From New Peoples to New Nations: Aspects of Metis History and Identity from the Eighteenth to the Twenty-first Centuries

‘Ens and Sawchuck have written the most comprehensive and balanced view of Métis history to date, which will provide much-needed context for all who seek to better understand who the Métis are and the centuries of struggle they have faced…. Highly recommended.’

B.F.R. Edwards, Choice Magazine vol 54:02:2016

‘From New Nations to New Peoples offers an important update to Métis history and historiography… Ens and Sawchuck’s novel approach to the topic allows them to convincingly posit that Métis ethno-genesis is perpetual and continues to the present day via "dialogical processes".

Émilie Pigeon, Labour/Le Travail vol 78:2016

‘As a result of its diligent research and unique analytical perspective, From New Peoples to New Nations will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in historical and contemporary Métis identities.’

Gabrielle Legault, BC Studies winter 2016/17

‘For its comprehensiveness, it would make an excellent textbook for undergraduate courses… Its considerable bibliography and broad treatment of Metis history will undoubtedly make it as a general reference on Metis history and identity.’

Camie Augustus, Canadian Journal of History, vol 52:02:2017

"Tracing the intricate and layered process by which new peoples become new nations within politically, economically, and symbolically charges matrices, Ens and Sawchuk have contributed a theoretically and empirically bountiful text that one hopes will generate discussions within and outside of Métis studies."

Nicholas Barron, History of Anthropology Newsletter, June 28, 2018

“From New Peoples to New Nations represents a thorough and comprehensive study of the multiple inventions of Metis ethnicity and nationality through history. This book brings the critical debates surrounding national historiography to Metis studies and will stimulate debate throughout anthropology and history in Canada and beyond.” David Dinwoodie, Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico

“Gerhard Ens and Joe Sawchuk have produced a compelling piece of work – one that will inform and contribute to ongoing debates within Métis studies for years to come. In From New Peoples to New Nations these two eminent scholars combined years of scholarly research, analyses, and interpretations on the Métis to produce an innovative and illuminating study anchored in the belief that Métis ethnicity and identity are constructed both from outsider views and the Métis’ own self-identities in a never-ending dialogic process. This is a ‘big’ book both in the historical time span covered and geographic space encompassed and I welcome the two authors’ efforts. Few academics would have been willing to undertake such a herculean task.”

Nicole St-Onge, Department of History, University of Ottawa