Events & Gatherings

Story Bundles is a series of six events produced by The Crossing Theatre Company, highlighting the various ways Metis stories are shared. Participate and learn with Metis community members through visiting, humour, singing, dancing, fiddle music and sharing food. Each Story Bundle event will be accompanied by Métis fiddle player Tristen Durocher to showcase the storytelling nature of fiddle music.

Facilitators/Artists

Nora Cummings 

Born and raised in Saskatoon, Nora Cummings has been involved with the promotion of Métis rights and culture her entire life. In 1969, she was a founding member of Gabriel Dumont Local #11 and became one of the Métis Society’s first field workers and family advocates. She was a founding member of the Saskatchewan Native Women’s Association and was the first woman on the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre Board of Directors.  Nora continues to be active in Gabriel Dumont Local #11 and is a Senator of the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan.  She is an active member of the Saskatoon community and was involved in the dedication of the Saskatoon Public Library’s Round Prairie Branch, named for the Métis settlement south of Saskatoon of which she is a proud descendent. She was instrumental in the creation of a Saskatoon City Transit bus shelter honouring Métis history, culture, and heritage and a series of downtown bike racks that display Métis symbols. 

Faye Maurice 

Faye Maurice is a proud descendant of La Prayrii Rond Michif (Round Prairie Michif) and has lived in Saskatoon for most of her 67 years.  She is the oldest of six and has one daughter and two amazing granddaughters. She belongs to a Michif/Métis community (namely Gabriel Dumont Local 11) of strong leaders and teachers who value the preservation of Michif language, cultural traditions, stories, worldview, history, and values, alongside songs and dance.  Teaching young people and the development of Michif language resources keeps her fulfilled and busy. 

Cort Dogniez 

Cort Dogniez is a Métis man born and raised in Saskatoon. He was an educator/administrator for 41 years until his retirement in 2020.  Cort was fortunate growing up listening to his kohkom’s stories about her life and family history. It is now Cort’s turn to honour those stories and pass them on to his family, relatives, friends and anyone interested in learning more about Métis people.  Cort loves oral storytelling and has a repertoire of stories for all ages. His first children’s book, Road to La Prairie Ronde was nominated for two Saskatchewan Book Awards in 2021. 

Tristen Durocher 

Tristen Durocher is a 26 year old Metis fiddler from Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan. After picking up the fiddle at the age of 9, he began attending the John Arcand Fiddle Fest in Saskatoon, learning from fiddle teachers from across Canada. Writing, reading, photography, and teaching are his central passions. Durocher has taught fiddle in Leaf Rapids, Brochet, Lynn Lake, South Indian Lake and Gilliam as an instructor for the Frontier Fiddle Program in Northern Manitoba. He now lives in Saskatoon as he pursues a teaching degree.