As an arts reviewer, I’ve witnessed countless deliveries of land acknowledgements–they vary in tone and intent, ranging from awkward and inauthentic to aspirational statements of solidarity. The creative antics employed in this usually symbolic, rather formulaic pre-show component do not always make it into my reviews. “As You Like It Or The Land Acknowledgement”, presented by The Cultch, is a hard-hitting performance that ensures no one glosses over this elementary aspect.
Given his Cree and Lakota heritage, playwright and actor Cliff Cardinal has some opinions about the theatrics of land acknowledgements. For starters, he hates seeing his tokenized indigenous kin blessing arts gatherings with their feathers and congratulating wealthy, white folk for their wokeness. When white people deliver the awkward formality, Cardinal hates it even more. In the first few moments of the 90-minute performance, Cardinal makes it clear that he is not interested in preaching to the choir. He wants to bridge divides, reach audiences across the aisle. And so he begins a lengthy ramble disguised as Shakespearean comedy, offering thought-provoking musings into the contemporary politics of being Indigenous in so-called Canada. He exposes the egregious exploitation and pollution of natural resources, the unconscionable realities of cultural genocide and residential school trauma among other poignant social issues. Cardinal invokes the names of Elijah Harper, Jody Wilson-Raybould and others who have cemented their legacies despite operating under institutions complicit in cultural genocide. He encourages audiences to educate oneself on Indigenous perspectives and to seriously consider reparations that go beyond performative allyship. The show ends on an evocative note that invokes our shared humanity, going beyond identity silos that tend to benefit ideologies of domination.
Hidden among rib-tickling observations, Cardinal’s monologue ponders on a central question–how do wealthy settlers and sympathizers of the church perceive Indigenous people? “As You Like It Or The Land Acknowledgement” brutally reverses the gaze on the often patronizing practice of land acknowledgments. Using laughter as a medicine, Cardinal provokes his Shakespeare-craving audience to reconsider stereotypes and prejudices they hold about Indigenous communities. The show provides ample scope to reflect (for non-Indigenous folk) and moments of mirthful redemption (for Indigenous audience members). More importantly, the former cohort is forced to confront the innate discomfort of being a privileged settler on stolen land. These moments catalyze into cathartic silences, except for a few teary sniffles.
“As You Like It Or The Land Acknowledgement” is a must watch for those of us on unceded and stolen lands, to grapple with the messy history and ongoing implications of Truth and Reconciliation. It is playing at York Theatre on Commercial Drive from September 25-29, 2024. Grab your tickets here.
– Annapoorna Shruthi