Formulations

The three stories included in this collection, all experimental works of fiction, were inspired by three transformative experiences I had as a young man in northern and southern Manitoba. The first two stories reflect my experiences living in Cree communities a good distance north of Winnipeg, the capital city, and the third my return to Winnipeg, my home town, after a long absence. I returned to Winnipeg to complete a degree in Native Studies at the University of Manitoba, to learn more about the history of the remarkable people I encountered, lived with, and learned from up north. I became fascinated with the Cree language, storytelling, translation, and story structure; bought my first computer and took a great interest in desktop publishing and graphic design; traveled north at regular intervals to visit members of my adopted Cree family; and started to write. I saw an old man in his yard one time up north piling rocks in the shape of a house, or so it seemed to me. I visited my adopted father at a hotel one time and met his friend named Bear, who sold me a gun and came to my mind whenever I heard about bears being hunted or killed. I came upon a green glass bottle by the Red River one day, out exploring old fields where Metis people lived, and pictured a mouse inside, swirling round and round like the mice we used to find up north stranded and drowned in our slop pails. Considerable time and great care has gone into these three formulations: The Rock House, Killing the Bear, and The Christmas Tureen. I hope these formulations can help you along with your own.