Amuksism. You really have to listen.
2024, 60min

a film by Neven Lochhead and Dylan Robinson, with Nick Dangeli

featuring Dylan Robinson, Mike + Dr. Mique’l Dangeli, Git Hayetsk Dancers,
Pat Carrabré, Jessica McMann, Taqralik Partridge, Marion Newman, Cheryl L’Hirondelle,
Peter Morin, Ian Cusson, Alexander Neef, Dr. Robin Gray, J. Alex. Young, Joseph Glaser,
Melody McKiver, Steve Loft, Jani Lauzon, Melody Courage
supported by by Canadian Music Centre and Canadian Heritage

In 2016, Dylan Robinson began working with the Canadian Opera Company, the National Arts Centre, the Canadian Music Centre, and the Nisga’a Lisims Government to repair the misuse of a Nisga’a lim’ooy̓ (dirge/lament song) used in the opera Louis Riel (1967) by Canadian composer Harry Somers and librettist Mavor Moore. Following consultation with Nisga’a Lisims Council of Elders, a request was made to have the song removed from the aria and all other locations. This request led the Canadian Opera Company to work with the executors to the estates of Moore and Somers to replace the song with a new aria. In early 2020, a new aria was premiered by Métis composer Ian Cusson that will stand in place the limx’ooy in future productions. However, countless instances of the lim’ooy̓ still exist in print, scores, and recordings that should not be publicly accessible to sing.

Amuksism. You really have to listen. is a documentary film that follows the redress process, and the outstanding work to be done. The documentary consists of interviews with participants and stakeholders involved in various parts of the redress process. The documentary offers a compelling beginning-to-end perspective on thoughtful, community oriented, and Indigenous centered practices of repatriation in the context of a major, multi-institutional, national arts production.

 

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