Métis people (Canada)

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Métis
Total population 300,000-700,000
Regions with significant populations Canada, United States
Language English, French, Michif, Bungee (extinct)
Religion Predominantly Roman Catholic
Related ethnic groups French, Cree, Ojibwa, Scots, Acadians, Cajuns

The Métis (pronounced "MAY tee", IPA: ['mejti], in French [me'tis] or [me'tsɪs], in Michif [mɪ'cɪf]), also historically known as Bois Brule, Countryborn, or "Black Scots," are one of three recognized Aboriginal peoples in Canada. Their homeland consists of the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario, as well as the Northwest Territories. The Métis Homeland also includes parts of the northern United States (ie. North Dakota, and Montana). The Métis Nation consists of descendants of marriages of Woodland Cree, Ojibway, Saulteaux, and Menominee aboriginals to French Canadian and/or British/Celtic settlers. Their history dates to the mid-seventeenth century. Historically, many (but not all) Métis spoke a mixed language called Michif. Michif is a phonetic spelling of the Métis pronunciation of Métif, a variant of Métis. The Métis today predominantly speak English with French as a strong second language, as well as numerous aboriginal tongues. The encouragement and use of Michif is growing due to outreach within the provincial Métis councils after at least a generation of decline.

The word Métis (the singular, plural and adjectival forms are the same) is French, and a cognate of the Spanish word mestizo. It carries the same connotation of "mixed blood"; traced back far enough it stems from the Latin word mixtus, the past participle of the verb "to mix".

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[edit] Identification

The name Métis, in Canada, is constitutionally applied to descendants of communities in what is now southern Manitoba along the Red River Valley and Winnipeg. The name has also been constitutionally applied to the descendants of similar communities in what are now Quebec and Labrador, although these groups' histories are different from that of the western Métis, as well as a community of Métis in Northeastern British Columbia on a settlement called "Kelly Lake". There are also Metis Settlements recognized by the Alberta Government in the early 1900's through the Metis Settlement Act and are independent of any other representatives of Metis People in Canada.

The Métis National Council defines a person as Métis if they meet the following criteria:

  • self-identifies as Métis
  • of historic Métis Nation ancestry
  • is distinct from other Aboriginal peoples
  • is accepted by the Métis Nation.

Much like the Canadian Confederation, the Métis Nation is also divided into 5 administrative regions: Métis Nation of Ontario, Manitoba Métis Federation, Métis Nation - Saskatchewan, Métis Nation of Alberta, and the Métis Nation British Columbia. The Métis National Council represents the Nation's larger interests with the Government of Canada and internationally. The Council of Diaspora Métis, founded in 2006 represents the interests of Métis people located temporarily or permanently outside of Canada in the European Union. Other organisations representing Métis in Canada include the Council of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP), a federally recognized body.

Estimates of the number of Métis vary from 300,000 to 700,000 or more. According to this Statistics Canada reportage, the number of those who self-identify as Metis in 2001 was 292,310 throughout Canada. The Province of Alberta has the largest population of Metis (66,055), closely followed by Manitoba (56,795) and Ontario (48,345) respectively.

A book dealing with Métis' recognition.
A book dealing with Métis' recognition.

The Canadian Constitution Act of 1982 recognizes the Métis as being Aboriginal peoples. This has enabled individual Métis to sue successfully for recognition of their traditional rights, such as rights to hunt and trap. In 2003, a court ruling[1] in Ontario otherwise known as the Powley Ruling found that an Ontario Métis community has the Aboriginal right to hunt for food, a decision seen as a first step toward granting full hunting rights to the community. This right was given to the entire Nation as a whole a short time later as respective provincial governments came into compliance with this ruling through negotiation with the Métis provincial governments. On May 31, 2005, the Government of Canada and the Métis National Council signed a framework agreement (pdf) to pave the way for self-government for the Métis in the homeland, illustrating a deeper development of the relationship between the Métis and Canada outside of the judicial system.

[edit] Métis culture

Métis culture is an amalgamation of cultures of the First Nations, French, English, and Orkney/Scottish. The Métis are known for their love of fiddle playing, but traditional instruments also included the concertina, the harmonica, and the hand drum. This affection for the fiddle has been accompanied by a form of dancing referred to as jigging. Traditionally, dancing included such moves as the Waltz Quadrille, the Square dance, Drops of Brandy, the Duck, La Double Gigue and the Red River Jig.

Metis people were famous for their horsemanship and breeding of horses. They were the first people to use saddles and to have horse races. The RCMP Musical Ride horses dance the Quadrille as begun by the Metis and their horses.

The Red River Cart was the forerunner to the covered wagon.

The Metis were known as the Buffalo Hunters on the plains ... today they call themselves the "Forgotten People".

As the Métis culture matured, a new language called Michif emerged. This language was a result of the combining of French nouns and Cree verbs. Though a distinct language, it is spoken by few people. Some estimates put the number of Michif speakers at about 1,000.

Of the clothing worn by Métis in the 19th century, the sash or ceinture flechée is probably the most common. It is traditionally roughly three metres in length and is made by weaving yarn together with one's fingers. The sash is worn around the waist, tied in the middle, with the fringed ends hanging.Vests with characteristic Métis figurative beadwork are also popular. The Red River Coat is historically recognized as coming from the Metis culture.

[edit] Prominent Métis

The most famous Métis was Louis Riel who led what are usually depicted as two rebellions, the Red River Rebellion in 1869 in the area now known as Manitoba, and the North-West Rebellion in 1885 in the area now known as Saskatchewan. Reasonable doubts may be raised about whether either of these events was a rebellion. For example, the actions considered rebellious in 1869 were undertaken by Riel as the leader of a government recognized by Canada as in legitimate control of territory that did not belong to Canada; Canada negotiated the Manitoba Act with this government. After these "rebellions", land speculators and other non-Métis effectively deprived the Métis of land by exploiting a government program for its purchase, with the government perhaps turning a blind eye. The province of Alberta distributed land to Métis in 1938 to correct what it believed to be an inequity, but Saskatchewan and Manitoba have not followed Alberta's lead.

Two other famous Métis leaders were Cuthbert Grant and Gabriel Dumont.

On May 7, 2004, Métis Todd Ducharme was appointed as a judge of the Ontario Supreme Court of Justice.

Other well known Métis are Sharon Bruneau, a Canadian female bodybuilder and fitness model, and Kevin O'Toole, 1996 North American Lightheavyweight bodybuilding champion.

British Columbia New Democratic Party Leader Carole James is of partial Métis ancestry.

NHL star defenceman Sheldon Souray is of Métis ancestry.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin is of partial Métis ancestry.

Architect Douglas Cardinal is of Métis and Blackfoot ancestry.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Western Métis

[edit] Eastern Métis

[edit] Government of Canada

[edit] Other

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