Métis Roogaroo and Superstition Stories by SKHistory

Metis Roogaroo é

& Superstition Stories

A Special Edition of

F olklore

S A S K AT C H E WA N ’ S Y E S T E R D AY S P E R S O N I F I E D

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

A Special Edition of

olklore MAGAZINE

Gabriel Dumont Local #11 Project Committee Cheryl Troupe, Wilfred Burton

Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society Honorary Patron His Honour the Honourable Russell Mirasty Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Board of Directors Jessica DeWitt, Joey Donnelly, Amanda Fehr, Frank Garritty, Hugh Henry, Florence Hwang, Jade McDougall, Emma Morris, Courtney Tuck-Goetz

M étis Roogaroo & Superstition Stories

is a Special Edition of Folklore Magazine. Folklore is published quarterly by the Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society with funding assistance provided by Saskatchewan Lotteries.

We acknowledge that Saskatchewan is sovereign Indigenous land and includes the traditional territories of Nehiyawak, Nahkawininiwak,

Dakota,

Nakoda,

Lakota,

Dene

and Métis. We respect and honour the relationships of this land, including our Treaty relationships. We recognize and uphold Treaties 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10, SHFS

which

cover

takes

the

province

responsibility

for

Saskatchewan.

identifying

and

sharing histories, folklore, and living traditions of all people in the province. We do so in a manner that contributes to right relations, addresses the ongoing impacts of colonialism, and promotes reconciliation.

Graphic Design/Layout Kristin Enns-Kavanagh Transcription

This volume is Dedicated to the Michif historian and

Megan Zong

storyteller Kade Ferris and to Michif Elder Terry Ireland.

Cover Image Adapted from McKenna Ramsay, "Li Roogaroo," 2023. Digital painting. Source: McKenna Ramsay. Used with permission. McKenna Ramsay created this digital painting after hearing Cort Dogniez's story "The Secret Transformation." Copyright (c. 2023), the authors. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher. The Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society assumes no responsibility for statements made by the authors. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement 40016709, Postage Paid in Regina Mailing Address Folklore Magazine 243 Robin Crescent Saskatoon, SK S7L 6M8 Tel: (306) 975-0826 or 1-800-919-9437 e-mail: info@shfs.ca website: www.skhistory.ca ISSN 0824-3085

Mary Quickfall, "Rugaroo Mask." Painted foam. Source: Wilfred Burton.

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

Contents 4

Métis Roogaroo and Superstition Stories Cheryl Troupe & Wilfred Burton

A Special Edition of Folklore Magazine Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society

Orland the Roogaroo Nora Cummings

The Handsome Stranger Cort Dogniez

Dog Secret 11 Black Cort Dogniez Kindling Axe 13 The Kade Ferris Captive Boy 14 The Kade Ferris Windigo's Wife 15 The Kade Ferris Story 15 Superstition Kade Ferris Proof is in the Apron 16 The Joceyln Ormerod Secret Transformation 18 The Cort Dogniez Tim Hortons Camp Roogaroos 23 The Students of St. Michael School Superstition Memories 29 Terry's Terry Ireland Superstition Stories 29 Ruth's Ruth Desjarlais Superstition Stories 31 Brittany's Brittany Gervais Feet - a Superstition Story 32 Crow's Bailey Bornyk

36 About the Authors Folklore / Special Edition 2023

38 Bibliography

Métis Roogaroo & Superstition Stories Cheryl Troupe and Wilfred Burton, Gabriel Dumont Local 11 Métis Roogaroo and Superstition Stories is a compilation of stories from members and friends of Gabriel Dumont Local 11, a Métis Local in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Most began as oral stories, presented over Zoom then transcribed, revised, and edited for this publication. Some participants were inspired and created new stories, plays, and artwork; some of which you will see here. Many Métis/Michif have grown up with Roogaroo stories. Roogaroos are perhaps the most interesting character in Métis storytelling. They come from two traditions: the French (and French Canadian) “Loup Garou'' and the First Nations "shape-shifter.” The early French settlers brought stories of Loup Garous with them to North America from Europe. In turn, their children, the Canadien (French Canadian) explorers and voyageurs adapted the Loup Garou further and passed this version on to their Métis children. The Métis Roogarou developed in conjunction with the already existing “shape-shifter” Nehiyaw Wiisakaychak and Anishinaabe Nanabush characters. In the stories of The Handsome Stranger told by Cort Dogniez and The Kindling Axe shared by Kade Ferris, people transformed into Roogaroos at night, during a full moon, and during Lent. They like to lurk around bluffs, valleys, coulees, and along rivers and creeks. Sometimes they are members of your family like in Jocelyn Ormerod’s The Proof Is In The Apron. People often see them coming out of ditches and crossing roads. They can 4

be elusive or seen in the presence of a crowd. Roogaroos often appeared in premonitions or when something tragic is about to happen like in Cort Dogniez’s Black Dog Secret. One never knows who’s a Roogaroo, as demonstrated in Nora Cummings’ story Orland the Roogaroo. You find them mostly in central or southern areas, not in the north. Roogaroos can be “cured” by hitting them on the nose or by cutting their ear like in Cort Dogniez’s The Secret Transformation. Once hit, the Roogaroo transforms back into a human. The community will then show forgiveness when they realize they have been “cured”. Many of these stories were steeped in religion and appeared around special religious holidays. For example, the Roogaroo would only come out during Lent in some stories or the cure for these encounters was often praying like in Brittany Gervais’ Superstition Story. Superstitions are usually cautionary stories to encourage socially acceptable behaviors, not only in children but in adults too. Some superstitions stop children from wandering off, others like a twitching eye or a dropped spoon provide premonitions of things to come. There are many superstitions related to religious practices like in Terry Ireland and Ruth Desjarlais’ stories. There was a time when you sprinkled holy water around your house for protection during a bad storm. There are many superstitions with birds (ravens and crows) as in Bailey Bornyk’s Crow’s Feet: A Superstition Story. Often birds are associated with death. Roogaroo and superstition stories are an important part of Métis/Michif culture, and by telling them, we will keep these stories alive Folklore / Special Edition 2023

for future generations. For the Métis/Michif, storytelling is very important in validating experiences and in nurturing relationships through shared knowledge. Our hope is that these stories inspire, entertain and resonate with readers, encouraging them to look for similar stories in their own lives. We would like to dedi cate this collection of stories in memory of Michif historian and storyteller Kade Ferris and Michif Elder Terry Ireland. We are so fortunate Kade and Terry shared many of their cultural stories with Gabriel Dumont Local 11. May their memories and stories live on!! Right: Sherry Farrell Racette, “Rou Garous,” 1994. Artist collection, in Stories of the Road Allowance People: The Revised Edition by Maria Campbell, p. 44. Gabriel Dumont Institute, 2010, ©Sherry Farrell Racette. Used with permission.

A Special Edition of Folklore Magazine Kristin Enns-Kavanagh, Executive Director, Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society

stories and for working to adapt them for the printed page.

The Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society (SHFS) is delighted and honoured to share this special edition of Folklore Magazine, Métis Roogaroo and Superstition Stories. We are tremendously grateful to the committee and to the members of Gabriel Dumont Local 11 for sharing their

The SHFS delivers activities that enrich people's understanding of history, folklore, cultural identity, and the links between the past, present, and future. Our sincere hope is that these stories will inspire all who read them to create more of their own stories and pass them on to the next generation.

