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National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) - May 29, 2025

To the artistic community, our partners, teaching-artists, staff, and students

For several years now, the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) has been firmly engaged in a process of reconciliation. Aware of its responsibility as an institution for artistic training, NTS grounds this commitment in truth, respect, listening, and a sincere desire to build lasting relationships with Indigenous Peoples. This vision of reconciliation—guided by the active involvement of the School’s Indigenous Advisory Circle—aims to support a fairer, more inclusive future, rooted in dialogue and the recognition of Indigenous knowledge and lived experiences. 
 
In this spirit, we have begun many new initiatives. One of these included the creation of a position Director – Indigenous Perspectives. It is clear now that the creation of this position was not sufficiently supported with the shared reflection and framework that such an initiative requires. We recognize that this accelerated approach has caused harm and acknowledge the impact this has had on the community and on certain individuals. We wish to express our sincere regret. 
 
As the current contract for the Director – Indigenous Perspectives position concludes on May 30, it will not be renewed. We are grateful to Katey Wattam for the thoughtfulness, dedication, and perspective she brought to the role. Her work played an important role in creating space for Indigenous students and artists, and in encouraging the School to reflect and grow. 
 
We also acknowledge that this situation does not exist in isolation: it reflects a broader challenge faced by many institutions—particularly in today’s difficult financial climate—of how to sustain Indigenous initiatives in meaningful and structured ways beyond their initial launch. We understand that the path of reconciliation for NTS will be challenging, at times uncomfortable, but fundamentally necessary. It requires humility, consistency, and courage. At NTS, we are committed to walking this path fully. 
 
This is an important moment of reflection for NTS—an invitation to do better, differently, with greater rigor and continuity. In collaboration with the Indigenous Advisory Circle, established four years ago, we have begun re-examining our roles and approaches to rebuild on strong and shared foundations. We are also working to implement new initiatives that will meaningfully respond to the needs of students and the School. This work will take shape over the coming school year and will help us define a clear vision for the short, medium, and long term. NTS is committed to providing adequate funding for this crucial phase. 
 
Today, we reaffirm our commitment to Indigenous students and artists. Supporting Indigenous students remains a priority so that each student feels heard, supported, and valued throughout their artistic journey at the School. Initiatives such as the New Pathways program, the Indigenous Artists-in-Residence program, and other projects will continue to be supported, as they are essential to our mission of inclusive pedagogy rooted in the plurality of knowledge systems. 
 
We thank all those who have contributed to and continue to nurture these efforts. It is with you that we wish to build what comes next—sustainably, respectfully, and with deep humanity. 

National Theatre School of Canada