Talk:Métis

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[edit] Usage of 'Métis'

I was just looking for information about the vietnaam and noticed that this page makes it look like metis people only means the mixed native people of canada. Metis is used to refer to many other mixed people. For example the mixed vietnamese-french people (many of which were born during or after the war in vietnam). Someone with more wiki-courage should edit this page ;). MisterSheik 03:26, 6 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Good point. I'm going to move this page to Métis people (Canada), and then someone can provide a more general article here. John FitzGerald 01:13, 3 Dec 2004 (UTC)
I added a stub here as well, mainly cribbed from the French side. Now, before changing all those links that need to be changed, I'm going to wait and see if anyone moves the old article back – if someone has a better way to handle this problem I'll be all for it. John FitzGerald 01:36, 3 Dec 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Changes in preparation for the merge

As a Canadian Metis, I made some big changes to this article which I thought better repesented the wiki-interests to merge the terms metis and mestizo. I tried to make language of the article more neutral so the term metis could be used in a cursory manner for the Metis Nation of Canada but disentangle the article from its former narrow association to the new wider desired use of the word (ie. to merge it with other article). Northernstar79 07:37, 17 September 2005 (UTC)

I'm not Metis, though many of my friends have been, but from what I understand, since the 1982 Constitution or maybe since some agreement since, the term Metis in Canada means not only the traditional Metis of the Prairies as described in the current article, but also anyone of a certain percentage of mixed-blood people of status descent as well as the original Metis. I'm not sure about Metis politics, but I think there's a parallel Metis organization for the non-traditional Metis. At least there is here in BC. Maybe they've amalgamated nationally or something?

Skookum1 07:33, 5 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Métis

Theres a massive diference between Métis of Canada and Mestizo of Latin America. Starting with the history (Lous Riel etc) right through to diferences in acceptance within society.

These articles ought not to be merged, but rather the article on Métis needs to be expanded.

Which is precisely why there is an article for the Métis of Canada. --Kmsiever 16:21, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
The rationale for the merge eludes me. The term Métis is French (hence use of it in Vietnam). However, "The Métis" really only refers to the people in Canada. "Mestizo" is only related in a very general way (people of European/Aboriginal origin). Beyond a one-line statement to that effect there's not much more that the peoples have in common. What's with this merge mania? Sunray 21:01, 11 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Merge?

How come there's a separate article for the word Métis? The modern ethnic group in North America is already dealt with in Métis people, and the use of this French word to refer to people elsewhere is explained under Mestizo. If this article is intended to refer to anyone of part-French ancestry from Indochina to the Pacific to the Caribbean, then I think it should be much more explicit about that. //Big Adamsky 21:33, 30 December 2005 (UTC)

Do not merge the articles. Métis relates to Canada, Mestizo relates to Latin America, therefore they are different concepts. -- OldRightist 07:39, 11 January 2006 (UTC)
My point was that the articles explaining the non-English words Métis, Mestizo, Mestiço, Mestiso and Mischling are all used both in their non-specific sense of "mixed-race" and in a more specific meaning referring to a particular group of people in a particlar geographical setting. But for Métis there are separate articles for the generic meaning and the particular North American meaning. As already stated, other people in other parts of the world also are identified and self-identify as métis/métisses. My point being that mestizo means different things depending on whether you are in Latin America or elsewhere in the world. Compare Mulatto which can only refer to one mixture (black + white; although no longer in any fixed proportions). //Big Adamsky 16:41, 11 January 2006 (UTC)
As I wrote at Talk:Mestizo I think they could profitably be merged, as long as the current article is not replaced by a redirect but by an explanation providing links to Mestizo and Métis people (okay, I didn't write tht last part before). And I agree that in a general sense the two words mean the same thing. John FitzGerald 03:28, 13 January 2006 (UTC)
I think there is some confusion here. Métis is a distinctly Canadian term. The closest french equivalent is Métisse (which is most often used to mean "French and Black" mixes). Some Métis do refer to themselves as Métisse, but that is a preference. To put another point of view on this article, consider that in Section 35 of the Constitution act of Canada that "Indian, Métis and Inuit" are labelled as the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada. Add to this that these are distinct groups and are not meant to be generic in nature as the constitution of Canada then reaffirms that these groups have rights. In order to confer rights, there must be a distinct membership. Without entering into the ensuing political and legal debate, suffice to say that merger is inappropriate. While Métis, may have come from Métisse which may have come from another root latin word: These words no longer mean the same thing. To be simply mixed blood in Canada does not confer Aboriginal rights, no matter the blood quantum. For those interested, look up R. Vs. Powley for more information on Métis legality issues and identity. For etymological reasons, a link to similar root words may be interesting, but I think a merger is unwarranted and would end up being confusing. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.53.89.131 (talk • contribs) (06:40, 10 March 2006)

[edit] French Wikipedia article

The french wikipedia article [1]on Métis explains the use of the word in French and the different groups around the world. That article simply provides a link to Mestizo. Personally, I think there should be a page for the general term "Métis" and then links to articles about the different groups around the world as each has their own history.--Raisaroo 00:06, 11 January 2006 (UTC)