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

Orland The Roogaroo Nora Cummings My cousin Orland was such a joker. When we were young, we lived on a road allowance. We were always left at home to do things. I had to do housework and my cousin had to do the outside work. One time, I did all the cleaning, and I was tired. He came in and said, “Come help me haul this wood.” I said, “No! I’m not gonna do that. I worked all day. You do your own work! I’m done mine.” He said, “Well, you better come help me or you’re gonna be sorry.” I said, “I’m not scared of you! Go and do your own work!” He was such a joker though. He said, “I’m gonna run around our shack four times and on the fourth time, the rugaroo will come. You’ll see.” I thought. “I ain’t scared of him.” I didn’t know what the heck a rugaroo was and I didn’t think he would do anything.

were the holes in the cloth for his eyes. He was carrying an old gunny sack, but I didn’t know what was in it. The figure just stood there, kind of bobbing back and forth. I started hollering at it, “Orland, stop that! Stop that!” But the figure didn’t answer! It just kept lurking in the doorway. My kookum used to talk about Chi-Jean. She’d tell all these stories how Chi-Jean used to play jokes on people. I began to think, if this is a Rugaroo, oh my gosh, I gotta go hide! I’ll go and hide in the bush. I gotta defend myself, so I took this frying pan. We had these big cast iron frying pans we used to make our bannocks and stuff in and I shouted, “Okay, you wanna come in, I’m gonna knock you out with this pan!” Well, that must have scared my cousin because he started, “Kiya kiya, ma couzine, this is your cousin.” I said, "I'm just teasing you,” and that was the end of the Roogaroo.

He didn’t say a thing when he was running, and after the fourth lap he knocked on the door. I opened it and there was a big dark figure with his face and upper body covered in dark black cloth and gloved hands. All you could see

Facing Page: Senator Nora Cummings and a Rugaroo, 2023. Photo courtesy of Nora Cummings. Folklore / Special Edition 2023

The Handsome Stranger Cort Dogniez

was like The Devil Went Down to Georgia! The applause was thunderous. As it ended, the men

Kiyas, a long time ago, a Métis community was holding a New Year’s celebration in the

started heading for the door gathering up their jackets.

townhall. Everyone brought food and there was music and dancing. They were having a great

The handsome stranger invited a young

time. It was one of those nights when great

woman to dance with him, twirling and dipping

big, fluffy snowflakes were falling from the sky

her around the floor. At one point he spun her

covering everything in a glistening white blanket

around and sent her twirling away from him.

of snow.

Meanwhile he headed to the door, grabbed his coat, and was gone.

It was late in the evening when there was a loud knock at the door. When they opened the

Before anyone could react to the odd

door, in stepped a handsome stranger. He was

behaviour of the handsome stranger, they heard

dressed in expensive clothes that impressed

sobbing from the girl he had been dancing with.

everyone. He immediately went around the room

She was leaning against the wall with her hands

shaking hands with the men but taking the

over her face.

hands of the women and gently kissing them. Suddenly she turned away and everyone As the music played, he invited different

saw that the back of her dress was shredded

women to come and dance with him. He twirled

from the neck all the way down to her waist

and dipped the ladies, moving them around the

and her back was scratched and bleeding like

dance floor with grace and ease. Of course, all

she had been attacked by a wild animal. People

the women wanted to dance with him. The men

were in shock, wondering how this could have

were watching with envy and annoyance.

happened. The women gathered around and comforted the poor girl.

The band announced they needed to take a break. The handsome stranger had other plans.

The men decided to go outside and fire off

He asked for a fiddle and offered to play for a

their guns. The custom of the day was for the

little while. His first tune was soft and romantic

men to fire off their guns at midnight to signal

and made the women’s hearts swoon.

the start of the new year. They would return to offer their support.

His second tune started slowly but then the pace sped up until he was playing so fast that the audience couldn’t believe any person could play so swiftly, skillfully, and accurately. It 8

Facing Page: Walter J. Phillip, “Red River Jig,” 1931, e010835251-v8. Print, woodcut on wove paper. Library and Archives Canada.

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

As the men opened the door, they were

dressed, best dancer, and the best fiddle player.

greeted by the sight of everything covered in

But he was a Roogaroo with inner rage. He was

a blanket of soft, fluffy snow except the fresh

compelled to scare people; so he shredded the

footprints of the handsome stranger. They could

girl’s dress and scratched her back, leaving her

clearly see his footprints going across the deck

and the crowd in shock. Lastly, he shape-shifted

and down the steps. They could also see that at

at the bottom of the steps to leave wolf prints.

the bottom of the step the footprints changed into wolf paw prints that led out the gate, down the road, and out of town.

Everybody knew they were visited by a Roogaroo!

It was then the people realized they had been visited by a Roogaroo. A cursed creature in human form that had to be the best looking, best

Below: Lucille Scott, 2021. Acrylic. Ride, Gabe, Ride. Burton, Wilfred. Your Nickel's Worth Publishing, 2021, p. 31. Source: Wilfred Burton.

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

Black Dog Secret Cort Dogniez Many years ago, Kohkom was shopping with

mom

Saskatoon.

They

were

right

standing

in front of the King George

hotel

when

Kohkom saw this black dog running up the sidewalk. It leapt on her and put its large paws on her shoulders and nuzzled

its

massive

head up against her ear. It spoke to her. When it finished whispering it got down and ran away.

Above: Sherry Farrell Racette, “Rou Garous,” 1994. Artist collection, in Stories of the Road Allowance People: The Revised Edition by Maria Campbell, p. 37. Gabriel Dumont Institute, 2010. ©Sherry Farrell Racette. Used with permission.

Kohkom turned to my mom and said they had to go home. The Roogaroo had told her that somebody had died, and she was going to get a phone call. They got on the bus and went home. Kohkom anxiously sat by the phone. She waited and waited until it rang. She was told her brother Johnny had passed away. The Roogaroo had told the truth! I shared this story with a Grade Five class at Westmount School. One of the students told

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

me he knew who the Roogaroo was. I asked how he knew, when I didn’t. He said it had to be a family member. Someone who was with my grandma’s brother when he passed or received a phone call first and knew the rest of the family was also going to get a phone call. They knew where she would be that day and went to scare her. That made sense. There may be a Roogaroo in my family!

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The Kindling Axe Kade Ferris An old kookum lived alone in a small

the walls, and trying to open the door. The

old

woman,

terribly

frightened,

cabin in the woods. Her children had all grown

grabbed her small axe she used to split firewood

up and lived at their own homes. She was

into kindling by her fireplace. She waited by

content to live by herself.

her window and opened it. The next time the intruder circled the cabin she reached out and

One night as she sat by her fire listening

hit it on the head and knocked it down.

to the wind whistling in the trees, she had a sudden bad feeling come up her spine

She looked out the window. Instead of a

that someone or something was coming to

man she saw a creature with a man’s body but

her cabin. She said to herself, “Ahh! There’s

with the face and head of a fierce wolf. She was

nothing to worry about.”

terrified. She saw the creature struggle for a while then stagger up and run off into the woods.

She grew tired and went to bed around midnight. As she lay in bed, she thought she

She didn’t sleep the rest of the night. She

heard the sounds of loud footsteps and heavy

brewed more tea and sat clutching her axe in

breathing approaching her cabin. She listened

terror.

closely. It slowly circled her cabin. The next morning the old woman went Scared, she lay there under her blankets

outside and saw blood on the ground where the

and soon heard banging on the sides of the

creature had fallen. That day she packed up all

cabin. The door of the cabin was rattling as

her belongings and left her cabin. She walked to

if someone was trying to open it. The person

her son’s home a few miles away and she told

outside continued to circle the cabin three or

him what happened. She refused to return to

four times doing the same thing; knocking on

her home. She lived for a few more years but all the while she stayed at her son’s house. She was troubled by the narrow escape she had at

Facing page: Donna Lee Dumont, "Untitled," 2015. Mixed media. Source: Wilfred Burton.

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

the hands of a Roogaroo.

Three Stories by Kade Ferris The Captive Boy A long time ago a big windigo* stole a young boy from a village. He was planning to eat him but noticed that the boy was very skinny. He was far too skinny to eat up right away so the windigo decided he would keep the boy and wait for him to fatten up a bit more. Every day the windigo would feed the boy a pot of deer and moose that he killed. He gave him the best parts of the animal in hopes of making him fat and delicious.

the boy went for a walk and soon came to a village. The windigo instructed the boy to go to the village and beg for some food. He told the boy he’d only have ten minutes to go there and get back! When the boy got to the village, he told the chief of the village that the windigo was near them. He showed the marks on his hand where the windigo cut him to see if he was fat enough to eat. The chief told the warriors to gather up their weapons.

fatten you up some more!” Now knowing where the windigo was, the warriors ran forth and attacked the windigo. After a great battle they left his body lying on the ground and returned to the village. They told the chief of their great victory. But the chief cautioned them, telling them to go back and make sure the monster was really dead.

They returned to where they had attacked him and found that the windigo wasn’t Soon they heard the really dead. He was laying in Every day the windigo windigo calling for the boy. He a pool of his own blood eating took a knife and would cut was shouting, “Boy, hurry up, part of his own hand. The the boy on the hand to see if you skinny wretch, so I can warriors asked the windigo if he tasted good. And he was fat enough the windigo said, to eat. But the boy didn’t seem to be Below: Student, Grades 1/2, Lawson Heights School, Terri “You bet! I’ve eaten getting any fatter, no Jackson, teacher. Untitled watercolor painting, 2023. Source: so many humans and they’re very tasty.” matter how much the Chandrelle Marshall. windigo fed him. The warriors attacked the monster One day during again, this time they the winter the cut him to pieces so windigo was having they knew he was a very hard time truly dead. The boy finding enough food who escaped went on for himself let alone to live with the people enough food to fatten who saved him. He the boy up. eventually grew up to be a fine fat man. The windigo and 14

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The Windigo's Wife A long time ago a man was out hunting alone. He was in a very remote place where nobody was known to live. His luck wasn’t very good, and he was very hungry. Eventually he saw footprints in the snow, but these footprints were huge. They were twice the size of a man’s foot. He decided to follow the tracks and he traveled for a long time until he finally came to a clearing. In the clearing he saw a large winter lodge. Because he was hungry, he figured he’d ask the owners for hospitality. Walking up to the lodge the man tapped quietly at the door. A young woman opened the door and asked him, “Why are you here? You shouldn’t have come. This is where the windigo lives.” The hunter replied, “Good woman, I'm so hungry. Would you give me some food?” The woman felt bad for the hunter, so she took him inside. She told him that he must hurry because the windigo would come home soon. The curious man asked the woman, “What do you usually do for the windigo when he comes home?” She told him that the Folklore / Special Edition 2023

windigo always forced her to rub his back which was often sore after he went hunting for humans. Well, the man said, I’ll hide behind this chair, and he won’t see me. Soon the windigo arrived home. The windigo sat down and said to the woman, “I smell fresh human meat!” The woman said, “Oh it must be the smell of the people you just killed lingering in your nose.”

Superstition Story About

ten

years

ago

my wife and I were going to make sure the park was closed at night because I was the director of natural resources for the tribe back home and it was part of my job. It was late fall, and the leaves were falling off the trees. It was kind of a cloudy, cold night and as we were driving

After sitting by the fire for a while, the windigo said to the woman, “Come scratch my back and rub my shoulders.” She asked him, “Where is the sorest spot husband?” The windigo said, “Here between my shoulders.” Upon hearing this the hunter jumped out from behind the chair and buried his knife up to the handle in that spot. The windigo screamed and died. The windigo’s wife was so happy that the windigo was killed. She thanked the man for saving her. She was a very pretty woman, so the hunter took her home and kept her as his wife. And they lived happily ever after. *A windigo is a cannibal monster who lives in the woods.

up to the park, we noticed a black cat sitting on the road. As we got closer the black cat morphed from a sitting black cat into a standing black dog. We looked at it. We just stared at it. What did we just see? We got to the park. I closed the gate, and we got the heck out of there but that was something that I can’t forget! Stories like that always creeped me out when I was younger.

There’re

many

stories in every community. I really love these small stories and

try

preserve

them

because these are the stories that really add flavour. You know as human beings we need to know where we’ve lived and where we come from. 15

The Proof is in the Apron Jocelyn Ormerod I have a family story to share. I was talking to my mom about the Roogaroo and she remembered a story. They used to listen to stories from the Old People in their family (our family calls it the Rugaroo not the Roogaroo). It’s one of those times you weren’t supposed to be listening if you were a little one because they listened and then they would be up all night. One night after overhearing their family speaking of the rugaroo, my mom and her sisters were having a hard time falling asleep. When their grandma came to check on them,

Below: Leah Dorion, “Roogaroo Mickey,” 2013. Gabriel Dumont Institute Archives. In Roogaroo Mickey by Wilfred Burton, p. 14. Gabriel Dumont Institute, 2013, ©Leah Dorion. Used with permission.

she asked them why they weren’t sleeping. They told her it was because they heard her talking about the Rugaroo. The story they overheard goes like this. There was a woman who was married to a man down in the Qu’Appelle Valley (that’s where my family’s from). One day she was doing some baking for the family, and she ran out of eggs. (My mom swears it was butter, so we’ll say she ran out of butter). The woman ended up running out of butter and insisted to her husband that she needed it to finish her baking. She sent him out to run to the store to grab some butter for her. She waited and she waited, he still wasn’t back, and it was starting to get late. So, she decided that she needed to start looking for him and started

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

the walk all the way to town. While she was walking, she saw this big, big, big black dog off in the distance. This dog was as black as the night sky. Before she even had a moment to react – the dog turned and began running towards her. It didn’t take this creature very long to catch up to her. Once it was close enough, the dog started attacking her, nipping and scratching at her legs and arms. After what felt like forever, the woman was able to fend the dog off – but not until after it took off a few chunks of the fabric of her apron and left her scratched up. To top it all off, the dog ended up running off in the direction of her home - bits of her apron still in its mouth. Since the dog took off towards her home, the woman was not going that way after it. She decided to detour to a friend’s house to calm down a little bit. At her friend’s house, she told her friend and his husband about what just happened, and they insisted on accompanying

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

her home, so they set off. Eventually, they reached her home without encountering the dog again. The friends said their goodbyes and headed off home. As she walked in the door, she saw the butter on the counter and heard her husband’s snoring from the bedroom. She went to wake him up to tell him about this crazy day she had (and to ask where the heck he’s been). As she walked into their bedroom, she saw her husband laid upon their bed, fast asleep. As she got closer, she noticed something was off, he looked a bit ragged, and it almost looked like he had something in his mouth. She got closer again, and that’s what she noticed – just like the dog that ran off from her - her husband had pieces of her apron stuck between his teeth!

Below: Carrie Saganace, “Attack of the Roogaroos,” 2010. Gabriel Dumont Institute Archives. In Stories of Our People: A Métis Graphic Novel Anthology by Jeanne Pelletier, et al., p. 4. Gabriel Dumont Institute, 2010. ©Gabriel Dumont Institute. Used with permission.

