06/01/2026
An end of an era
Saturday night closed the last ever Turtle Island Theatre/KYC show at Kateri Hall. We passed by this morning and the crew at KYC were getting ready to dismantle everything- lights, walls, seating, etc.
The last time we dismantled everything, it was 2013. We left with uncertainty of our future and the future of our community participants. There is no more uncertainty.
We want to give a big Niawenhkó:wa to a few key people and organizations for helping get us back on our feet and a roof over our heads.
First Lisa Phillips as well as Reaghan Tarbell at Kanien'kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language & Cultural Center- you brought us in to this multi-purpose/ legacy project back in 2014. It’s one of the most important branches of our current timeline. We couldn’t thank you enough.
Trina Diabo and the team at MCK for hopping on board in 2016 and giving the support and expertise to get the project from feasible to realized.
Kahnawake Youth Center for seeing what the kids needed after the pandemic and approaching us to get the program up and running again in 2022/2023. Seeing our kids on stage and how they have grown in those few years is amazing. Also the example you set and guidance you have given as an organization. Nia:wen.
All building committee members past and present- a huge thank you for your constant support and reassurance that we will get this done.
And lastly- Theatre in Kahnawake would not be where it is without Kevin John Saylor. He founded the programming and organization. He deserved so much acknowledgment and credit for giving the community his love of Theatre.
So we give you the only picture we currently have from our first ever show at Kateri Hall in 2000- “Oliver!”And the last show “Mean Girls”. As well as a picture of the dismantling and a sneak peek of our new space!
