In the pre-contact days, Indigenous communities would turn controlled burns into an event. The practice, used for thousands of years by Indigenous people to control wildfires, was not seen as a battle but a celebration. Years later, after controlled burns were legalized again, the relationship between man and fire seems to have changed. “It would […]
Cris Derksen, an Indigenous composer and cellist from Alberta, will perform her composition *Controlled Burn* with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on March 15. Inspired by Indigenous controlled burning practices, the piece blends traditional and contemporary elements, including electronic components. Derksen, who is half Cree and half Mennonite, drew on her heritage and consulted with an Indigenous fire specialist to reflect the historical and cultural significance of controlled burns. The composition, commissioned by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, was debuted at Carnegie Hall and showcases Derksen's ability to merge Indigenous culture with classical music.
