The People Who Own Themselves : Aboriginal Ethnogenesis in a Canadian Family, 1660-1900

With a unique how-to appendix for Metis genealogical reconstruction, this book will be of interest to Metis wanting to research their own genealogy & to scholars engaged in the reconstruction of Metis ethnic identity. The search for a Metis identity & what constitutes that identity is a key issue facing many aboriginals of mixed ancestry today. This book reconstructs 250 years of the Desjarlais' family history across a substantial area of North America, from colonial Louisiana, the St. Louis, Missouri, region & the American Southwest to the Red River & central Alberta. In the course of tracing the Desjarlais family, social, economic & political factors influencing the development of various Aboriginal ethnic identities are discussed. With intriguing details about the Desjarlais family members, this book offers new, original insights into the 1885 Northwest Rebellion, focusing on kinship as a motivating factor in the outcome of events. The People Who Own Themselves Reconstructs 250 Years Of The Desjarlais Family History Across A Substantial Area Of North America, From Seventeenth-century New France And The Eighteenth-century French Settlements Along The Mississippi And Missouri Rivers, To Nineteenth-century Rupert's Land In Western Canada. Featuring A Unique How-to Appendix For Metis Genealogical Reconstruction, This Book Will Be Of Equal Interest To Individuals Wanting To Investigate Their Own Native Family Roots And To Scholars Researching The Formation Of Indigenous Communities And Identities.--jacket. Approaching The Stories Of The Desjarlais Family: Methods And Goals -- The Social Contexts Of Europe And New France -- From The St. Lawrence To St. Louis: The Desjarlais Migration To The Mississippi And Beyond -- The Emergence Of Freemen In Rupert's Land -- Migration And Retrenchment: 1821-1869 -- Treaties And Rebellion -- Some Difficult Choices: The Desjarlais After 1885 -- The People Who Own Themselves. Heather Devine. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 297-317) And Index. The search for a Mtis identity and what constitutes that identity is a key issue facing many Aboriginals of mixed ancestry today. The People Who Own Themselves reconstructs 250 years of Desjarlais family history across a substantial area of North America, from colonial Louisiana, the St. Louis, Missouri region, and the American Southwest to Red River and Central Alberta. In the course of tracing the Desjarlais family, social, economic, and political factors influencing the development of various Aboriginal ethnic identities are discussed. With intriguing details about Desjarlais family members, this book offers new, original insights into the 1885 Northwest Rebellion, focusing on kinship as a motivating factor in the outcome of events. With a unique how-to appendix for Mtis genealogical reconstruction, this book will be of equal interest to Mtis wanting to research their own genealogy and to scholars engaged in the reconstruction of Mtis ethnic identity. The search for a Métis identity and what constitutes that identity is a key issue facing many Aboriginals of mixed ancestry today. The People Who Own Themselves reconstructs 250 years of Desjarlais family history across a substantial area of North America, from colonial Louisiana, the St. Louis, Missouri, region, and the American Southwest to Red River and Central Alberta. In the course of tracing the Desjarlais family, social, economic, and political factors influencing the development of various Aboriginal ethnic identities are discussed. With intriguing details about Desjarlais family members, this book offers new, original insights into the 1885 Northwest Rebellion, focusing on kinship as a motivating factor in the outcome of events. With a unique how-to appendix for Métis genealogical reconstruction, this book will be of interest to Métis wanting to research their own genealogy and to scholars engaged in the reconstruction of Métis ethnic identity.