Photo credit: None
Marjorie Beaucage
Marjorie Beaucage is a Two-Spirit Métis Auntie, filmmaker, art-ivist and educator, a land protector and a water walker. Born in Vassar, Manitoba, to a large Métis family, Marjorie’s life’s work has been about creating social change, working to give people the tools for creating possibilities and right relations. She has been a grandmother for Walking with Our Sisters, the Elder for OUT Saskatoon and the Elder-In-Residence for the University of Saskatchewan Student Union. As a current board member of Chokecherry Studios, she is giving back to future art-ivists as they stand up for themselves and their community through art, songs, writing - creating possibilities of wellness with ceremony and story medicine.
Photo credit: Stephen Sawchyn
Tristen Durocher
As well as performing traditional fiddle in cultural spaces, Tristen Durocher has been involved with teaching music to young people in northern Saskatchewan, northern Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories. He's also taught beginner students their first fiddle tunes at fiddle camps like The Kenosee Lake Kitchen Party. Teaching and performing music are different things, but they help preserve and provide access to traditional Métis culture. Durocher is also a photographer, poet, and storyteller.
Tristen is also an activist. Inspired by the defeat of a suicide prevention bill in the Saskatchewan Legislature, Tristen created the Walking with Our Angels campaign to raise awareness of the disproportionately high rate of suicide among Northern and Indigenous peoples, walking 635 km from his home in Air Ronge, to the Legislative grounds in Regina.
“…using his artistic gifts to make meaningful change.” – Marjorie Beaucage
Tristen Durocher is a gifted Métis storyteller from Northern Saskatchewan studying at the University of Saskatchewan to become a teacher. Whether through the soulful ancient sounds of his award-winning fiddle music, photography or poetry, he shines. Tristen has an old-soul presence and can weave a good yarn that moves you to laughter and tears. He reminds me of the old-time Métis storytellers.
Tristen is committed to exploring and creating, and passing on knowledge in the Métis way he was trained to do. It is my honour to support him. Also, Métis need to be affirmed and acknowledged in the art world.
Though not yet an established video artist, we collaborated on a video last year. Tristen asked if he could learn from me, so we will do more video projects together in 2023. Like me, the creative form changes with the moment. The important thing is to encourage Tristen to share his gifts. He truly is an amazing ARTIVIST - using his artistic skills for meaningful change - like his walk and fast to change the suicide bill in 2021.
Along the way, he played his fiddle, shared poems, established a media presence and got the Bill introduced in the Saskatchewan legislature. This type of storytelling is medicine for the People - and Tristen has lots of it. Tristen's Facebook page displays his photography work and reflections from the journey.