Songs Upon the Rivers: The Buried History of the French-Speaking Canadiens and Métis from the Great Lakes and the Mississippi across to the Pacific

by Robert Foxcurran, Michel Bouchard, Sébastien Malette

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 between early French settlers and voyagers and the indigenous nations.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

448 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2016

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I stated earlier the reason why it took me so long to finish this book was that as the stories and events unfolded in this book I was busy reviewing my French Canadian ancestors along the same timeline. Several of whom were involved in the fur trade and lived among the Native Americans. From Quebec, Montreal, through Ft. Machilimackinac, on to Ft. de Chartes, in the 18th century, and finally some who settled in and intermarried with the Omaha's, Nebraska Territory, in 1857. Who had been a guide for several of the Mormon pioneers to Utah and parts west. It's at this point that the trail literally becomes cold for me, as recordkeeping for Canadien and Metis individuals and families is almost non-existent because of the influx of white settlers.

As an aside, the current discussion of Critical Race Theory adds another aspect to the history of this country that is sadly lacking with the exclusion of the contributions of the French, Canadiens, Native Americans, and African Americans.

[Christine Elsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors present and important look at the Metis in the wider perspective as they existed beyond and outside of the Red River Colony often finding their origins in the Pacific Northwest. A must read for anybody who is trying to grasp the scope of the present day Metis.

[ANDRE CHENIER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Added a whole dimension to my understanding of Canadian and American history

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have not read this book; I won't read this book, it is not worth the time. Msr's. Bouchard, Foxcurran, and Malette are simply collecting grant funds. The nation of Metis is a distinct culture of mixed bloods, quite separate from any "blood quantum" argument. I have relatives who are members of the Metis Nation, however I am not because my ancestors did not venture west with them and are not part of their distinct culture, despite them dancing the jig; they were also not subjected to the notable hardships they were. As I am not speaking French, I am simply mixed blood; not metis. The Metis Nation had from it's beginning and continues to have an on-going, vital and distinct community; the rest of us did and do not. I will instead refer you to what one commentator of an opinion piece by Michel Bouchard published May 4, 2020 here has to say about it: https://www.universityaffairs.ca/opin...

ROBYN LAWSON / May 4, 2020 at 14:58
Why? Why in the world would anyone have the temerity to believe their opinions have any merit whatsoever outside of the Metis Nation? Why in the world would anyone think that taking over the Metis Nation by groups of people with no relationship to the ancestral records of the Metis Nation is needed? Why would anyone who potentially has an Indigenous ancestor from 6, 8, 12 generations ago even think they are Indigenous? Please apply your thinking to any other nation of the world. Should I be allowed to start a new “Scottish” nation based on that grandfather I have from 8 generations ago? Perhaps we need to have a poll to discuss starting another new Quebec, perhaps in the west with all the people who have a French ancestor somewhere in their family genealogy. Metis is a culture, a familial-based culture, as any other culture in the world is. Contrary to your efforts, there are no “one drop of blood” expectations for any world nation. Indigenous nations are no less in this regard either. Indigenous peoples honor their ancestors; the key being their own ancestors. How unimaginable that you teach people to ignore their own grandmothers – regardless of their original nationalities. How trite to suggest all the culture and traditions of the other nations are easily replaces by the traditions of the well-recorded Metis people. The Metis Nation will never give in to this incredible incursion of entitlement by non-related and non-Indigenous Canadians."

[Ray Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forget everything you learned about the taming of the West from Disney and elementary school history class. Songs upon the Rivers delivers a solid debunking of timeworn, inaccurate narratives about the creation of half of the United States. In Foxcurran, Bouchard, and Mallette well-documented book, native Americans are savvy negotiators who resort to dastardly deeds only when provoked and let French speaking fur trappers marry their daughters. Their offspring, a mixture of French and Indian blood called Metis, became a major force during this period, a thesis the authors successfully argue.
The book held my interest with its breezy writing and meaty descriptions of the quirky characters roaming the West at this time. I found the book much more interesting than historical narratives that get bogged down with inert descriptions of individuals and places. Spot-on metaphors, especially the rhizome theory, add to the story.

[Sherri Anderson]

I give this book zero stars. There must not have been an editor for this books as so many chapters were an unorganized mess. There so many wrong facts in the book that the authors must not have really read any of the articles it cited. It is too bad that they took so an important topic and and wrote such a mess.