Strangers in the House A Prairie Story of Bigotry and Belonging
Strangers in the House: A Prairie Story of Bigotry and Belonging by Candace Savage, published by Greystone Books Limited in 2023, explores the complex history surrounding her Saskatoon home. This 248-page work delves into the life of Napoléon Sureau dit Blondin, the house’s first occupant, who faced discrimination as a French speaker in a society dominated by the political and social elite. Through her research, Savage uncovers a narrative that intertwines personal and historical elements, revealing the challenges faced by a family striving for acceptance in a prejudiced environment.
In Strangers in the House, readers will find a thorough investigation that includes public records, historical accounts, and interviews with Napoléon’s descendants. The book highlights the family’s resilience amidst the backdrop of discrimination, particularly during an era influenced by groups like the Orange Order and the Ku Klux Klan. By examining this significant yet troubling chapter in Canadian history, Savage connects the past to contemporary issues of belonging and identity, making the narrative relevant to current discussions on cultural and ethnic dynamics.
Official synopsis Publisher
A renowned author investigates the dark and shocking history of her prairie house.
When researching the first occupant of her Saskatoon home, Candace Savage discovers a family more fascinating and heartbreaking than she expected
Napoléon Sureau dit Blondin built the house in the 1920s, an era when French-speakers like him were deemed “undesirable” by the political and social elite, who sought to populate the Canadian prairies with WASPs only. In an atmosphere poisoned first by the Orange Order and then by the Ku Klux Klan, Napoléon and his young family adopted anglicized names and did their best to disguise their “foreignness.”
In Strangers in the House, Savage scours public records and historical accounts and interviews several of Napoléon’s descendants, including his youngest son, to reveal a family story marked by challenge and resilience. In the process, she examines a troubling episode in Canadian history, one with surprising relevance today.
Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute
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