Halfbreed is a representative aboriginal novel of Canadian female writer Maria Campbell. It is an extraordinary memoir that records Campbell’ life experience as a Canadian Metis woman and initiates a rebirth of Canadian aboriginal literature. In the novel, Campbell began her recovery journey after overcoming the difficulties of poverty, alcoholism, drug addiction and prostitution. Through her recovery, she became aware of self-consciousness and dedicated herself to fighting for the rights of Canadian Metis. This essay analyzes the complex psychological process of inferiority, hatred, obedience, and loss that experienced by Canadian Metis when they suffered discrimination and oppression both physically and spiritually, as well as the way of constructing their cultural identity. Meanwhile, three elements of Campbell’ consciousness awakening process are demonstrated. Campbell has always been the leader in the process of pursuing her cultural identity. It is the result of the joint influence of individual, family and society factors. The awakening of the awareness of Canadian Metis will help and inspire the aboriginal groups and people sharing similar experiences around the world, to pursue their own cultural identities and strive for revitalizing their own cultures.

Liu Siqi. The Construction of Canadian Metis Identity in Halfbreed. Academic Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences (2022) Vol. 5, Issue 5: 65-71. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJHSS.2022.050511.

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