The Rougarou Project Remembering and Reimagining the Iconic Michif Shapeshifter

<p><strong><em>Well dere humans you know</em></strong><br> <strong><em>Jus like you an me</em></strong><br> <strong><em>But something he happen to dem an dey turn to dogs in dah night.</em></strong><br> <strong><em>Dats right!</em></strong><br> <strong><em>Some of dem dey even turn into wolfs.</em></strong><br> <strong><em>—</em>Maria Campbell, <em>Stories of the Road Allowance People</em></strong></p> <p>Spine-chilling stories featuring “li Rougarou,” a terrifying and mysterious shape shifter, were once some of the most popular tales told among the Métis. As the Métis were impacted by colonialism and forced to adopt English as their dominant language, those stories faded from their collective memory.</p> <p><em>The Rougarou Project</em> remembers and reimagines these stories, bringing new life to li Rougarou, a cousin to the French, Québecois, and French-Canadian “loup-garou.” Editor Pamela Sing gathers Michif transcriptions of stories told in the oral tradition and translates them into Michif-inflected English. Contemporary Indigenous writers, including Lee Maracle, Marilyn Dumont, Duncan Mercredi, Warren Cariou, and Louise Erdrich carry those “old stories” forward, building on and renewing them. This collection gives us a glimpse into the rich history of Métis storytelling,<strong> </strong>celebrating the vibrant and evolving tradition to which li Rougarou belongs. </p>