The True Canadians

Forgotten Nevermore

BY PATRICIA RUSSELL AND DAVID WYLYNKO

About the Book

For over two centuries, the Métis have fought for recognition as an Indigenous people and as a Nation. This struggle has played out on the battlefield, in the courts, and at the negotiating table, often over issues of governance, land rights, and resources. It wasn’t until 1982, when the government patriated the Constitution, that Métis rights were officially recognized by Canada. The True Canadians chronicles Métis challenges and achievements over those 40 years and well before. Focused on Alberta, the book traces the growth of the Métis Nation of Alberta, which in 2022 ratified its own Constitution, the same year as the 40^th anniversary of Canada’s Constitution Act. The title refers to the fact the Métis are the people born of this land.

Image 1: MNA President Poitras presents the Honourable Marc Miller, Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, with a copy of the book during new self-government agreement signing.

Image 2: Signing Alberta Métis Government Recognition and Self-Government Agreement.

Purchasing

The True Canadians is available through independent bookstores across Canada and Chapters/Indigo. The audio version will be available soon.

Vancouver

Calgary

Edmonton

Yellowknife

Saskatoon

Winnipeg

Ottawa

Saskatoon

Winnipeg

Ottawa

The True Canadians is also available through Kindle and Kobo.

Kindle Edition

Kobo

Kindle Edition

Kobo

For MNA citizens wishing to obtain a copy, please click here.

the Authors

Patricia Russell

Patricia Russell is a descendant of the Ladouceur and Sanderson Métis families of Lac La Biche, Fort Chipewyan, and Fort Fitzgerald in Alberta and of Fort Smith, Fort Resolution, and Hay River in the Northwest Territories. Using her background in broadcast journalism and photography, Patricia was instrumental in developing, writing, and publishing the first and subsequent editions of the magazine, Otipemisiwak, during her time as the Communications Manager with the Métis Nation of Alberta. Patricia is an enthusiastic supporter of all things Métis, especially when it comes to storytelling. Patricia lives in Yellowknife, NWT with her Standard Poodle, McKeown, and is a short drive to her daughter, son-in-law, and three brilliant grandchildren.

David Wylynko

David Wylynko is a writer and novelist, and formerly worked as a journalist for newspapers and magazines in Canada and abroad, including the Ottawa Citizen and Canadian Geographic. After his journalism career, David launched the communications consulting firm, West Hawk Associates, named for the lake on the Manitoba-Ontario border that was created by a meteorite 100 million years ago. David grew up in the Winnipeg neighbourhood of Fort Garry, across the Red River from the Louis Riel House. He possesses an undergraduate Journalism degree from Carleton University and an MA in English from Queen’s University and is a PhD student in the School of English and Theatre Studies at the University of Guelph.

Read the vignette The Victor’s History from page 6.

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Photos from the book

: The Queen signs Canada’s constitutional proclamation in Ottawa on April 17, 1982 as Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau looks on. With the stroke of a pen by the Queen in Ottawa, Canada had its own Constitution, one of the many notable dates in the history of the country. Canada marks its 147th birthday July 1. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ron Poling

: Federal Justice Minister Jean Chretien (standing left) meets with representatives of Canada’s native peoples gathered during a sitting of the government’s Constitutional Committee in Ottawa, ON February 2, 1981. Speaking with Chretien is Peter Ittinuar, NDP MP for the eastern Arctic (far right) and Harry Daniels, chairman of the Native Council of Canada. (CP/Peter Bregg)

: The Queen signs Canada’s constitutional proclamation in Ottawa on April 17, 1982 as Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau looks on. With the stroke of a pen by the Queen in Ottawa, Canada had its own Constitution, one of the many notable dates in the history of the country. Canada marks its 147th birthday July 1. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ron Poling

: Federal Justice Minister Jean Chretien (standing left) meets with representatives of Canada’s native peoples gathered during a sitting of the government’s Constitutional Committee in Ottawa, ON February 2, 1981. Speaking with Chretien is Peter Ittinuar, NDP MP for the eastern Arctic (far right) and Harry Daniels, chairman of the Native Council of Canada. (CP/Peter Bregg)