Rosie Says… Taanishi! Teaching Métis Culture Through Storytelling, Song, and Puppetry

Presented by Jo-Ina Young and Holly Best

Have you ever watched a child light up the moment a puppet starts talking? This session is filled with practical ideas that you can adapt to your own classroom or childcare program, whether you already use puppets or have never picked one up before.

Join me and my Métis puppet, Rosie McDougall, along with her curious furry friend, Scruff, for a lively presentation that will have you laughing, singing, and seeing puppets in a whole new way.

Rosie and Scruff don’t just entertain—they teach. Through storytelling, songs, humour, and conversation, they introduce Métis culture, history, traditions, and ways of knowing in a way that captures children’s attention and encourages them to participate. You’ll experience how Rosie teaches children to say “Taanishi” through song, how stories become opportunities for cultural learning, and how a puppet can help children build confidence, curiosity, language, and meaningful connections.

As Rosie and Scruff perform, I’ll explain the teaching strategies happening behind the scenes and share why puppets are such powerful tools in early learning. You’ll see how I use songs, repetition, storytelling, movement, and humour to keep children engaged while weaving Métis teachings naturally throughout the presentation.

If you’ve ever wondered how one little puppet can hold the attention of a room full of children while teaching culture, language, kindness, and belonging, come and meet Rosie and Scruff. My hope is that you’ll leave inspired, smiling, and excited to discover how puppets can open the door to joyful, meaningful Indigenous learning.

Leah Dorion is a Métis author, artist, educator, and researcher. Most of her books are beautifully illustrated by Leah herself and focus on Métis culture, traditions, family, and identity.

• Métis Christmas Mittens
• The Giving Tree: A Retelling of a Traditional Métis Story
• The Diamond Willow Walking Stick
• My First Métis Lobstick
• Relatives With Roots
• Métis Camp Circle: A Bison Culture Way of Life
• The Snow Tunnel Sisters
• Métis Singing Sticks
• Pemmican Berries
• Métis and Dandelions
• The Helpful Sasquatch
• How the Moon Came to Be
• Métis Transport Boxes
• Poems to Honour Mother Earth
• Mother Earth Colouring and Activity Book
• Five Senses for Métis Babies
• My Little Métis Sleepy Horse
• Giving Thanks

Wilfred Burton writes engaging stories about Métis children, family, music, traditions, and community. Several of his books have become favourites in classrooms across Canada.

• Fiddle Dancer (with Anne Patton)
• Dancing in My Bones (with Anne Patton)
• Call of the Fiddle (with Anne Patton)
• Road Allowance Kitten
• Road Allowance Kitten: Broken Promises
• Road Allowance Kitten: Full Circle
• Roogaroo Mickey (illustrated by Leah Marie Dorion)
• Ride, Gabe, Ride!
• Koohkum’s Royal Bannock

And of course my own book will be launched next year, Rosie’s Trip to Batoche.