Stories of Métis Women

Tales My Kookum Told Me

By: Bailey Oster - editor, Marilyn Lizee - editor

Narrated by: Lorene Shyba

This book is a collection of stories about culture, history, and nationhood as told by Métis women. The Métis are known by many names - Otipemisiwak, “the people who own ourselves”; Bois Brules, “Burnt Wood”; Apeetogosan, “half brother” by the Cree; “half-breed”, historically; and are also known as “rebels” and “traitors to Canada”. They are also known as the “Forgotten People”. Few really know their story. Many people may also think that Métis simply means “mixed”, but it does not. They are a people with a unique and proud history and Nation. In this era of reconciliation, Stories of Métis Women explains the Métis Nation from the women’s perspective. This book celebrates Nation building, culture, identity, and resilience, but also deals with the dark times of residential schools, discrimination, and racism.

The book is accompanied by a PDF of photographs that includes a QR code to a video documentary.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2021 Métis Nation of Alberta (P)2021 Durvile Publications Ltd.

Critic reviews

"This book is a marvellous and desperately needed addition to modern Métis Nation literature. Over the last 18 years, I have had the privilege of representing Métis Nation communities in the courts and listening to many Métis women testify as key witnesses in Métis rights trials across the Homeland. During this testimony, it became apparent to everyone sitting in those courtrooms that the stories, roles and knowledge of Métis women in advancing, shaping and driving our nationhood is just as important as many of the Métis Nation’s more well-known and documented historical and political events. With this book, some of these important and unique perspectives and worldviews about who we are as a people, how we have survived as people and how we will carry on and thrive as a people are shared through the writings of the daughters, mothers, aunties and grandmothers of the Métis Nation. I congratulate the Métis women who have taken the time to share and write down some of this knowledge for generations to come. It’s a must read." (Jason Madden, Métis rights lawyer and citizen of the Métis Nation, managing partner, Pape Salter Teillet LLP)