Songs Upon the Rivers (Paperback)

Michel Bouchard

ISBN 10: 1771860812 / ISBN 13: 9781771860819

Published by Baraka Books, Montreal, 2016

About this Item

Paperback. Before the Davie Crockets, the Daniel Boones and Jim Bridgers, the French had pushed far west and north establishing trade and kin networks across the continent. They founded settlements that would become great cities such as Detroit, Saint Louis, and New Orleans, but their history has been largely buried or relegated to local lore or confined to Quebec. In this seminal work, Foxcurran, Bouchard, and Malette Scrutinize primary sources and uncover the alliances, organic links and metissage, or mixing, between early French settlers and voyageurs and the indigenous nations. It began with the founding of New France by Samuel de Champlain in the early 1600s and continued well into the 19th century long after France was no longer a force in North America. The authors' keen and accessible story telling, combined with vintage maps, forgotten documents (such as the little known writings of Alexis de Tocqueville), and old photos or paintings propel the account of the peoples engendered and still thriving, their French lingua franca, and their ways of life back into the heart of the narrative of North American history where they belong. Songs Upon the Rivers also challenges historical orthodoxies regarding the Canadien Metis. These descendants of the French with mixed ancestry developed a hybrid culture with close kinship ties with indigenous peoples across the continent. They kept their French songs and language, which effectively made French the lingua franca of the American and Canadian West well into the 19th century. "Legal deposit, 4th quarter 2016"--Title page verso. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781771860819

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Songs Upon the Rivers (Paperback)
• Publisher: Baraka Books, Montreal
• Publication Date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1771860812
• ISBN 13: 9781771860819
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Uncover the untold story of French-Canadians and Métis in North America. Before the iconic figures of American Western expansion, French settlers and voyagers charted a course through the Great Lakes, Mississippi River, and Pacific Northwest. Songs Upon the Rivers reveals their crucial role in shaping the continent's history.

Robert Foxcurran, Michel Bouchard, and Sébastien Malette delve into primary sources to illuminate the alliances between early French settlers and Indigenous nations. Explore the cultural exchange, Métis identity, and the forces that shaped a unique historical narrative. This book offers a fresh perspective on the exploration of North America.

For academics, historians, and anyone captivated by the intertwined histories of French-Canadians, Métis people, and the exploration of North America, this book provides:

• A compelling alternative to popular historical accounts
• A detailed exploration of cultural interactions and identity formation
• A deeper understanding of the forces that shaped the American West

About the Author

Dr. Michel Bouchard is Chair and Professor of Anthropology at the University of Northern British Columbia. Robert Foxcurran is an independent historian who grew up in up in a military family, including several years each in France and Japan. Sébastien Malette is an Assistant Professor of law at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.