council.

For more about the cast, speakers, and community listening circles visit www.sheatre.com.