Standing Strong

The trailblazing story of the “accidental politician” Audrey Poitras, the first woman President of the Metis Nation of Alberta and later, Metis National Council. Perfect for readers of “Indian” in the Cabinet and Who We Are. For generations, the Métis—once labelled the “Forgotten People” and pushed to the margins as the “Road Allowance People”—have fought tirelessly for recognition, rights, and justice. In this deeply personal and politically urgent book, Métis leader Audrey Poitras brings that struggle into the present, tracing hard-won legal victories, ongoing challenges, and the resilience of a nation determined to be seen and heard. At the heart of Standing Strong is Poitras’s own extraordinary journey—from entrepreneur to accidental politician to one of the most influential Métis leaders in Canada. With clarity and conviction, she shows that meaningful change doesn’t come from the outside, it must be driven from within communities themselves. Both a continuation of the story begun in The North-West Is Our Mother by Jean Teillet, and a bold step forward into the 21st century, Standing Strong is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the past, present, and future of Métis rights and reconciliation in Canada.