Rekindling the Sacred Fire

January 11, 2016
At a time when questions of identity are so important for people who have found themselves marginalized as a result of colonialism, the Métis could not be a more appropriate group to consider in order to dig into the deeper questions of identity, community, and belonging. They occupy an uncanny space as there has not been, and still seems not to be, a coherent definition of their identity, whether it is native, âmixed blood', or other. Fiola, a professor of Native Studies at the University of Manitoba and a descendant of the Red River Métis, examines how the Métis identify with the traditions of the past, and where they fit in the present. Her central question is how can the Métis relate to their Anishinaabe past and spirituality? Addressing this, Fiola focuses on lived experiences through a series of interviews that address identity, self-perception and the question of community. She focuses on how the Métis can rediscover their heritage and the implications in identity politics, law and history. This is a great book in an under researched field that tackles important questions without an overt recourse to the typical type of theory that can be alienating in itself.