We, at Sara Porter Productions, express our gratitude to work here in Tkaronto on land that has been tended by many nations of Indigenous peoples for thousands of years before us. These nations continue to struggle for proper place, respect and treaties with settler governments and people. I was born in Mi'kma'ki (what I grew up calling Nova Scotia) and through five generations of maritime roots, trace back to the UK.

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In amongst my ancestors, as story tells, was great Aunt Bessie who started her life in 19th century Dundee,. She took to the stage; I think “elocution” was her speciality. During hard times in Scotland, she got on a boat to the "New World" and landed in New Brunswick. I’m not sure how she landed, or what she saw or thought, who she met or how she treated people, or what she understood or valued, but I know my family has been living on Turtle Island ever since.  What I do know is that I come from lineages of settler people. There is much work to do along the path of truth and reconciliation. I am working to learn and lead and support better pathways to understanding how to live better on this land with its original peoples, with respect to present and past understandings of justice, equity, and dignity.

Today we acknowledge our responsibility to care for this land and for each other, and continually be in pursuit of better ways of listening and living together with all people we encounter. As a settler who has moved house a lot, I learn new things every day: new perspectives, new habits, new versions of histories. At Sara Porter Productions, we are deeply committed to continuing this learning and growth.