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  • The North-West Is Our Mother

  • The Story of Louis Riel's People, the Metis Nation
  • Written by: Jean Teillet
  • Narrated by: Jean Teillet
  • Length: 14 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (438 ratings)

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The North-West Is Our Mother

Written by: Jean Teillet
Narrated by: Jean Teillet
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Publisher's Summary

There is a missing chapter in the narrative of Canada’s Indigenous peoples - the story of the Métis Nation, a new Indigenous people descended from both First Nations and Europeans

Their story begins in the last decade of the 18th century in the Canadian North-West. Within 20 years the Métis proclaimed themselves a nation and won their first battle. Within 40 years they were famous throughout North America for their military skills, their nomadic life and their buffalo hunts.

The Métis Nation didn’t just drift slowly into the Canadian consciousness in the early 1800s; it burst onto the scene fully formed. The Métis were flamboyant, defiant, loud, and definitely not noble savages. They were nomads with a very different way of being in the world - always on the move, very much in the moment, passionate and fierce. They were romantics and visionaries with big dreams. They battled continuously - for recognition, for their lands and for their rights and freedoms. In 1870 and 1885, led by the iconic Louis Riel, they fought back when Canada took their lands. These acts of resistance became defining moments in Canadian history, with implications that reverberate to this day: Western alienation, Indigenous rights and the French/English divide.

After being defeated at the Battle of Batoche in 1885, the Métis lived in hiding for 20 years. But early in the 20th century, they determined to hide no more and began a long, successful fight back into the Canadian consciousness. The Métis people are now recognized in Canada as a distinct Indigenous nation. Written by the great-grandniece of Louis Riel, this popular and engaging history of “forgotten people” tells the story up to the present era of national reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Title: Métis camp with Red River carts at [Milk River Lake, Alberta]

Source: Library and Archives Canada/George M. Dawson fonds/e011156514

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Jean Teillet (P)2021 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The North-West Is Our Mother

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Excellent History of a Distinct Culture

A well researched and constructed narrative of the Metis and the relationship with Canada.

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Long book

Author not bilingual. Makes pronunciation of names hard to understand. Jumps from dates hard to follow. Good historical piece.

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Not in my history class...

Do you remember being made aware of these events? Ya me neither. I know history is written by the "winners" but as Canadians, we need to demand the full account. The author does an admirable job of that. In school, Ole John A was pretty much presented as a hero and builder of our nation. I get a much different perspective on the man and his "work" after listening to this. Why do we so often resort to violence for resolution? Why focus on hate and division? What a different country it would be if we had adopted some of the solid societal keys of the Metis, if Riel would have been able to rightfully take his place among our political leaders? His voice needed to and should have been heard.

Should be required reading not only in schools but for all Canada.

Thank you Jean for sharing

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The other side of history

It took a bit to get into this but and although it made me feel for the first time ashamed of Canada I’m very glad I read it.
Honestly I think it’s time we stop apologizing for what our ancestors have done and get on to the job of repairing the harm they caused.
Thank you Ms Teillet for the education

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History every Manitoban + Canadian should know

This book was extremely educational for me. I grew up in Manitoba. I thought I knew some history of the Metis. This was wonderfully in-depth and I now have a much better understanding of the Metis Nation and their struggles. I highly recommend this book.

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Mandatory reading

In order for Canada to truly know it’s own identity, this book should be mandatory reading at universities across the nation. We have needed this book for a long time. Canadians no longer have the convenient excuse of not knowing who the Métis are or how the people helped form the country into what it is today. As a storyteller, Jean Teillet has made this truth telling easy to read.

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True Canadian history!

Love this book. This book is so full of information... I immediately listened again when finished. Easy to listen to... very well read.👍👍

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2 people found this helpful

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The Most Important Book I Have Ever Read

I have never learned more about Canadian history in a shorter time span than the time it took to read this book! I elected to read a hard copy while listening to Jean Teillet’s audio recording on Audible, often pausing and flipping back pages in the book to recount or revel in the shocking and unbelievable fight the Métis Nation has been engaged in with Canada for over 200 years. Despite being a nation prior to Canada’s Confederation, the Métis are still fighting for recognition as a nation within a nation and for the promises Canada failed to deliver to the people of the Métis Nation as promised in the Manitoba Act.

I also have a personal connection to this book. My family’s roots in the Red River Settlement are partially documented here. I got to read the names of my ancestors and experience their stories coming to life from of the pages of history! Before reading The North-West Is Our Mother, I merely knew the names of my ancestors and where they lived. Now I understand and appreciate what they had to endure and fight for in order for my present day family to exist. For this, I am very grateful.

Knowing your own history is important. If you are Canadian, you need to read this book. If you are Métis, you DEFINITELY need to read this book. Jean Teillet’s passion and knowledge is very evident in this recount of Métis history for Audible.

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Exhilarating to learn the history of my people's!

This book has opened doors I never would have known existed for me. Learning about my people's history just never happened growing up. Schools don't teach it and generational trauma has left us disconnected and lost. Rekindling the flame of passion hidden behind knowing where your family comes from and the hardships overcome by oppression and abuse of power wakes up hidden desires I never knew I had. This history needs to be openly taught so that these mistakes the government of Canada won't be made again.

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The history of corporate Canada and the inhabitants of the land

I’m am so thankful for this work account of the history of the Métis Nation. My mother’s ancestors are Métis from Red River area, and having a sincere interest in understanding their story I found this book to be exceptionally helpful! While I was disappointed in some of the decisions of the leaders, I am glad they held to the God-fearing values of freedom and justice, even in the face of corporate Canada shedding innocent blood in violation of the english common laws they are lawfully subject to, as they do even today, all in the name of power and profit. May the wicked repent, and may the Creator judge those who will not turn away from continuing to shed the blood of innocents. God bless the Métis and all indigenous people!

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