Historical fiction mulls Red River ruckus

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/12/2024 (645 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Those who have attended school in Manitoba might think they know the story of how their province was formed. But how often do they see the people behind the facts?

Out of the Shadows by Gordon Henderson and David Bouchard uses the genre of historical fiction to tell the story of how the interactions of race, politics, economics and personal factors led to the formation of the province of Manitoba during the era of such famous figures as Sir John A. Macdonald and Louis Riel.

Henderson is a Toronto-based journalist who has worked as a parliamentary correspondent, a current affairs producer and a producer. Bouchard is a Saskatchewan-born, Victoria-based Métis author of more than 70 books in English, French and several Indigenous languages. In 2010, he was named a Member of the Order of Canada.

Out of the Shadows is set in the years before and after Manitoba became a province in 1870. At that time the Métis people, under the leadership of Louis Riel, were negotiating the Red River Colony’s entrance into the new nation of Canada.

The story follows a fictitious reporter, Conor O’Dea, who is sent to cover the story. He meets Riel and has many conversations with the Métis leader, while also learning about the background to the tensions among the various groups that lived in the area. The arrival of troops under the leadership of Garnet Wolseley heightens the tensions, while the eventual formation of the province of Manitoba is a victory for Riel and his people.

One of the key moments in Out of the Shadows is the execution of Thomas Scott, which helped lead to Riel’s own execution in 1885. As these and other events unfold, O’Dea is there to witness what occurs, helping give a personal perspective to historical events. He and other fictitious characters often present alternate views to those expressed by historical characters, offering a 21st-century viewpoint.

An index-like cast of characters at the beginning of the book helps give readers an idea of each person’s role in events, while two notes at the end of the novel help clarify which parts of the novel are historical and which are invented. For readers who might be offended by some of the terms the characters use, the authors explain their decisions regarding historical accuracy in relation to modern sensibilities.

This book is an engaging, informative volume on Canadian history that many will enjoy. The book is divided into short segments, moving back and forth among the various people involved in the story, which can make it hard to follow at times. However, Henderson and Bouchard have inserted locations for chapters at the beginning of each section to help readers readjust to each new set of characters or circumstances.

For those wanting to learn more about Manitoba’s early days or want an interesting volume of historical fiction set in Canada’s past, Out of the Shadows will offer plenty to enjoy.

Susan Huebert is a Winnipeg writer and pet sitter.