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About
Threatened by encroaching colonialism, one Métis family struggles to protect their way of life.
In 1869, the arrival of surveyors from the new Dominion of Canada sends ripples of anxiety through the people of Red River. As the Métis Nation begins negotiating terms for joining Confederation, each member of the Rougeau family adapts in their own way: Clément looks outward, trying to maintain his livelihood as a carter, while his wife, Marienne, looks inward, determined to hold their fracturing family together. Julien, the eldest son, joins Louis Riel to confront the same intruders that so impress his sister, Charlotte. As the Red River Resistance unfolds, the consequences of each choice become heartbreakingly clear.
THE UNWEAVING
ISBN 9781990160400
By Cheryl Parisien
SAMPLE CHAPTER
For three days, Julien helped with the hay and hated every minute of it.
Henri rode up, fast, his horse in a lather. "We need to go, come on!"
Julien was walking toward the rest of his family in the meadow, a rake over his shoulder. Already his hands were raw from the scythe. Today he was going to rake up the cut hay; Henri had arrived just in time. He dropped the rake where he stood and ran inside to get his capote and sash.
In a flash, they were galloping toward the church. "What's going on?" Julien shouted to Henri as they rode.
"They're here! In St. Norbert! On the Nault property!"
Julien sat taller in his saddle and spurred his horse. This was it! Finally!
Half-way there, they ran into Florian and the rest of the brigade. Wordlessly, Julien and Henri joined the group and galloped with renewed vigour.
When they arrived, they came upon a small group of men and a surveyor sputtering in English. Julien and the other riders halted their horses and arrayed themselves around the group in a big semicircle. The surveyor grew quiet and took a step backward, away from them.
One man, a stranger, stood out from the rest, his black trousers, white shirt and black frock coat a sharp contrast to the He was tall, with dark curly hair that waved out from his face and a thick mustache with long pointed ends. Julien wondered if he could grow one like that too.
The man stood carefully balanced on both feet, with one foot slightly in front of the other-a fighting stance. Even though he looked to be only a few years older than Julien, perhaps in his mid-twenties, he held the attention of everyone there.
"You have no right to lay these chains here," he said to the surveyor in English. His French accent was less pronounced than everyone else's, but it was still there.
"I'm just doing my job." The surveyor was pale. He looked from one end of the gathered men to the other.
"But you are disregarding the fact that these lands are already settled, as you can see." The man gestured toward the surroundings.
"The government simply wants to know what's here."
"Understand we have no quarrel with you specifically," the man said in a calm, soft voice. "But we can't have this. This action goes against the law of nations in the name of an alien authority."
The surveyor seemed surprised to encounter this sophisticated and charismatic Métis man. Julien was also a little surprised to hear him speak this complicated legal talk so smoothly. In English, yet.
"We must ask you to leave and trouble us no further."
"Yes, well, but the Canadian government-"
"Again, they have no business here. No one consulted us when the transfer of Rupert's Land took place. Never mind our Indian brothers and sisters. We've been here for generations and should be recognized as such. Now, it would be best if you would pack up your things and return home."
The two men stared at each other.
One end of the surveyor's chain was still in his hand. "Let me just finish this one measurement, and I'll be on my way."
The man stepped on the chain, pullin
In 1869, the arrival of surveyors from the new Dominion of Canada sends ripples of anxiety through the people of Red River. As the Métis Nation begins negotiating terms for joining Confederation, each member of the Rougeau family adapts in their own way: Clément looks outward, trying to maintain his livelihood as a carter, while his wife, Marienne, looks inward, determined to hold their fracturing family together. Julien, the eldest son, joins Louis Riel to confront the same intruders that so impress his sister, Charlotte. As the Red River Resistance unfolds, the consequences of each choice become heartbreakingly clear.
THE UNWEAVING
ISBN 9781990160400
By Cheryl Parisien
SAMPLE CHAPTER
For three days, Julien helped with the hay and hated every minute of it.
Henri rode up, fast, his horse in a lather. "We need to go, come on!"
Julien was walking toward the rest of his family in the meadow, a rake over his shoulder. Already his hands were raw from the scythe. Today he was going to rake up the cut hay; Henri had arrived just in time. He dropped the rake where he stood and ran inside to get his capote and sash.
In a flash, they were galloping toward the church. "What's going on?" Julien shouted to Henri as they rode.
"They're here! In St. Norbert! On the Nault property!"
Julien sat taller in his saddle and spurred his horse. This was it! Finally!
Half-way there, they ran into Florian and the rest of the brigade. Wordlessly, Julien and Henri joined the group and galloped with renewed vigour.
When they arrived, they came upon a small group of men and a surveyor sputtering in English. Julien and the other riders halted their horses and arrayed themselves around the group in a big semicircle. The surveyor grew quiet and took a step backward, away from them.
One man, a stranger, stood out from the rest, his black trousers, white shirt and black frock coat a sharp contrast to the He was tall, with dark curly hair that waved out from his face and a thick mustache with long pointed ends. Julien wondered if he could grow one like that too.
The man stood carefully balanced on both feet, with one foot slightly in front of the other-a fighting stance. Even though he looked to be only a few years older than Julien, perhaps in his mid-twenties, he held the attention of everyone there.
"You have no right to lay these chains here," he said to the surveyor in English. His French accent was less pronounced than everyone else's, but it was still there.
"I'm just doing my job." The surveyor was pale. He looked from one end of the gathered men to the other.
"But you are disregarding the fact that these lands are already settled, as you can see." The man gestured toward the surroundings.
"The government simply wants to know what's here."
"Understand we have no quarrel with you specifically," the man said in a calm, soft voice. "But we can't have this. This action goes against the law of nations in the name of an alien authority."
The surveyor seemed surprised to encounter this sophisticated and charismatic Métis man. Julien was also a little surprised to hear him speak this complicated legal talk so smoothly. In English, yet.
"We must ask you to leave and trouble us no further."
"Yes, well, but the Canadian government-"
"Again, they have no business here. No one consulted us when the transfer of Rupert's Land took place. Never mind our Indian brothers and sisters. We've been here for generations and should be recognized as such. Now, it would be best if you would pack up your things and return home."
The two men stared at each other.
One end of the surveyor's chain was still in his hand. "Let me just finish this one measurement, and I'll be on my way."
The man stepped on the chain, pullin