p1 The anon about the play thing again : The play would be about a very specific historical period (1604-1713), and would feature French settlers, the Anishinaabeg, Wendat, Haudenosaunee and the English. The mission of the play would be to try and show all sides of a story, showing each group's goals, what they went through, etc. they want to give the students (who are 10) a better understanding. I worry about the idea of costumes though, since they would not have enough if any Indigenous kids
Asked by Anonymous
p2 to play those parts. It’s just that this area tends to be a cultural desert so if there’s any Indigenous children, there are not enough for all the parts they would need and they’d have to be played by non-Indigenous children, and the whole costume thing… I just worry if it’s appropriate because I worry that if you let them play these parts that it’d be a gateway to halloween costumes and appropriation… that’s my main worry :/
I am more concerned with how they will present the settler’s “goals”. If they attempt to sympathize with settlers, or justify their behavior, that will be a devastating stereotype these children will need to unlearn later. Cultural appropriation is not okay, as you know, but I think that if the play demonstrates “both sides” that will be even more harmful.