Review by Choice Review
Drawing upon decades of experience as a senior adviser to leaders of the Metis nationalist movement, Weinstein provides readers with a contemporary political history of various dimensions of the renaissance of the Metis Nation in western Canada. He begins with historical background relating to the emergence and eventual decline of Metis nationhood in 19th-century Canada, with particular reference to the actions of leaders like Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont. But Weinstein's work is not meant to act as a history of the Metis. He only reviews details of events that remain unresolved today, moving quickly through the first half of the 20th century and focusing much of his attentions on the post-1970 political struggles of Metis leaders. Weinstein pays particular attention to Metis nationalism as it often clashed and conflicted with Canada's constitutional initiatives of the 1970s-80s. Having been involved in much of this struggle, Weinstein has had unprecedented insight and access to the internal dynamics of contemporary Metis political organizations and important leaders. While perhaps lacking in balanced (i.e., removed) thirdhand perspective, Weinstein offers readers an insightful firsthand look at a significant cultural and political movement that undoubtedly has shaped modern Canada, and will continue to do so in the 21st century. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries. B. F. R. Edwards Mount Allison University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
