Urban Ink Theatre artist Corey Payette wins BC Reconciliation Award
The multitalented force behind Children of God and other works joins the list of nine inaugural award winners
Corey Payette. Photo by Kevin Trowbridge
VANCOUVER THEATRE ARTIST Corey Payette has won one of the new BC Reconciliation Awards.
The prize, launched last November by the province’s Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin in partnership with the BC Achievement Foundation, recognizes “extraordinary individuals and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to furthering reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in the province of British Columbia, or inspired others to continue reconciliation efforts”.
Payette, who is of Oji-Cree heritage and hails from Northern Ontario, has worked as a playwright, actor, composer, and director across Canada. He is the artistic director of Vancouver’s Urban Ink, past artist-in-residence with the National Arts Centre English Theatre, and founder of Raven Theatre.
His powerful musical about the affects of residential school on one family, Children of God, has toured nationally. He was also director, composer, and co-book/lyricist fo the acclaimed Les Filles du Roi (Fugue, Raven, Urban Ink, and the Cultch), Moonlodge (Urban Ink), and Sedna (Urban Ink and Caravan Farm Theatre). His next new musicals have been commissioned by Musical Stage Company, Bard on the Beach, and Stratford Festival.
On the page devoted to him on the awards site, Payette defines “reconciliation” as bearing witness to the truth, something he’s aimed to do through his musicals
“He is not only a leader in contemporary Indigenous theatre, but in his role as artistic director of Urban Ink and Raven Theatre, he mentors emerging BIPOC artists in telling their own stories from their own unique voices. A playwright, actor, composer and director, Corey’s work celebrates resilience and cultural reclamation, centered on the power of language, memory and ceremony,” the site says about the artist.
Payette also speaks about the impact post-show conversations with the community after Children of God made on him—and not just the stories of survivors of residential school. “He was struck by the number of non-Indigenous people who spoke up. In response to these shared memories and deep truths, they offered their commitment to teach their children the history of residential schools and to be better citizens. This, Corey says, is Reconciliation in action—when individuals see it as their personal responsibility to make change.”
This year’s recipients will receive a print of a canoe paddle painted to commemorate the award by Kwakwaka’wakw artist Cole Speck.
Others named for BC Reconciliation Awards this week include Squamish Nation elder and leader Xele’milh-Doris Paul; President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs Grand Chief Stewart Phillip; director for Indigenous Relations for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Dawn Drummond; author and environmentalist David Suzuki; RCMP corporal Christopher Voller; Carrier Sekani Family Services; the xaȼqanaǂ ʔitkiniǂ (Many Ways of Doing the Same Thing) research team; and Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast.
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