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 40th 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.

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

Events

Métis Crossing: August 10-13

The authors were at the MNA Annual General Assembly August 10-13.

Métis Crossing: August 10-13

The authors were at the MNA Annual General Assembly August 10-13.

Paul Bercier with MNA President Audrey Poitras.

Lac Ste. Anne: July 21-27

The authors were at the Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage July 21-27.

Lac Ste. Anne: July 21-27

The authors were at the Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage July 21-27.

Batoche: July 20-23

The authors were at Back to Batoche Days July 20-23.

Batoche: July 20-23

The authors were at Back to Batoche Days July 20-23.

Ottawa: July 1st

The authors spent Canada Day at the Indigenous Peoples building in Ottawa on July 1st.

Ottawa: July 1st

The authors spent Canada Day at the Indigenous Peoples building in Ottawa on July 1st.

Métis Crossing: June 24th

The authors were at Métis Fest on June 24th.

Métis Crossing: June 24th

The authors were at Métis Fest on June 24th.

Yellowknife: June 21st

The authors attended National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations in Yellowknife on June 21st.

Yellowknife: June 21st

The authors attended National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations in Yellowknife on June 21st.

May 10 – 13

May 16 – 20

The book tour for The True Canadians began in Ottawa on April 12 and has included stops at venues across Canada, from Halifax in the east to Vancouver in the west and north to Yellowknife. The authors enjoyed widespread media coverage, and the book has been a non-fiction hardcover bestseller at stores in Winnipeg and Calgary. 

The book tour for The True Canadians began in Ottawa on April 12 and has included stops at venues across Canada, from Halifax in the east to Vancouver in the west and north to Yellowknife. The authors enjoyed widespread media coverage, and the book has been a non-fiction hardcover bestseller at stores in Winnipeg and Calgary. 

May 10 – 13

May 16 – 20

Edmonton: May 27th

The authors were at the MNA Special Assembly in Edmonton on May 27th.

Edmonton: May 27th

The authors were at the MNA Special Assembly in Edmonton on May 27th.

Vancouver: May 20th

The authors were at Indigo in Vancouver on May 20th.

Vancouver: May 20th

The authors were at Indigo in Vancouver on May 20th.

St. Albert: May 19th

The authors were at Chapters in St. Albert on May 19th.

St. Albert: May 19th

The authors were at Chapters in St. Albert on May 19th.

Red Deer: May 17th

The authors were at Chapters in Red Deer on May 17th.

Red Deer: May 17th

The authors were at Chapters in Red Deer on May 17th.

Calgary: May 17th

The authors were at Lougheed House in Calgary on May 17th.

Calgary: May 17th

The authors were at Lougheed House in Calgary on May 17th.

Calgary: May 16th

The authors were at Owl’s Nest Books on May 16th.

Calgary: May 16th

The authors were at Owl’s Nest Books on May 16th.

Toronto: May 13th

The authors were at Indigo in Toronto on May 13th.

Toronto: May 13th

The authors were at Indigo in Toronto on May 13th.

The authors were delighted for the opportunity to present a copy of The True Canadians to Indigo founder and CEO Heather Reisman in Toronto during their event at Indigo on Bay Street.

Ottawa: May 12th

The authors were at Black Squirrel Books in Ottawa on May 12th.

Ottawa: May 12th

The authors were at Black Squirrel Books in Ottawa on May 12th.

Dartmouth: May 11th

The authors were at Chapters in Dartmouth on May 11th.

Dartmouth: May 11th

The authors were at Chapters in Dartmouth on May 11th.

Halifax: May 11th

The authors were at Coles, Scotia Square on May 11th.

Halifax: May 11th

The authors were at Coles, Scotia Square on May 11th.

Kingston: May 10th

The authors were at Novel Idea on May 10th.

Kingston: May 10th

The authors were at Novel Idea on May 10th.

Calgary: April 21st

The authors were at Owl’s Nest Books on April 21st with host Michelle Fournie.

Calgary: April 21st

The authors were at Owl’s Nest Books on April 21st with host Michelle Fournie.

Edmonton: April 19th

The authors were at Audreys Books on April 19th with host Lorne Gladu.

Edmonton: April 19th

The authors were at Audreys Books on April 19th with host Lorne Gladu.

Saskatoon: April 15th

The authors were at McNally Robinson on April 15th.

Photos unavailable.

Saskatoon: April 15th

The authors were at McNally Robinson on April 15th.

Photos unavailable.

Winnipeg: April 14th

The authors were at McNally Robinson Grant Park on April 14th with host Doug Forbes. 

A livestream is available here.

Winnipeg: April 14th

The authors were at McNally Robinson Grant Park on April 14th with host Doug Forbes. 

A livestream is available here.

Ottawa: April 12th

The authors were at Perfect Books on April 12th with host Randy Boswell.

Ottawa: April 12th

The authors were at Perfect Books on April 12th with host Randy Boswell.

Book signing February 1, 2023

The authors of The True Canadians were available Wednesday, February 1, 2023 for a book signing at Audreys Books in Edmonton. The book is selling now at Audreys and other independent outlets and will be available soon at Chapters.

Book signing February 1, 2023

The authors of The True Canadians were available Wednesday, February 1, 2023 for a book signing at Audreys Books in Edmonton. The book is selling now at Audreys and other independent outlets and will be available soon at Chapters.

Book launch January 31, 2023

The book launch for The True Canadians took place January 31st, 2023 at a reception at the Chateau Louis Hotel & Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta (by invitation). This event featured President Audrey Poitras of the Métis Nation of Alberta, who spoke of the book’s themes and contents. Authors Patricia Russell and David Wylynko were on hand for a book signing and spoke about the book. First-run copies were distributed.

The livestream of the launch is available here.

Media

Parliament Hill hosting Métis book on Canada Day
Métis Nation of Alberta
June 27 2023 │ Read the article

A step back in time: Book revises Canadian history to include contribution of Métis Nation
NNSL Media
May 31 2023 │ Read the article

New book on Métis reconciliation makes stop in Halifax on nationwide tour
Global News
May 12 2023 │ View the news story

New book co-authored by OOS resident The True Canadians: Forgotten Nevermore
Old Ottawa South Community Association
May Edition 2023 │ Read the article

New book by Métis Nation of Alberta celebrates its citizens
Windspeaker.com
May 4, 2023 │ Read the news story

New book details important moments in Métis history | APTN News
APTN News
April 20, 2023 │ Learn more

Alberta’s Métis history
National Post
April 18, 2023 │ Read the news story

Authors of Métis book touring Alberta
Nationtalk
April 18, 2023 │ Read the news story

New book re-tells Canadian history through a Métis lens
CBC News
April 14, 2023 │ Listen to the broadcast

Parliament Hill hosting Métis book on Canada Day 
Métis Nation of Alberta
June 27, 2023 │ Read the article

A step back in time: Book revises Canadian history to include contribution of Métis Nation
NNSL Media
May 31, 2023 │ Read the article

New book on Métis reconciliation makes stop in Halifax on nationwide tour
Global News
May 12, 2023 │ View the news story

New book co-authored by OOS
resident The True Canadians:
Forgotten Nevermore
Old Ottawa South Community Association
May Edition, 2023 │ Read the article

New book by Métis Nation of Alberta celebrates its citizens
Windspeaker.com
May 4, 2023 │ Read the news story

New book details important moments in Métis history | APTN News
APTN News
April 20, 2023 │ Learn more

Alberta’s Métis history
National Post
April 18, 2023 │ Read the news story

Authors of Métis book touring Alberta
Nationtalk
April 18, 2023 │ Read the news story

New book re-tells Canadian history through a Métis lens
CBC News
April 14, 2023 │ Listen to the broadcast

New book about the Métis Nation puts spotlight on reconciliation
Alberta Native News
February 13, 2023 │ Read the news story

New book about the Métis Nation puts spotlight on reconciliation
Alberta Native News
February 13, 2023 │ Read the news story

Accomplishments of Métis people chronicled in new book
Edmonton AM with Mark Connolly, Tara McCarthy
February 8, 2023 │ Listen to the broadcast

Accomplishments of Métis people chronicled in new book
Edmonton AM with Mark Connolly, Tara McCarthy
February 8, 2023 │ Listen to the broadcast

New Métis book puts spotlight on reconciliation
Windspeaker Radio Network
February 7, 2023 │ Read the news story