The Secret Transformation Cort Dogniez Kiyas, a long time ago there was a very successful trapper named Hubert who travelled across Saskatchewan on the many lakes and rivers in this land. The odd thing about this trapper was that he always travelled alone. Many voyageurs travelled together as a team sharing the work and the profits. Not Hubert. One day Hubert was visiting a trading post to trade furs and gather supplies. A young man named Andre saw Hubert and wished to be a successful trapper like him. Andre thought if he could earn enough money, he could afford to support a wife and family. Bravely he approached Hubert and tapped him on the shoulder. “Can you help me?” he asked. "I’d like to learn your trade. I could travel with you for free and share the work as I learn from you.” The clerk shook his head as he knew Hubert was a loner and didn’t enjoy other people’s company. He was shocked when Hubert seemed to be contemplating this and then agreed to take Andre along with him. “You can come along with me,” he replied. “It won’t be easy, but I believe you are going to be helpful.” Andre went to get his gear before Hubert changed his mind. He had never been away from home before so his emotions were running from excitement to anxiety and fear. Once he had his gear, he bid farewell to his family and met Hubert at the river by the trading post.

The first day of paddling was strenuous. Andre was a fit young man but he was relieved when Hubert finally signaled they would seek shelter for the night. They arrived at a small cove and Above: Connie Sanche, "Spirits pulled their canoe In The Sky," 2023. Watercolor Source: Connie up high up on the painting. Sanche. beach. Andre gathered wood for a fire while Hubert prepared their supper. After their meal they settled for the night. Andre placed his bedroll close to the fire where it would be warm, and he knew he’d be safe from wild animals. Hubert however placed his bedroll on the other side of the camp, far from the fire. Andre was not used to being away from home, so he didn’t sleep well. He woke up in the night and saw that Hubert was gone. The next morning Andre questioned Hubert. “Where were you last night? I woke up and I didn’t know where you were. I was really anxious.” “Don’t worry about me,” responded Hubert. “I had a cramp in my leg and had to go walk it off. I didn’t want to disturb you.” Andre was relieved with the simple explanation. That day Hubert taught Andre how to locate different animals and how to set traps for Folklore / Special Edition 2023

them. He also taught him survival skills of shelter building and food gathering. It was a long day, but Andre was pleased with everything he was learning from Hubert. They returned to camp, had supper, and turned in for the night. Even though he was really tired, Andre had trouble sleeping through the night. He woke to find Hubert was gone again. In the morning Andre enquired about Hubert’s disappearance. “Don’t worry about me,” Hubert replied. “I had to go to the bathroom. I didn’t want to do that here so I went further down the beach.” Hubert could see Andre was anxious, so he went to his backpack and pulled something out. “I have something for you, Andre. It’s a good luck charm.” He showed Andre a necklace made of bone, teeth and claws. “Each time you get anxious I want you to hold it and it’ll bring you comfort. You’ll know what to do with it when you’re in danger.” Andre was grateful for the gift and put it around his neck. At night when he woke up and Hubert was gone he’d clutch his necklace. He found it gave him comfort and he slept better. Days turned to weeks, and they eventually came to another trading post. As Hubert was dealing with the clerk, a trapper named Leo started a conversation with Andre. They soon realized they were all going in the same direction. “It just makes sense we travel together,” stated Leo. “That’s a great idea,” replied Andre. “Come with us! You’ll be welcome.”

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

When Hubert heard that Andre had invited Leo to join them, he was not happy. However, it would be considered rude and disrespectful to rescind the offer without a good reason. Hubert reluctantly agreed to travel together for a short while. Hubert took his frustration out by setting a quick pace and taking few breaks. By dusk all three men were exhausted as they pulled their canoes onto the shore of a large lake. They started a fire and shared supper. Andre and Leo placed their bedrolls on each side of the fire while Hubert placed his bedroll away from the fire in the shadows. Late that night a sudden, loud wolf howl woke Andre. He looked around the camp and saw that Leo was still close to the fire sleeping but Hubert was gone. By habit he reached for his good luck charm and trusted that everything would be fine. Suddenly he heard a rustling noise coming from the direction of the lake. Andre crept soundlessly to a bush overlooking the lake. As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, he could see that Hubert was crouching by the shore of the lake. As Andre watched in horror Hubert started to growl. His body started to contort and change. Where he saw his friend standing moments before, now stood a monster! Andre knew the stories of the Roogaroo and he knew this man had to be one. Andre was too frightened to move and prayed the creature would not look his way. A sudden noise in the bush caught the monster’s attention and in a flash, it was after an animal.

Andre was frozen in place not sure what to do next. Dawn was near and he didn’t want to be seen by the Roogaroo. Before Andre could sneak back to camp the creature reappeared from the forest and returned to the shoreline. Andre was compelled to watch as the creature folded in on itself, shrinking in size and shape until it was Hubert again. In a flash Andre realized that Hubert would return to camp and notice that Andre was not in his bedroll. In a panic Andre ran as quietly as possible back to his bed. Clutching his necklace, he tried to control his breathing as he pretended to be asleep. Hubert crept into camp and paused over Andre looking down at him. Andre could sense Hubert studying him and prayed for him to walk away. Eventually Hubert seemed satisfied and went to his own bed roll and went to sleep. Andre waited until he could hear Hubert’s even breathing before he climbed out of his bed roll and tiptoed over to Leo. He gently shook him and told him to be quiet. Leo listened attentively to Andre’s recollection of the night’s events. He didn’t believe Andre. Leo didn’t know what a Roogaroo was and believed Andre had a nightmare. Andre was frantic and Leo could see that he was terrified. 20

“Okay if you want to leave, we’ll go,” he whispered to Andre. “We’ll sneak away.… get your stuff.” Andre did as he was told but he made too much noise and woke up Hubert. Hubert looked around and could see that they’d been loading a canoe. “What are you doing?” he stammered. “Where are you going? Are you leaving me alone? What is going on?” Leo confronted Hubert and said, “I don’t know what happened last night but you scared this man.” Leo pointed at Andre and continued, “He doesn’t want to be here and so we’re going to leave and there’s nothing you can do to stop us.” Hubert and Leo began to argue, and things escalated quickly. When Leo went to walk away, Hubert grabbed his arm. Leo spun around shoving Hubert hard. He tripped on a rock and fell to the ground. All of a sudden deep sounding growls came from Hubert’s throat. His body began to shudder. As he began to stand his body grew and transformed into a huge wolf-like creature. Leo and Andre were terrified. Leo recoiled in fear as Andre stood petrified clutching his good luck charm. The beast roared at Leo, startling Andre

and causing him to break the necklace free from his neck. Hubert had always said Andre would know what to do with the charm in a moment of danger. Instinctively he ran between Leo and Hubert and swung the necklace at Hubert, hitting him in the side of the face and cutting his ear. As blood began to drip from Hubert’s ear the monster gasped and fell to the ground. His body began to shudder as once again it began to transform. In just a few moments Hubert was back in his human body gasping for breath with tears running down his cheeks. “The curse is broken,” he managed to whisper as he sat up to look at the men. “I was cursed because I was selfish and mean. I only cared about myself and used other people to get what I wanted.” “If you were so horrible, why did you let me come with you?” asked Andre. Hubert then looked directly up at Andre’s eyes. “That day when I met you I was feeling so lonely that I let you come with me. I wanted to hide the curse from people so that’s why I always travelled alone.”

Facing page: McKenna Ramsay, "Li Roogaroo," 2023. Digital painting. Source: McKenna Ramsay. Used with permission. Folklore / Special Edition 2023

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

“Weren’t you worried that he would discover your secret?” asked Leo. “I thought maybe this was my opportunity for redemption,” Hubert continued. “Maybe if I was good to this young man and taught him how to be a good trapper then there would be a way for my curse to be lifted.” “You always told me to trust the charm you gave me, and I did,” said Andre kneeling

beside his friend. “Cutting your ear with it was an accident but maybe it was meant to be. I’m just glad it worked, and you have been cured.” Now, the three men were bonded together by their shared experience and from that day forward they traveled together as a team. Hubert asked them to never tell people this story because he felt shame and embarrassment. Only after Hubert passed on were they free

to tell this story to their family and friends who told it to their family and friends. They told it to me and now I’m telling it to you…a story of a Roogaroo looking for redemption. *This story originated on CBC Indigenous (audio file: Beware the Roogaroo). The story was incomplete, and I finished it.

