Overview
Uncover the untold story of French-Canadians and Métis in North America. Before the iconic figures of American Western expansion, French settlers and voyagers charted a course through the Great Lakes, Mississippi River, and Pacific Northwest.
Songs Upon the Rivers reveals their crucial role in shaping the continent's history.
Robert Foxcurran, Michel Bouchard, and Sébastien Malette delve into primary sources to illuminate the alliances between early French settlers and Indigenous nations. Explore the cultural exchange, Métis identity, and the forces that shaped a unique historical narrative. This book offers a fresh perspective on the exploration of North America.
For academics, historians, and anyone captivated by the intertwined histories of French-Canadians, Métis people, and the exploration of North America, this book provides:
- A compelling alternative to popular historical accounts
- A detailed exploration of cultural interactions and identity formation
- A deeper understanding of the forces that shaped the American West
Reviews
"This new work explores a fascinating and under-explored area of North American civilization: the history of the French ‘Canadiens’ and Métis . . . not overly ‘jargony’ . . . it will appeal to anyone with a strong interest in French North America but uncomfortable with academic terminology . . . refreshing scholarship that adds value, Highly Recommended." —James LaForest, Voyageur Heritage
"Songs Upon the Rivers continues to break through the barriers of sugar-coated and watered down standard depictions of early Canadian history ensuring that even the most sinister stories of our past will finally be told. With each copy that is sold readers are rejecting the rosy veneer of revisionism and demanding factual honesty as the basis of Canada’s national identity . . . The book boasts a rich array of unearthed photographs and archived maps giving the reader a vivid visual perspective of the history unfolding on the page.” —Regan Treewater, Alberta Native News
“Foxcurran, Bouchard, and Malette are serious researchers; they consulted published primary sources (from the Internet) and secondary publications written in both French and English. French traders, the authors argue, were not only indefatigable explorers, they were also brokers of a hybrid culture with indigenous people, which became so strong that it remained dominant on the Pacific Northwest frontier until the middle of the 19th century . . . the writing, maps, historic images, and excellent index happily extend our understanding of the Canadien and Métis cultures.” —Robert C. Carriker, Columbia: The Magazine of Northwest History
"This book is a major undertaking from three authors who are diverse in their interests and experience . . . . Songs Upon the Rivers is a valuable contribution, illuminating areas of North American Canadien and Métis history that have lingered too long in the shadows of larger national narratives." —Jennifer S.H. Brown, Canada's History
Author Biography
Dr. Michel Bouchard is Chair and Professor of Anthropology at the University of Northern British Columbia. Robert Foxcurran is an independent historian who grew up in up in a military family, including several years each in France and Japan. Sébastien Malette is an Assistant Professor of law at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
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