New Métis book puts spotlight on reconciliation
Windspeaker Radio Network
February 7, 2023 │ Read the news story

L’histoire des Métis de l’Alberta
Le Café Show, CBC Radio-Canada
February 7, 2023 │ Listen to the broadcast

L’histoire des Métis de l’Alberta
Le Café Show, CBC Radio-Canada
February 7, 2023 │ Listen to the broadcast

New Métis book puts spotlight on reconciliation
Nationtalk
January 31, 2023 │ Read the news story

New Métis book puts spotlight on reconciliation
Nationtalk
January 31, 2023 │ Read the news story

New Book by Métis Nation of Alberta puts spotlight on reconciliation
CFWE FM
January 31, 2023 │ Read the news story

New Book by Métis Nation of Alberta puts spotlight on reconciliation
CFWE FM
January 31, 2023 │ Read the news story

The True Canadians Book Launch
89.3 The Raven
January 31, 2023 │ Read the news story

The True Canadians Book Launch
89.3 The Raven
January 31, 2023 │ Read the news story

New Book by Métis Nation of Alberta puts spotlight on reconciliation
rdnewsNOW
January 31, 2023 │ Read the news story

New Book by Métis Nation of Alberta puts spotlight on reconciliation
rdnewsNOW
January 31, 2023 │ Read the news story

Read the vignette Ratifying the Constitution from Chapter 20.

New book on Métis reconciliation makes stop in Halifax on nationwide tour | Global News

New book details important moments in Métis history | APTN News

News

Book tour returns to Métis Crossing in Alberta

August 4, 2023

EDMONTON, AB, August 4, 2023 – The authors of the new Métis book The True Canadians: Forgotten Nevermore are bringing their tour to Métis Crossing in Alberta on August 11-12 during the Annual General Assembly of the Métis Nation of Alberta.

Read More:
Book tour returns to Métis Crossing in Alberta – Métis Nation of Alberta (albertametis.com)

Parliament Hill hosting Métis book on Canada Day

June 27, 2023

OTTAWA, ON, June 27, 2023 – The authors of a new book on Métis recognition and reconciliation are bringing their cross-country tour to Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Canada Day.

Read More:
Parliament Hill hosting Métis book on Canada Day – Métis Nation of Alberta (albertametis.com)

Authors of Métis book resume tour

May 10, 2023

OTTAWA, ON, May 10, 2023 – The authors of the new Métis book, The True Canadians: Forgotten Nevermore, will recommence their nationwide tour today, with events scheduled across the country from the east coast to the west coast, including several Alberta locations, and finishing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

Read More:
Authors of Métis book resume tour (albertametis.com)

Authors of Métis book touring Alberta

April 18, 2023

EDMONTON, AB and CALGARY, AB, April 18, 2023 /CNW/ – The authors of a new book on Métis reconciliation are bringing their nationwide tour to Alberta, including events scheduled at Audreys Books in Edmonton on April 19 and Owl’s Nest Books in Calgary on April 21. Both events begin at 7 pm and all are welcome to attend.

Read More:
Authors of Métis book touring Alberta (newswire.ca)

New Métis book puts spotlight on reconciliation

January 31, 2023

EDMONTON, AB, Jan. 31, 2023 /CNW/ – The Métis Nation of Alberta today released a book chronicling the challenges and achievements of the Métis since their rights were recognized in the Constitution Act of 1982.

Read more:
New Métis book puts spotlight on reconciliation (newswire.ca)

The art piece “Nation Building” by Métis artist Stephen Gladue features Métis leaders Louis Riel (left) and Gabriel Dumont (centre) and their struggle with Prime Minister John A. Macdonald (right). These three individuals, despite their differences, played a significant role in the development of Canada. The piece depicts Riel and Macdonald as “two bulls” who fought over the Métis Bill of Rights that Riel is clutching in his hand, the decimation of the buffalo, and Macdonald’s role in building the railway through the Métis Homeland at all costs.

– from page 4 of The True Canadians

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.

Excerpt

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David-Louis & John A cartoon revised Dec.15th20221215_0001

Read the vignette Mimicking the Métis from Chapter One.

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.

gallery

Photos from the book

Maps from the book