Below: Lucille Scott, 2022. Acrylic. From this Window. Burton, Wilfred, 2022, p. 19. Source: Wilfred Burton.

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

The Tim Hortons Camp Roogaroos Kaitlin May 2023 Grade 6/7 Class at St. Michael School, Saskatoon. Source: Cort Dogniez It was Monday morning and the start of the St. Michael student trip to Tim Hortons camp in Kananaskis, Alberta. Everything was chaotic as students, parents, and staff were everywhere, inside and outside the building. The bus driver was loading luggage outside the gym door while parents were checking to make sure their kids had everything with them. The kids however were eager to get away and join their friends. Teachers were running around with class lists checking off names as they found students. Other staff were helping locate and load supplies for the next three days. The bus was finally ready to be boarded and the grade 7/8 class got to load first followed by the grade 6/7 class. Thomas found his seat and was standing in the aisle with his backpack on the floor when Uncle Darren came along. “Do you want your backpack in the overhead compartment?” he asked Thomas. Uncle Darren went to pick it up but he couldn’t move it. He grunted as he heaved on the heavy bag.

themselves, their chaperones, and the Tim Hortons staff. Lastly, she wished them a safe journey and a positive experience at camp. The students cheered as the doors closed and the bus rolled forward to begin the journey. As it turned right onto 33rd Street, Auntie Tash let out a shout, “Auntie Katie is standing at the gym door - we’ve left her behind!” There was too much traffic for the bus to stop so the bus driver drove to Idylwyld Drive and pulled into the Pharmasave parking lot on the corner. Uncle Emmett said he would run back and help Auntie Katie with her luggage. When they opened the door there was Auntie Katie standing with her water bottle, her backpack, her cellphone and a half eaten Kit Kat bar with chocolate on her face. “How did you get here so quickly and with all your stuff?” asked Uncle Emmett. “I had a little help,” she replied with a wink as she squeezed past him and took her seat. “Weird,” he thought. Once her luggage was stowed under the bus they were finally on the way to camp.

“Don’t worry about it,” Thomas replied as he picked it up with one hand and placed it on his lap as he took his window seat. With a red face, Uncle Darren gave his famous perplexed look and left to help other students. “Weird,” he thought.

The bus trip was long and everyone was grateful when they finally rolled through the gates of Tim Hortons camp. They were greeted by the staff who escorted them to their dorms where they would be staying while at camp.

When everyone was seated Auntie Cristin gave a farewell speech reminding students to honour the land and to be respectful of

The boys’ rooms were on the bottom of the building and the girls’ rooms were on the top. They were told to leave their gear in their rooms

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

and come out onto the deck to meet as a group.

She held up an empty Kit Kat wrapper.

Uncle Cort brought tobacco. Everyone was invited to come out onto the land to lay down tobacco, and give thanks for the land and the opportunity to be on it for the next three days. They walked across the road and up the side of a hill. Each student was given a bit of tobacco in their left hand and they spread out over a large section of the hill. There was a peaceful silence as everyone paused to say a private prayer and place their tobacco in a special place.

“That is weird,” said Vernice looking at Auntie Katie suspiciously.

Suddenly the silence was broken by a long, eerie howl from a wolf! Everyone panicked and ran back to the dorm building and into the downstairs common room. It took the staff a while to calm the students down. Then Auntie Katie entered the room.

Everyone eventually calmed down and went to their rooms to unpack and get ready for the evening meal. Supper was burgers and fries and everyone was starving. It was no surprise that everyone cleared their plates and some requested seconds. Thomas however was on his fifth burger looking for his sixth when Auntie Katie came over and asked him to step outside for a minute.

“Where were you?” asked Treyten. “Didn’t you run when you heard the wolf howl?” asked Lailanie, clearly shaken from the experience. “Nope,” answered Auntie Katie calmly. "I grew up in the north so I’m pretty comfortable hearing wolf calls. They don’t scare me.” Just then Amie, the camp leader came into the common room. She reassured the students and staff they were safe and that the wolf was probably more scared of them then they were scared of it. “I doubt it,’” said Braiden matter of factly. Amie said, “It was really odd because I went to investigate where the howl came from but was confused when I saw wolf prints and human prints… and even stranger… I found this.” 24

There were loud voices being exchanged but it was confusing as they were saying things like, “quit being a show off” and “people are getting suspicious.” The arguing ended a few minutes later and Auntie Katie and Thomas came back into the hall with big smiles on their faces, like they were the best of friends. “That was weird,” whispered Lexi to Olivia.

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

Lights out was at 10 pm and the students needed to be in their bunks with the lights off at that time. Staff patrolled the halls to make sure that the students settled down and that there was no foolishness going on. By 11:00 pm all the rooms were quiet. The staff met in the upstairs common area to discuss plans for the next day and the issues that needed to be sorted out. After the meeting Uncle Rylee was walking to his bedroom when he heard growling sounds. He froze in the hall trying to decide if the sound was coming from inside or outside. He waited and heard it again. He was sure it was coming from the other end of the hall. He cautiously tiptoed forward, listening intently for any more growls. He heard it again and it was definitely coming from the last room on the right. “How could a wild animal have gotten into the room?” he thought to himself. “What about Thomas, Jasper, Eric, and CJ? They are all in there,” he thought fearfully. “Should I get help?” The growl came again and Uncle Rylee knew he needed to do something. He grabbed a broom leaning against the hallway wall by the door. He swung open the bedroom door. He raised the broom ready to strike anything that jumped out at him. Nothing happened. The room was dark with only the hallway light to help him identify the four bunkbeds and the obstacle course of candy wrappers, empty pop cans, and clothing scattered on the floor. There was no sign of any wild animal. Suddenly he heard the deep throated growl again. He spun around to face the creature that had to be on the bottom bunk beside him. He instinctively raised the broom to hit it Folklore / Special Edition 2023

when he realized the growl was coming from Thomas. Thomas was sound asleep, clutching his spiderman stuffy to his chest. In the shadowy light it looked like Thomas had a really hairy face. He also had one leg sticking out of the sleeping bag and it looked really hairy too. Suddenly Thomas rolled over and growled again. Uncle Rylee realized Thomas was snoring and it sounded like a wild animal. The mystery was solved. Relieved, Uncle Rylee walked out of the room and closed the door. “Weird things have been happening today,” he thought as he walked back to his room. He suddenly realized the boys’ room smelled like McDonald’s. “That’s weird too!” he said shaking his head. The next day the students were divided up into four groups and sent to their various activities. Wall climbing was indoors but horse riding, the obstacle course, and archery site were all outside. That afternoon as each group was participating in their events, both Thomas and Auntie Katie complained about having upset stomachs and went to lie down in their rooms. Soon after a large dog appeared at the archery site. It began growling, circling around the archery enclosure scaring both the staff and students. “I’ve never seen that dog before,” said the camp counsellor to Auntie Tash as they watched the dog closely. “What are we going to do?” shouted Denisha.

“I’ll shoot it,” shouted Vernice loading an arrow onto her bow. The dog looked intently at Vernice as if understanding the danger it was in. She let the arrow fly and it winged the dog in its left hip leaving a long, red scratch. The dog quickly backed off and disappeared into the bush.

the students shared their stories they realized that both groups had been harassed by a black dog at the same time.

At the same time another hairy black dog showed up at the obstacle course. The group had just started a tug-of-war game when the growling beast, showing its teeth, approached the group. The staff quickly pulled the students into a tight group and told them not to do anything to provoke the dog.

