The Honourable John Norquay
eBook - PDF

The Honourable John Norquay

Indigenous Premier, Canadian Statesman

  1. 576 pages
  2. English
  3. PDF
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF

The Honourable John Norquay

Indigenous Premier, Canadian Statesman

About this book

WINNER J.W. Dafoe Prize, 2025
WINNER
 CLIO History Prize (Prairies), Canadian Historical Association (2025)
WINNER Manitoba Day Award, Scholarly Publication (2025)
WINNER Margaret McWilliams Award, Scholarly History (2024)

The life and times of the Premier from Red River 

John Norquay, orphan and prodigy, was a leader among the Scots Cree peoples of western Canada. Born in the Red River Settlement, he farmed, hunted, traded, and taught school before becoming a legislator, cabinet minister, and, from 1878 to 1887, premier of Manitoba.

Once described as Louis Riel's alter ego, he skirmished with prime minister John A. Macdonald, clashed with railway baron George Stephen, and endured racist taunts while championing the interests of the Prairie West in battles with investment bankers, Ottawa politicians, and the CPR. His contributions to the development of Canada's federal system and his dealings with issues of race and racism deserve attention today.

Recounted here by Canadian historian Gerald Friesen, Norquay's life story ignites contemporary conversations around the nature of empire and Canada's own imperial past. Drawing extensively on recently opened letters and financial papers that offer new insights into his business, family, and political life, Friesen reveals Norquay to be a thoughtful statesman and generous patriarch. This masterful biography of the Premier from Red River sheds welcome light on a neglected historical figure and a tumultuous time for Canada and Manitoba.

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Yes, you can access The Honourable John Norquay by Gerald Friesen in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Politics & International Relations & Social Science Biographies. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Introduction
  4. Chapter 1. “A Merry Prankish Youngster,” 1841–58
  5. Chapter 2. Red River Family, 1859–70
  6. Chapter 3. “The Transfer Made Us Wise,” the 1870s
  7. Chapter 4. Public Life: An Introduction, 1871–74
  8. Chapter 5. Senior Minister, 1875–78
  9. Photo Section
  10. Chapter 6. Premier, 1879
  11. Chapter 7. Boom Times and Crash, 1880–January 1883
  12. Chapter 8. The Chief, 1883–February 1885
  13. Chapter 9. “An Unfortunate Family Difference,” 1885
  14. Political Cartoon Section
  15. Chapter 10. Vindication, 1886
  16. Chapter 11. Defiance, 1887
  17. Chapter 12. Downfall, November–December 1887
  18. Chapter 13. DĂ©nouement, 1888–89
  19. Conclusion
  20. Acknowledgements
  21. Abbreviations
  22. Keywords
  23. A Note on Sources
  24. Notes
  25. Bibliography
  26. Illustration and Map Credits
  27. Index