At a time when the Metis are becoming increasingly visible in Canadian politics, this unique book offers a practical guide for understanding who they are and the challenges they face on the path to self-government. It shows how the Metis are giving life to Louis Riel's vision of a self-governing Metis Nation through the ongoing application of principles of governance that emerged during the fur trade. Drawing on the Metis language - Michif - Kelly Saunders and Janique Dubois demonstrate how the Metis have adapted their governance structures within the Canadian state context to meet the everyday needs of Metis citizens.

These twelve essays constitute a groundbreaking volume of new work prepared by leading scholars in the fields of history, anthropology, constitutional law, political science, and sociology, who identify the many facets of what it means to be Metis in Canada today. After the Powley decision in 2003, Metis people were no longer conceptually limited to the historical boundaries of the fur trade in Canada. Key ideas explored in this collection include identity, rights, and issues of governance, politics, and economics. The book will be of great interest to scholars in political science and native studies, the legal community, public administrators, government policy advisors, and people seeking to better understand the Metis past and present. Contributors: Christopher Adams, Gloria Jane Bell, Glen Campbell, Gregg Dahl, Janique Dubois, Tom Flanagan, Liam J. Haggarty, Laura-Lee Kearns, Darren O'Toole, Jeremy Patzer, Ian Peach, Siomonn P. Pulla, Kelly L. Saunders.