Uncle Darren said, “When did Thomas become so strong? I couldn’t lift his backpack on the bus but he had no problem with it.”

“Don’t try to run away either,” shouted Auntie Tash, “or the dog will chase after you.” The dog seemed to be enjoying scaring the children and in between growls seemed to be smiling. “I’ve had enough of this,” said Louise. She grabbed the large rope, swung the end around her head and launched it at the dog. The animal seemed surprised by this show of bravery and didn’t move fast enough. The large knot at the end of the rope struck the creature on the left side of its face and it fell over on to the ground. It let out a loud whine and ran down the path towards camp. Everyone cheered and gave Louise highfives and pats on her back. At the end of the afternoon the students had free time. They gathered in the upper common room and told each other about the strange events of the afternoon. Most of the staff were there too. Auntie Katie and Thomas were supposedly still in their dorm rooms. As 26

“Weird things have been happening ever since we got here,” said Uncle Rylee. He described the incident with Thomas the previous night.

Jasper added the incident with Auntie Katie not being afraid of the wolf howls and the strange Kit Kat wrapper found with wolf and human tracks. “That’s true,” said Uncle Emmett. “Remember how she got to the bus so quickly with all her luggage and she was eating a Kit Kat bar.” “We heard Thomas and Auntie Katie arguing last night,” said Lexi. “They were telling each other to stop showing off and making people suspicious,” added Olivia. “Hey, where are they anyway?” asked Braiden. “I think it’s suspicious that these things are happening and always involve them.” “Students, don’t let your imaginations run away with you,” said Auntie Cristin. “Staff, we have a meeting in the main hall right away.” The staff got up and followed Auntie Cristin out the door. Once they were gone Denisha said, “Auntie Katie and Thomas weren’t even at archery or the obstacle course.” Folklore / Special Edition 2023

“Exactly!” answered Reid rising from his chair and moving to the middle of the room. “We have two people behaving weirdly. They are showing off their speed and strength but also behaviour related to dogs and wolves. Today we had the appearance of two black dogs trying to scare people but the two people acting weird aren’t anywhere to be seen. Or were they?” he finished dramatically.

“What are we going to do about them?” asked Hailey. “We need to come up with a plan and right away,” added Shanti, “before they start doing even more scary things and somebody gets hurt.” “They love showing off,” said Olivia, “maybe we can catch them that way.” “Of course,” said Treyten, as an idea popped into his head. “They will want to show off at the talent show. That’s where we will catch them.”

“Are you saying what I think you are saying? asked Destiny. “I don’t get it,” said Anika shaking her head. “I think he is saying they are roogaroos,” answered Eric looking around the room at everyone. The room went quiet as everyone considered what Eric had said. Finally Jess broke the silence. “It makes sense when you think of everything we have learned about the roogaroo at school.”

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

As they talked back and forth a plan came together. They would ask Amie to move the talent show to that night. The theme would be Magic and the best trick would win first prize. There was still equipment left behind from the community magic show held at the lodge and Jacklyn saw two boxes used for cutting people in half. If they could convince Auntie Katie and Thomas to climb into the boxes they would have them trapped and could bop them on their noses to cure them. Jess and Hailey volunteered to be the magicians while Destiny and Rico would have to find the right time to hit their noses. There could be serious trouble if the plan didn’t work. That evening the magic show started off with a few card tricks from Uncle Darren and Uncle Rylee. Auntie Katie and Thomas made Auntie Tash disappear from a magic cupboard and she reappeared on Uncle Emmett’s knee. That got a loud cheer from the audience. The next act was cutting people in half. Auntie Katie and Thomas were still grinning from their successful trick when they joined Jess and Hailey on the stage for the next trick. They 27

seemed to be loving the additional attention they were getting from the audience. When they were asked to climb into the boxes they both were being goofy trying to make the audience laugh. Auntie Katie made a Kit Kat bar magically appear in her hand and Thomas pulled a Double Quarter Pounder and twenty chicken nuggets out of his hat. As the laughter finally died down they each laid down in a box and the lids were locked sealing them in. Their heads stuck out one end of a box and their feet out the other end. Both boxes now were moved so the audience could clearly see both their faces. Suddenly Destiny and Rico appeared on the stage. They were each holding something behind their backs. Auntie Katie and Thomas looked at each other with bewilderment. This wasn’t part of the act. Destiny went to stand next to Auntie Katie and Rico stood next to Thomas. Jess and Hailey asked the audience to count backwards with them starting at the number five. The audience enthusiastically counting: five, four, three, two, one!!!

Olivia happened to be standing by the phone when it started to ring. She listened to the message and then hung up. Anika, Reid and Treyten were nearby and she shared the message with them. “We need to tell Auntie Cristin right away,” she shouted. “Help me find her!” It turned out that the call came from the manager of a McDonalds in Calgary. Auntie Katie and Thomas had shown up there but seemed dazed and confused. The manager didn’t know who to call but Auntie Katie had a Tim Hortons camp business card on her so they called that number. Uncle Emmett hot wired Auntie Cristin's car and drove to Calgary as fast as he could to pick up Auntie Katie and Thomas. Neither one had any memory of events for the past week.

started

Suddenly Destiny and Rico each brought out a small pillow they had taken from the common rooms. They swung them over their heads and struck Auntie Katie and Thomas each on the nose. There was a sudden clap of thunder and the lights flickered and went out. The room was in complete darkness. After a few moments of panic the lights came back on. Both boxes were empty and Auntie Katie and Thomas were nowhere to be found.

The staff calmed the students down and escorted them back to the dorms. The Tim Hortons staff helped search for the missing people but after an hour they still were not found.

The Grade 6/7 students were excited that their plan had worked and they cured two roogaroos from St. Michaels School! They would have a great story to share with their family and friends when they returned from Tim Hortons camp in Kananaskis!

Image Credits Page 24: Damien, Grade 1 student. Untitled watercolor painting, 2023. Lawson Heights School. Teacher: Terri Jackson. Source: Chandrelle Marshall. Page 27: Emmitt, student. Untitled watercolor painting, 2023. Mii taant leur plaas Pre K & K, Westmount School. Teacher: Heather McEachern. Source: Chandrelle Marshall. Folklore / Special Edition 2023

Terry's Superstition Memories Terry Ireland I have stories from my childhood. I remember my mom and dad telling us kids if we don’t come in by 8:00 at night there’s gonna be a Roogaroo out there because they come out then. That’s how they used to get us in the house by 8 o’ clock at night. If a black cat crosses your road, you’re going to have bad luck. So, to this day I hate seeing a black cat crossing our road because that must mean bad luck.

At Christmas time they’d tell us we should not be jealous of who gets a nicer present than someone else. They will bother you for the rest of your life if you get jealous. If our eyes twitch on the top of our eye that means we’re gonna see someone that you haven’t seen for a long time. If our eye twitches at the bottom that means we’re going to cry.

Ruth's Superstition Stories Ruth Desjarlais My mom, Terry Ireland was always really eager to share her superstitions with us growing up. I guess in a lot of ways we just carried that on. One thing that my mom’s sister actually used to tell us when I was pregnant with my daughter was to not wear anything tight around my wrists. She believed that the baby would be born with a permanent marking on their wrist. She also told me that if you are pregnant and you want to know the gender of the baby, you could take a small flimsy piece of paper and would write "boy" on one side and "girl" on the other, then hold it up in the air and drop it and whatever side it landed on the most was the gender of the baby.

in church to make decisions that were hard for them to make, or when they didn’t know what direction to take with the church. They would write "yes" on one side and "no" on the other. One thing I remember hearing growing up was never sing at the supper table or you'd choke. I think that was probably just because it’s bad manners to sing with your mouth full of food. Seeing the same numbers all the time can have meaning. So be aware and be alert of what’s happening in your life. If you see 222 or you see 11, 11, or 555, 333 any of those numbers, I believe it’s a type of superstition. So, if the left ear is ringing, it’s bad. This means someone’s talking about you behind your back in a bad way. If it rings on the right ear, it’s good and they are saying good things.

