Metis Politics and Governance in Canada 2008 Alan Cairns unravels the historical Alan Cairns unravels the historical record to clarify the current impasse in negotiations between Aboriginal peoples and the state But it is profoundly important Drawing on the Métis language – Michif – Kelly Saunders and Janique Dubois demonstrate how the Métis have adapted their governance structures within the Canadian state context to meet the everyday needs of Métis citizens It shows how the Métis are giving life to Louis Riel’s vision of a self governing Métis Nation through the ongoing application of principles of governance that emerged during the fur trade