Performance at Regina Farmers' Market highlights human animal relationships

The Regina Farmers’ Market had an atmosphere like no other Saturday morning with folk music blaring from the main stage.
The music was part of an artistic performance by local artist Bill Burns, titled ‘The Salt, the Milk, the Donkey, the Honey, the Folk Singers.’
The performance considered humans relationship to animals and is part of the ongoing series about global trade and food production.
“It's a burden to think of animals and nature and I think of the farm animal as a kind of something between species for us to learn about animals,” said Burns.
In addition to the music, the performance consisted of a parade around Victoria Park with goats, a donkey and a local beekeeper.
The combination of products were then mixed together, including milking a goat and creating some fresh homey from a local beehive, before parading around the park one last time.
The performance was curated by the Dunlop Art Gallery and organizers said there are many benefits to having the performance outside of the gallery.
“It really makes sense to do it in a context like this with the Farmers’ Market and understanding our relationship to food and food production in this context,” said Tomas Jonsson, one of the Dunlop Art Gallery curators.
Beekeeper and artist Jeff Meldrum was also part of the performance. He agreed with Jonsson and said having the art outside can be less intimidating for everyone involved.
“Before I became an artist, I was intimidated by the gallery setting and so this is just a more accessible way to bring arts out to the community,” said Meldrum.
Meldrum supplied the final product in the performance, which was honey. He said bees and humans have a unique relationship.
“I kind of see beekeeping as sort of symbiotic relationship where both the bees and the humans are benefiting,” said Meldrum.
Meldrum added the honey symbolizes how economists can come in many forms.
“The honey comes last and it's part of this sort of the trading and the demonstration,” said Meldrum. “Always kind of showing you how economists can maybe be a bit simpler than they are.”
Many young children were in attendance, which was an encouraging sign for Burns.
“I think we need engagement to be part of the solution to these problems,” he said.
Burns added he hopes people who attended will consider the environment and their relationships to animals.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Pfizer booster approved for children aged 5-11 by Health Canada
Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says Health Canada is authorizing a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children between five and 11 years old.

Trudeau nominates Ontario judge Michelle O'Bonsawin to Supreme Court
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has nominated Ontario judge Michelle O’Bonsawin to the Supreme Court of Canada. In a statement announcing the nomination, Trudeau said that O'Bonsawin is an Abenaki member of the Odanak First Nation and is a fluently bilingual Franco-Ontarian.
Nunavut declares state of emergency over Iqaluit water shortage
Nunavut's acting minister of community and government services says the territory has declared a state of emergency in Iqaluit to ensure the city can begin replenishing its water reservoir without delay.
Back to school: A look at the COVID-19 rules in place across provinces, territories
As students across Canada gear up to enter what will be their fourth academic year in the pandemic, CTVNews.ca takes a look at what measures will be in place in schools, by province and territory.
Canada's interim import ban on handguns takes effect today
As of today, individuals and businesses are no longer able to import restricted handguns into Canada, with limited exceptions. The move announced earlier this month is aimed at expediting a key pillar of the federal effort to cap the number of handguns in the country.
Transport minister set to testify at committee today on airport delays, flight cancellations
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra is set to testify before the House of Commons transport committee this afternoon about ongoing airport delays and flight cancellations.
Honey shortage could extend into next year after devastating winter for beekeepers
This past winter saw record losses for beekeepers, and one expert says the prospects for next year are even worse if they face another frigid winter.
This Afghan student escaped the Taliban regime to study in Montreal
Last year, Arzou Lashkari was ready to fly to Canada and start a new chapter of life at Concordia University. But her dream was crushed when the Taliban took control of her country, forcing her to stay home.
Finland PM Sanna Marin takes drugs test after party video causes stir
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Friday she had taken a drugs test following the publication of video footage this week that showed her partying with friends, and vowed she had never used illegal drugs.