She used to say that priests would use that Folklore / Special Edition 2023

My mom raised us to believe that if you dream of muddy water it meant there would be death. You would hear of a death. So, if you dreamt of drowning or someone’s head goes under water in your dream it meant death too.

Don’t throw your scissors in the garbage, it will bring the family bad luck.

Don’t make a face ‘cause it will stay like that. We were also told if you make a funny face and someone smacks you on the back, your face will stay like that permanently.

he may have had some sort of powers.

And then the last one was back in the day, mom used to tell us that her brother was followed home by a fireball. They believed that

If a bird hits the window it means there will be sickness in the family but if the bird flies into the house it is a death.

Below: Wilfred Burton. Photograph, 2015. In Where’s the Rugaroo? by Wilfred Burton and Angela Caron, p. 2. Pearson Canada, 2015. Source: Wilfred Burton. ©Gabriel Dumont Institute. Used with permission.

Another one was dropping a spoon or a fork brought you company.

Facing page: Wilfred Burton, The St. Laurent Grotto. Hooked Rug, 2022. Source: Wilfred Burton. Used with permission.

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

Brittany's Superstition Stories Brittany Gervais The Gervais family is from St. Laurent, right by Batoche. For the Gervais’, birds were omens, usually about a pending death. For example, my Memere (grandma) would see owls when people were going to pass away, and my auntie Edith, her daughter, would see crows. Interestingly, when my Memere was dying, Edith saw an owl sitting on top of the hospital where Memere was. So, the owls were with her when she was dying as well. A novena is a special prayer to a specific saint. In the Gervais family, we pray to St. Therese of Lisieux. She is called “The Little

Flower,” so it is said that if St. Therese passed your prayer on and it was answered, you will see or sometimes smell roses. My auntie Claire’s son, Jeff, was taking his electrician journeyman test. Auntie Claire asked her sister, my auntie Edith, if she could say a Novena that Jeff would pass the test. My auntie Edith did, and soon after she walked into a gas station in Sutherland and there was a huge crate filled with roses, so she knew Jeff was going to pass. But then my auntie Claire called and told Edith that Jeff didn’t pass. Auntie Edith was so confident in her sign, that she told Jeff to call and double check. Sure enough, there was a mistake and they had sent out the wrong paper, so Jeff did, in fact, pass. Mrs. Vandale was a woman from the St. Laurent area who would read cards and she would predict the future. For example, if you lost your cows, she would be able to tell you where they were. More than once, people went missing in the South Saskatchewan River and she was able to say when and where they would be located. She would never give bad news or say if someone was going to die. My one cousin went to Mrs. Vandale once and she picked a cardmy cousin knows it was a spade, but she’s not sure what number. Then Mrs. Vandale got very quiet but wouldn’t say anything and just made a mention for my cousin to spend some time with her mom. A few months later her mom, my auntie, passed away from an aneurysm very suddenly.

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

Crow's Feet - A Superstition Story Bailey Bornyk

Just then, a few crows knocked me out of my distraction and gathered in the tall birch.

I sat in the bush for a while, watching the

Their black bodies stood out against the white

clouds roll past in the open sky. I picked out the

bark. I felt something in me grow confident and

images they formed; floating sculptures that

raised my slingshot. I could see both the stone

only mother nature could create. Clouds can be

in the strap and the bird in the branch. The bird

as big as she wants, and as powerful, but still

I aimed at was unobstructed, so I took a deep

look soft and weightless.

breath and held it, drew my slingshot back and released…“fffffft.”

Above: Wilfred Burton, Raven Hooked Rug, 2020. Hooked Rug. Source: Wilfred Burton. Used with permission.

I heard a caw and a thump. "I must have Folklore / Special Edition 2023

got one," I thought excitedly. I didn’t see any

behind me, but when I looked back, I could see

birds left in the tree; they must have dispersed

nothing. I tried to hurry but I couldn’t move fast

at the sound. I gathered myself and made my

as my ankle was quite sore.

way to the tree. I looked around the base and there were some black feathers strewn around

Once I got to the tree, I could see that it

loosely, with a crow lying still at the center.

was full of crows, creating a dark cloud at the

Seeing the crow dead in front of me left an

bulk of the tree. They were all sitting still and

unsettling feeling in my stomach. I had never

silent. Sets of black beady eyes watched me

killed an animal before and started to feel guilt,

approach the tree.

questioning why I decided to pursue this. I kneeled down and started digging. The I sat there for a while with the bird’s body

hole was about one foot deep, so I lowered the

and eventually gathered the nerve to pick it up.

bird and the grass clippings into it. I peeled

I slowly brought it around back to the shed, laid

open the cigarette and spread some tobacco

it on the bench and the wings flopped down with

over the top. I closed my eyes, prayed that the

their dead weight.

bird has a safe journey, and filled the hole. I left so abruptly that I forgot the spade and the

I now had to remove the feet. Grabbing a knife from the toolbox, I closed my eyes, took

box behind and didn’t look back the whole way home.

a deep breath and held it. I stretched out one leg and chopped down, like a clever. It made a

I reached home and slammed the door

thud, but the foot was still attached. My stomach

behind me. I fell to the floor, sweat dripping

started to turn as I sawed at the leg, attempting

down my face. I checked my shirt pocket, and

to cut the foot free. After a few times back and

the foot was still there.

forth, the foot released, and the knife sunk into the bench. I rushed out the door and hurled.

I went upstairs and curled in my bed. Next thing I knew it was dark, I must have fallen

I thought to myself, "there is no way I will

asleep. I rolled over and looked out the window.

be able to get the second one off," and hoped

I could see the birch outside was full of crows;

one would be enough to collect the bounty. I

none of them were moving, but they were all

stuck the bird’s body into a box with some grass

facing my direction. I wondered if it was the

clippings to make a bed and put the crow’s foot

same birds as in the willow. I was covered in

into my shirt pocket along with a loose cigarette.

sweat, and even though I was terrified I opened the window a crack to let the breeze in. I left

I grabbed a small spade and began walking to the tree where I originally got my willow

the crow’s foot on my dresser wrapped in some toilet paper and went to sleep.

branch. The whole way I could hear cawing

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

to realize what she meant, but did not think it could actually happen. The bird began to hack viciously at my eye, but I could not feel any of the pain. My eyes began to fill red, and I could no longer see clearly. The bird gripped my eyeball and took flight, and at this moment my sight returned. I could see my body below, getting further and further away. I could see the vast plains open Above: Elyse. Untitled watercolor painting,2023. Mii taant leur plaas Pre K & K, Westmount School. Teacher: Heather McEachern. Source: Chandrelle Marshall.

up and I took in all of the yellows and greens that made up the land. We traversed for a while until we got close to a valley that was lined with trees. We began to descend in the direction of

I opened my eyes, and I was lying in a

the tallest tree and, as we got closer, I could see

field, staring up at the sky. Clouds passed by

a nest. There were hatchlings in the nest, with

slowly, there was little sound except for the

their beaks pointed skywards, chirping with

breeze passing through the tall grass. My senses

their sweet little voices. We landed on the edge

felt heightened, and I could hear the insects

of the nest and the bird dropped me in one of

working away below my head. Vibrations were

the hatchling’s beaks.

coming from the earth, as if I could feel what was growing around me. My eyes were drawn

