t to b: Karen Hourie Ellefson and Leah Dorion

Based on Métis author and former teacher Karen Hourie Ellefson’s own experiences growing up, I Am Métis is a picture book closely tied to the perspective of its blue-eyed, white-passing narrator. After classmates ridicule her cousin for being “Indian,” the narrator begins paying closer attention to the ways that her father differs from her classmates’ parents but never experiences doubt or shame related to those differences. The narrator takes pride in her culture and family and the things that set them apart, and the knowledge she’s learned. By the end of the book, she asserts her Métis identity that brings her peace and a sense of belonging.

The illustrations by Métis artist Leah Marie Dorion are bright and textural, preserving the weave of the canvas showing through the paint used to make them. Dorion incorporates traditional Métis cultural symbols into her dot-art style images, reinforcing the message of Ellefson’s book – that being Métis should make you proud, not ashamed. 

Although both the text and illustrations of I Am Métis emphasize Ellefson’s intended message, the only dialogue in the book is that of the classmates looking down on the narrator’s cousin. This incident starts the narrator on her internal journey, but the fact that the story does not come back to address that moment feels like an oversight. The narrator’s internal strength is clear by the end of the book, but it is never voiced aloud to anyone else within the context of the story, which ultimately weakens its overall message.

I Am Métis would benefit from the addition of backmatter. For example, Dorion’s inclusion of Métis symbology in her artwork helps it meld with the rest of the text, but readers unfamiliar with Métis culture won’t necessarily know or come to understand their significance. The book also references Métis history – river lot land plots, jig dancing, Scottish and Indigenous roots, etc. – in a way that is understandable for readers with some knowledge of Métis culture, but not for those still learning. Despite this, I Am Métis is still a good addition to classroom and library collections looking to expand Métis representation on the shelves. Overall it stands on its own and its eye-catching illustrations will help engage young readers in the story.