Mistatim Reimagined

Today, in recognition of Canada’s second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation–a day of remembrance, reflection, action and learning–Red Sky Performance and the TSO have chosen to share their powerful collaborative project, Mistatim Reimagined, with schools, classrooms, and the general public.

Mistatim Reimagined tells the story of a wild horse who encounters a young boy on his ranch and a young girl on her reservation. Under a prairie sky, a simple wooden fence is all that separates them, but in many ways, they are worlds apart—that is, until Mistatim turns their worlds upside down and the truest of friendships is forged.

Mistatim Reimagined is a digital reimagining of Red Sky Performance’s award-winning play, created in association with Crow’s Theatre and in collaboration with the TSO, which worked with Indigenous music creators and TSO musicians to create new musical additions to the play’s score. The broadcast first premiered on September 30, 2021, Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Originally conceived as a stage play for young audiences, it is a meaningful story about reconciliation that is cross-generational, and that all people, regardless of age or background, will find impactful.

Mistatim Reimagined will be available to watch for free through the link below until Sunday, October 2, at 11:59pm.

Experience Mistatim Reimagined

Mistatim Reimagined Creative Team

Bryden Gwiss; Lancelot Knight; Stan Louttit; Mali Obomsawin, Music Creators
Sandra Laronde, Concept/Digital Film Director
Rick Sacks, Principal Composer and Sound Designer
Erin Shields, Playwright

TSO Musicians

Gary Kulesha, TSO Composer Advisor and Mistatim Reimagined Conductor
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, TSO Barrett Principal Education Conductor & Community Ambassador
Eric Abramovitz, Principal Clarinet
Chas Elliott, Double Bass
James Gardiner, Trumpet
Darren Hicks, Associate Principal Bassoon
Joseph Kelly, Percussion/Assistant Principal Timpani
Wendy Rose, Associate Principal Second Violin
Gordon Wolfe, Principal Trombone

The TSO and Red Sky Performance have a longstanding history of collaborating in meaningful ways, including such projects as Mistatim Reimagined (2021), Adizokan (2019) and Caribou Song (2002). The Mistatim Reimagined collaboration began in the winter of 2021 with a call for Indigenous music creators to join TSO musicians in exploring and learning together to create new music. Four Indigenous music creators joined with a chamber group of seven TSO musicians, with Zoom music sessions held throughout April and May, 2021. The Indigenous music creators worked with TSO Composer Advisor, Gary Kulesha, to translate their instrumental, electronic, or digital sound worlds into music to be played on acoustic instruments.