The editors spent two years gathering and surveying writings by and about Métis people in Canada ranging from private correspondence and newspaper items to full-length books and articles by native writers. In the final hours of the project it was decided to omit newspaper stories from the collection and concentrate on the annotation of books, government documents, and significant articles. In this present collection the emphasis of most of the writings is on Western Canada, particularly Alberta, since Métis history is to be found in this part of confederation. This book is divided into three logical areas: historical, sociological, and educational. The first concentrates on sources which outline and interpret Métis beginnings in Western Canada; the second offers insights on contemporary issues for Métis people (for example, economics and housing); and the third focuses on educational opportunities and experiences of the Métis. The third section was added because of the potential education offers to native peoples in the future.