One of the family

by Brenda Macdougall

"In recent years there has been growing interest in identifying the social and cultural attributes that define the Metis as a distinct people. In this study, Brenda Macdougall employs the concept of wahkootowin to trace the emergence of a Metis community in northern Saskatchewan. Wahkootowin, a Cree term, describes how relationships worked and helps to explain how the Metis negotiated with local economic and religious institutions while nurturing a society that emphasized family obligation and responsibility. This innovative exploration of the birth of Metis identity offers a model for...