When is a history book not a history book? While that may appear to be a riddle, it becomes a valid question when a substantial part of history is left untold within its pages.

A book recently co-authored by Patricia Russell and David Wylynko is addressing such a knowledge gap in the history of the M茅tis Nation and its significance both in Canada and in RupertSA国际影视传媒檚 Land.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I went through grade and high school, the social studies courses taught me a great deal about the Reformation and the French Revolution and things that happened abroad, but very little about our own history and even less about the M茅tis Nation,SA国际影视传媒� Russell, who lives in Yellowknife, said of the need to provide a more complete story of the role the M茅tis had in the past, present and into the future.

The idea for the book, The True Canadians: Forgotten Nevermore, came about when Russell was working for the M茅tis Nation of Alberta, and a conversation she had with its president, Audrey Poitras.

SA国际影视传媒淢adam president had it in mind that she wanted to create something that citizens could hold in their hands and flip through and point out pictures,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪o, I said SA国际影视传媒榳hy not do a commemorative edition of the magazine (the M茅tis Nation once published), but printed on better paper and bound in a different way so it would be a keepsake?SA国际影视传媒�.SA国际影视传媒�

While brainstorming for a theme for the book, Russell said she realized that in 2022, it was the 40th anniversary of M茅tis rights being included in Section 35 of the Constitution.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat became the focus of the book. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 overarching theme is whatSA国际影视传媒檚 transpired for the M茅tis Nation over these past 40 years, both in terms of challenges and successes.SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒淎nd in order to tell that story, it is necessary to tell the history of the M茅tis Nation,SA国际影视传媒� Russell said

Historical disconnect

Wylynko, who grew up across the Red River from the Louis Riel House in Winnipeg, said he and Russell collaborated for months and worked through the processes of researching material, creating the outline, organizing the photographs and developing each chapter. A common thread he said he found while doing the historical research for the book was the disconnect between the history produced by the M茅tis and that of the traditional colonial accounts of history found in history books.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese are books by highly reputed, prominent, highly respected beloved historians and writers like Pierre Burton, J.L. Granatstein, Desmond Morton SA国际影视传媒� people that have populated the syllabuses of university courses and high schools for decades,SA国际影视传媒� Wylynko said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd either the M茅tis were downplayed in the significance of their contribution to Canada, ignored entirely, or misrepresented.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淢茅tis have made a huge economic contribution, and they were effectively instrumental in the founding of the fur trade and the fur trade has been considered instrumental in the founding of our export economy but we donSA国际影视传媒檛 mention the M茅tis - the historians donSA国际影视传媒檛 talk about that connection back to the M茅tis,SA国际影视传媒� he added. SA国际影视传媒淚f somehow, we can move forward in the next generation to appreciate that, I think it would be beneficial to everybody in Canada.SA国际影视传媒�

To change that engrained, one-sided perception offered by past history books, Wylynko said they also took a SA国际影视传媒榯ongue-in-cheekSA国际影视传媒� approach to providing a more fulsome picture of the past as well as having a bit of fun drawing parallels with popular culture.

SA国际影视传媒淲e even bring in some of the James Cameron movies SA国际影视传媒� you know how people love underdogs but they donSA国际影视传媒檛 appreciate the underdogs who have populated the history of their own land - Canada,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Bringing history on tour

Already on its second printing less than two months after being released in January, the authors have toured extensively across Canada and will continue to do so into the summer, when they will be present at the Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill and at M茅tis Fest in M茅tis Crossing, Alberta on June 24, where a stage dramatization of the book will be presented.

Both Russell and Wylynko said while they aspire that the book will become a teaching tool in schools and universities across Canada, it has also proven to be exceptionally popular amongst the general public with M茅tis and non-M茅tis alike.

One such example was when they visited OwlSA国际影视传媒檚 Nest Books in Calgary during their tour, said Russell.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were there twice: to do a book reading and then a book signing,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he owner of the store pointed out that he had sold more copies of our book than he sold of Prince HarrySA国际影视传媒檚.SA国际影视传媒�

The book also contains extensive photographs, much of which is RussellSA国际影视传媒檚 work. For her, the cover image has deep sentimental meaning, however.

SA国际影视传媒淭he beadwork on the cover is a photograph of my motherSA国际影视传媒檚 beadwork. She had been making a pair of crow boots and the beadwork in the photograph is the part of the crow boots that wraps around the ankle,SA国际影视传媒� Russell said. SA国际影视传媒淪he finished the beading and she took her needle and she put it into the stroud and then put the piece of work aside, and that needle has been in that spot for maybe 45 years.SA国际影视传媒�

Overall, Russell said the book is a lasting legacy for future generations.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is for my family, for kinship, for the M茅tis Nation and for Canadians to read.SA国际影视传媒�

Russell and Wylynko will be present in Yellowknife during the June 21 National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations.