Arnolda Dufour Bowes is a Cree-Métis storyteller, author, and artist with family ties to Sakitawak (Île-à-la-Crosse), the Lestock/Punnichy Métis Road Allowance, and George Gordon First Nation Reserve. She is also a devoted mother and auntie.

Her multi-sensory art exhibit, Apples and Train Tracks, shares the lives and trials of the Road Allowance Métis in Saskatchewan. Through this work, Bowes explores the displacement events that occurred during the 1940s and highlights how her people persevered despite government attempts to erase their homes, traditions, and ways of life. While the exhibit addresses these traumatic events, it also celebrates the irrepressible spirit, light-heartedness, and hope inherent in Métis culture, emphasizing resilience and survival.

Bowes’ goal as a storyteller is to bring these truths to light and into the homes of those who may not have grown up with this history or be familiar with the Métis experience. Her intention is for audiences to engage with the stories empathetically, not sympathetically, and to recognize the goodness, creativity, and strength within Métis culture. Through Apples and Train Tracks, visitors are invited to walk in the moccasins of the Métis, hear their stories, and witness the experiences that have shaped the community’s tenacity.

Her work reflects a commitment to using art and storytelling to foster understanding and connection. Bowes believes that history is not only about challenges endured but also about the remarkable resilience, tradition, and connectedness of Indigenous peoples. Her artistic practice emphasizes celebrating these strengths while acknowledging the complexity of Métis and Indigenous experiences in Canada.