Montana Playwrights Network
presents the 6th annual
Winter Lodge Rendezvous
The Montana Playwrights Network is pleased to offer the 6th Annual Winter Lodge Rendezvous on December 5 & 6, 2026. This year’s event highlights several Native American performing artists and scholars including traditional artist, speaker and cultural consultant, Louise Fischer; Sapphire Ferguson-Jetty, who plays traditional and contemporary Métis fiddle music; Rachel Twoteeth-Pichardo, an accomplished Native flute player; and Joe Pichardo, who is a certified instructor of traditional Indian Games. s he did for the first five Winter Lodge Rendezvous’, Northern Plains Singer, speaker and educator, Mike Jetty returns as host for this year’s unique event.
Produced by the Montana Playwrights Network, this annual event is supported by premiere sponsor Madison Valley Bank, with grants from the Montana Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, and with additional support from coal tax placed into Montana's Cultural and Aesthetic Projects Trust Fund.
Admission prices are $15 for students and seniors, and $20 for adults.
Native Artist Bios (in alphabetical order)
Louise Fischer: Louise Ogemahgeshig Fischer is an Anishinaabe Elder, Mide Society member and belongs to the Eagle clan. She educates and entertains the public and contributes to society by sharing history, stories and traditions of indigenous culture. In addition to stage and television performances, Louise is an accomplished visual artist and sculptor, creating hundreds of murals and works of art in different mediums that are displayed throughout Montana. Louise also leads Sweat Lodge and spiritual ceremonies in the Helena area for PTSD Veterans and for other groups and individuals.
Sapphire Ferguson-Jetty: Sapphire is descendant of the Spirit Lake Dakota and Turtle Mountain Chippewa, and she is very passionate about fiddle music. Performance credits include the All-Nations Tipi Village during the 150th anniversary celebration of Yellowstone Park, at the Myrna Loy Theatre in Helena as part of a Metis cultural celebration and in the first, second and fourth MPN Winter Lodge Rendezvous. An award-winning musician, Sapphire often plays at community gatherings and is a jingle dress dancer participating in regional powwows.
Mike Jetty: Mike is an enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation and a Turtle Mountain Chippewa descendant. He is an Indian Education Specialist at the Montana Office of Public Instruction and has been working with Indian Education issues for the past 35 years. In addition to his work with K-12 education, he is an active member of the American Indian and Minority Achievement Council for the Montana University System.
Joe Pichardo: Joe is a proud descendant of the Blackfeet, Chippewa, and Cree nations. He serves as a Title VI Indian Education Specialist, working closely with urban Native youth to foster academic success and cultural connection through classroom engagement and community-based programming. In addition, Joe serves as a cultural artisan with Yellowstone Forever’s initiative to elevate tribal presence in the park. Against the iconic backdrop of Old Faithful, the Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center becomes a living space of connection, where Joe and his family spend a week sharing stories and teaching traditional games to visitors from around the world.
Rachel Twoteeth-Pichardo: An enrolled member of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe, Rachel was born and raised in Helena, Montana. From a young age, she was drawn to the rich traditions of her heritage, finding a powerful means of expression through the Native American flute and has been playing for over a decade. Known for weaving emotion, culture, and storytelling into every note, Rachel has shared her gift at community gatherings, cultural celebrations, and artistic showcases. Her music not only honors her ancestors but also serves as a bridge between generations, inviting listeners to connect more deeply with Indigenous history and resilience.
About Montana Playwrights Network
A 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization incorporated in Montana in 2016, Montana Playwrights Network (MPN) was formed to provide a forum focusing on Story as expressed through playwriting, storytelling, poetry, history, non-fiction, essays, etc. MPN connects with writers, storytellers, teachers, performers, theatre companies, libraries and businesses interested in storytelling to build communities across Montana. The Helena Avenue Theatre (HAT), home to MPN, is available to individuals, businesses, and organizations to present their own performances, recitals, and other special events.
Premiere Sponsor
