Apples and Train Tracks is hitting the stage at The Refinery April 30 to May 10, in conjunction with Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theare & Burnt Thicket Theatre. Playwright Arnolda Dufour Bowes joined us in the Bull studio to talk about this powerful world premiere.

This show pulls from real Road Allowance Métis history, something she says comes with a lot of weight. Especially when it comes to telling the truth about forced displacement in Saskatchewan in the 1940s. The story follows Charlie in the 1980s as he struggles with identity, relationships, and trauma from his past, while the title itself reflects both a derogatory term used against Métis people and the train tracks tied to their removal. Apples and Train Tracks deals with heavy subject matter, but injects it with a healthy dose of lightheartedness.

Tickets can be purchased by clicking here!

Arnolda says education around this history is still lacking, which is why they’ve even developed teaching resources alongside the play, and with more awareness growing across Canada, now feels like the right time to bring these stories forward.

For educators interested in including this with their lesson, a teaching module can be requested from emma@burntthicket.com.

There is also a sensory art exhibit delving into Road Allowance Metis history at the Gabriel Dumont Institute at 917 22nd St W, Saskatoon.