The Sakoose Compass

New Canadian Publishing: Survival Storytelling from Northwestern Ontario’s Old Sakoose Mine Site

The Art Borups Corners Storytelling Club and The Arts Incubator Winnipeg Storytelling Clubs are proud to present their newest collection of short fiction. This project actively supports regional Canadian publishing and celebrates contemporary Indigenous storytelling and arts capacity building across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.

Featured Story: The Sakoose Compass—A Borups Corners Adventure

What happens when a teenager’s entire virtual world vanishes? For gaming-obsessed Myles, spending the summer with his grandfather in the remote Northwestern Ontario wilderness means entering a digital wasteland of pine sap and zero Wi-Fi. He deeply misses his screen and initially dismisses his grandpa’s talk of ‘real treasure’ and an ancient, crinkly map detailing the old, long-closed Sakoose Mine site.

However, when his phone finally goes completely dark, leaving him disconnected, the dense forest transforms from a dull setting into a formidable challenge. Driven by the lure of a faded line on the map labeled ‘Old Trail – Abandoned,’ Myles impulsively ventures into the woods, seeking a secret shortcut and an adventure he can claim as his own. Instead, he finds himself genuinely lost, facing the unforgiving realities of nature. Armed only with an archaic compass and his ingenuity, Myles must navigate treacherous terrain and confront his deepest fears, far from the safety of his digital life.

Read More about The Sakoose Compass Adventure is a powerful and gripping survival story aimed at challenging the screen-addicted generation to recognize the profound dignity and strength found within the natural world and the untapped courage within themselves. This adventure, set in the heart of Northern Ontario, explores whether a boy who only knows virtual worlds can find his true strength beyond the screen.

ISBN: 9798232535025

About the Canadian Interdisciplinary Artist, Jamie Bell

Jamie Bell is a celebrated Canadian interdisciplinary artist, writer, and a fierce advocate for the power of shared regional stories. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, his creative work consistently explores community, connection, and the intersection of traditional and contemporary storytelling through creative projects and participatory research. When he’s not behind a pen or a camera, you can often find him in his garden, a quiet space where he discovers inspiration in the quiet dignity of growth and the cycles of the land.

Fostering Indigenous Storytelling and Arts Capacity in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario

The Art Borups Corners Storytelling Club library serves as a dynamic platform celebrating the incredible creativity, cultural expression, and literary talent arising from our Manitoba and Northern Ontario communities. This unique interdisciplinary arts and essential capacity building program was successfully executed in the summer of 2025. It received pivotal support from the Ontario Arts Council Multi and Inter-Arts Projects Funding, The Arts Incubator Winnipeg Hub (a key component in our regional infrastructure), Ottawa-based Global Dignity Canada Non-Profit, and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Creative Entrepreneurship Program. We extend our deepest gratitude to the Local Services Board of Melgund Community Support and the numerous community members, regional artists, and talented creators whose contributions made this program a vital success for Canadian arts and publishing.