Strange Empire: A Narrative of the Northwest (Borealis Books) (Paperback)

by Joseph Kinsey Howard (Author)
Key Phrases: dominion government, whole unbounded continent, farm instructor, United States, Red River, Fort Garry (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"It sensitively recounts an important episode from the tragic side of the continent's history that needs to be known and remembered." -- Michigan Historical Review

Product Description
Howard tells the dramatic story of the Mtis people's valiant struggles to establish a homeland on the plains along the United States-Canada border. Descendants of fur traders and Indians, the Mtis mounted insurrections against the Canadian government in 1869-70 and 1885 led by the messianic Louis Riel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 105 pages
• Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society Press (October 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873512987
• ISBN-13: 978-0873512985
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #943,560 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting saga of a forgotten revolt by a dispossessed people, August 15, 1999

By A Customer

A century ago, North America almost had a fourth nation, Assiniboia. That would-be nation's leader, a poet, religious zealot and one-time schoolteacher named Louis Riel, once was considered a traitor ro Canada but now is being revered and "rehabilitated" as one of the founders of the Dominion of Canada. Riel was "drafted" as leader of the Metis, "mixed blood" children of the fur trade, when Canada was reneging on its promises to these people who carried on the cultures of both European and indigenous ancentry. (Today, Celtic and French folklorists visit Metis in Western Canada and Montana to record unblemished versions of tradition folk music long dead in their original mother countries.) Howard, a legend in Montana journalism and history himself, penned his masterpiece in "Strange Empire." He gets down to the basics of the struggle for Western North America and some of the more haunting passages deal with the pyschlogical effects of such white man's diseases as smallpox and alchohol and their role in subjugating the natives a century or so ago. Riel was hanged for his insurgence, but had he been more decisive in battle, the maps -- and language patterns -- of much of North America would be much different.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well researched history of my ancestry., July 26, 2000

By	Melvin D. Beaudry (Lynnwood, Wa. USA) - See all my reviews

First I would like to thank Amazon for making this fine book so easy to obtain. There are countless thousands of descendants of these, strong, courageous people that now live throughout the world. my son among them, being on a temporary assigment in Turkey. Many thousands more know little of the history of our people. This book should have a particular appeal to these folk. Perhaps by the reading of Mr. Howards book some will be induced to further study and research. It is a benifit to all that seek the true history of our country. These folk were a monolithic type, what happened to one could be an indicator of what happened to the society in the whole. My families have ties to several of those mentioned in this book. As an example, my grandfather was the first cousin to the wife of Louis Riel. My great grandmother was the god child of, Marie Anne Gaboury, the first white woman in the northwest. My fathers mother was baptized by, Father Lestanc. These people are mentioned in this well written book. Thank you, Melvin Beaudry Lynnwood, Washington.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forgotten Hero, July 7, 2000

By A Customer

The amazing story of the Metis people whose French ancestors first colonized and controlled most of North America. Louis Riel should have been a National Hero for all Canadians since without him most of the land west of Ontario would have fallen in US hands.

This book is riveting and should be required reading for history majors.

G de Dalmas