I heard a crash and sat up immediately.

to a bird gliding high in the sky. The wind was

Next to my bed there was a water glass smashed

carrying it and the bird slowly circled lower and

on the ground, and the window was swung wide-

lower. My eyes began to make out more details

open. I felt a pain in my temples and touched

in the bird, seeing each feather in its wings.

them with my hands, I looked at my fingers and

"What a gracious creature," I thought.

there was a small amount of blood spread on my fingers. I thought maybe it had something to do

Then it dove directly towards me, sending

with the glass so I got up, careful to avoid the

my body into a shock. I couldn’t move and was

glass, and noticed my notebook was laid open

unable to close my eyes. The bird was dark

on my desk with a new line written on the page:

black, and I could see, just before it reached

"My eyes took flight with the bird, looking down

my face, that it only had one foot. It landed on

upon the ways we organize our lives." "I must

my face with a pinch to my temple. I thought of

have woken up and written this in the night," I

my mother’s warnings when I would stare up at

thought.

the sun for too long, convincing me to stop or else I would get crow’s feet on my eyes. I began

I went to close the window and next to it

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

was a piece of loose toilet paper on the floor stained with a bit of blood. I unfolded it and the crow’s foot was gone. I rushed to the bathroom to look in the mirror and saw blood on both of my temples. When I wiped it away, there were four punctures on each temple. They were in the shape of a crow’s foot. One foot next to each of my eyes. I splashed my face with some cold water to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, and they were still there. I made my way back to my room, thinking what possibly could have happened… and sat with my notebook. I read the lines I had already written down: Let my eyes develop in the ways a crow’s foot Prints the damp earth, Stamping forth with each step Until thy wings unfurl and take flight once again, My eyes take flight with the bird Looking down upon the ways we organize our lives, I continued to write, but the words didn’t seem to be coming from me: Support my head with your deadly grasp, Carry me as you do your prey, Don’t set me down until you are ready to consume me, Share me with thy young, For I am nothing without natural law Guiding the life we deem wild. What I have seen In flights with the birds, The selves we regard with our moral standards, Live far wilder Than those who think for themselves, Living to survive. We are the wildlife, Let us imitate the birds, May we all fly above Atrocities our society endures, And learn from their faults too. Let us support those with broken wings, Someday we will all fly again.

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

About the Authors NORA CUMMINGS has lived most of her

CORT DOGNIEZ was born and raised in

life in Saskatoon. She is a descendent of the

Saskatoon. He was an educator for over forty

Round Prairie Métis. She has been involved in

years until his retirement in 2020. He was

the promotion of Métis rights and culture her

fortunate growing up listening to his Kohkum’s

entire life. In 1969, she was a founding member

stories about her life and her family. He now

of Gabriel Dumont Local 11 and became one of

honours those stories and passes them on to his

the Métis society's first field workers and family

family, his relatives and friends, and the general

advocates. She continues to be the Li Vyeu for

public who want to know more about the Métis

Gabriel Dumont local 11. She was a founding

people. His first children’s book Road to La Prairie

member of the Saskatchewan Native Women’s

Ronde was nominated for two Saskatchewan

Association and was the first woman on the

book awards in 2021. Cort's in retirement

Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre

as a writer and presenter at schools and in

board of directors. She is an active member of

public events. He is a consummate storyteller

the Saskatoon community and involved in many

who dazzles his listeners with traditional and

historic decisions. Nora has been honoured

contemporary stories.

with many awards and tirelessly continues to work for the Métis people by serving on various boards and advisory councils.

KADE FERRIS is a Michif from Turtle Mountain

near Belcourt, North Dakota. He is

a historian, author, and knowledge keeper on BAILEY BORYNK is a Michif who grew up

Michif culture and heritage. He holds a Bachelor

in Saskatoon. He is an aspiring writer who has

of Arts in Anthropology from the University of

a passion for poetry, prose, beading, and visual

North Dakota and a Masters in Anthropology from

arts. He currently lives in Toronto and attends

North Dakota State University. He is the author

the University of Toronto, studying English Lit-

of six books on Métis and Anishinaabe history

erature, Philosophy, and Indigenous Studies.

and culture. He is a professional preservationist working for Indigenous communities for over 30

RUTH DESJARLAIS grew up in southeast Saskatchewan. She is a proud daughter of Bill and Terry Ireland, the wife of Kyle Desjarlais, and the mom of Jerney and Echo. She is a

years to protect and promote heritage resources. He maintained the Dibaajimowin blog featuring stories and historical anecdotes about the Métis and Ojibwe.

make up artist based out of the lower mainland in British Columbia. 36

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

BRITTANY GERVAIS is a social worker in Saskatoon. Her masters thesis is on the use of

grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. She passed away on Oct. 31, 2023.

intuition in counselling. Brittany’s Michif family is from the St. Laurent, Saskatchewan and she is a member of Gabriel Dumont Local 11. She is the mother of three beautiful children. TERRY IRELAND is a Métis Elder from Moosomin Saskatchewan. She is eighty years old and retains a deep knowledge of Michif

JOCELYN ORMEROD is a Two-Spirit Métis woman whose family hails from the Qu'Appelle Valley. After growing up in Lumsden, she moved to Saskatoon to attend the University of Saskatchewan completing an Honours degree in Indigenous Studies. She is currently the Indigenous Academic Achievement advisor for

language. Born to Joseph and Emma Blondeau

the Edward’s School of Business. She is an avid

and married to Bill Ireland for sixty years. She

beadwork artist and is currently the president of

is a proud mother of seven children, eighteen

Gabriel Dumont Local 11 in Saskatoon.

Share your Story: Writing for Folklore Magazine Folklore Magazine is a unique venue to share stories of Saskatchewan. The magazine is a rich resource for future (and current!) generations to enjoy. Regular print editions of Folklore are published four times a year. • We have an online blog of selected stories from the print edition at www.skhistory. ca. We accept unpublished original work that shares stories and histories of this place, including: • “People stories” – this includes stories of events, daily life, family, humour,

Folklore / Special Edition 2023

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or personal/lived experiences that share what it is like to live in this place. These can be from a person’s own experiences. They could also be a story told to the author by a family or community member (with permission to share). Feature photographs - Send in a photo, with a few lines of description. Articles researched from books or archives, with references. Poetry or songs. Book Reviews.

For more information, visit our website at https://www.skhistory.ca/folklore-about for writer guides and more!

Bibliography Campbell, Maria. Stories of the Road Allowance People: The Revised Edition. Saskatoon: The Gabriel Dumont Institute, 2010.

Depeel, Janice (based on Stories by Gilbert Pelletier, Norman Fleury, and Joe and Norma Welsh and Interview by Sherry Farrell Racette). “Attack of the Roogaroos!” In Jeanne Pelletier, Norman Fleury, Gilbert Pelletier, Norma Welsh, Joe Welsh, and Janice Depeel. Stories of Our People / Lii zistwayr di la naasyoon di Michif: A Métis Graphic Novel Anthology, p. 144-159. Saskatoon: Gabriel Dumont Institute, 2008.

Létourneau, Henri. La Robe Rouge or The Red Dress (A Rougarou Story). In Lawrence J. Barkwell, L. Dorion and A. Hourie. EDs. Metis Legacy II: Michif Culture, Heritage, and Folkways, p. 12-14. Saskatoon: Gabriel Dumont Institute and Pemmican Publications, 2007.

“Storyteller Interviews.” The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture. Gabriel Dumont Institute. https://www.metismuseum.ca/browse/index.php/775

Préfontaine, Darren R. “Introduction to Métis Stories." In Stories of Our People: I-IV.

_____. “Métis Storytellers,” The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture. http://www. metismuseum.ca/resource.php/00747.

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