who are the metis

8/8/2019 Who Are the Metis

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Who are the Metis?

A look at one of Canadas

Indigenous People


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A Definition

Prior to Canada's crystallization as a nation in westcentral North America, the Mtis people emerged outof the relations of Indian women and European men.

The initial offspring of these Indian and Europeanunions were individuals who possessed mixedancestry.

The gradual establishment of distinct Mtis

communities, outside of Indian and Europeancultures and settlements, as well as, the subsequentintermarriages between Mtis women and Mtismen, resulted in the genesis of a new Aboriginalpeople - the Mtis.


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Geography

The Mtis Nation's Homelandis based on the traditionalterritory upon which the Mtispeople have historically livedand relied upon within west

central North America. Thisterritory roughly includes the 3Prairie provinces (Manitoba,Alberta and Saskatchewan),parts of Ontario, BritishColumbia and the Northwest

Territories, as well as, parts ofthe northern United States (i.e.North Dakota, Montana).


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The Culture

The Mtis Flag

The horizontal figure or infinity symbolfeatured on the Mtis flag wasoriginally carried by French 'half-breeds' with pride. The symbol, whichrepresents the immortality of thenation, in the centre of a blue fieldrepresents the joining of two cultures.

Historically the Mtis were stronglyassociated with the North WestCompany (NWC), a fur trading entity incompetition with the Hudson BayCompany (HBC) and they fought oftenfor NWC causes. In a gift givingceremony in 1814, NWC partner

Alexander MacDonnell presented theMtis with this flag and it soon becamea trademark for the nation. The Mtisflag is carried today as a symbol ofcontinuity and pride.


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The Sash or Ceinture Flechee

Perhaps the most prominent symbol of the Mtis Nation isthe brightly coloured, woven sash. In the days of theVoyageur, the sash was both a colourful and festive beltand an important tool worn by the hardy tradesmen,doubling as a rope when needed. Not only functional, thesash is colourful and identifiable as Mtis apparel. Thesash itself served as a key holder, first aid kit, washcloth,towel, and as an emergency bridle and saddle blanket. Its

fringed ends could become a sewing kit when the Mtiswere on a buffalo hunt.

The art of sash weaving was brought to the westernregions of Canada by Voyageurs who encountered thebright 'scarves' through contact with French Canadians.

The Mtis share the sash with two other groups who alsoclaim it as a symbol of nationhood and cultural distinction.It was worn by eastern woodland Indians as a sign of officein the 19th century, and French Canadians wore it during

the Lower Canada Rebellion in 1837. It is still consideredto be an important part of traditional dress for both thesegroups.

The sash has acquired new significance in the 20thcentury, now symbolizing pride and identification for Mtispeople. Manitoba and Saskatchewan have both created"The Order of the Sash" which is bestowed upon membersof the Mtis community who have made cultural, political orsocial contributions to their people.


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Fiddle Music

The fiddle has figured prominently in the lifestyle of theMtis people for hundreds of years. It is the primaryinstrument for accompanying the Mtis jig.

The famous 'Red River Jig' has become thecentrepiece of Mtis music. Since this Europeaninstrument was exceedingly expensive in early Canada,especially for grassroots Mtis communities, manycraftsmen learned how to make their own.

The fiddle is still in use today and plays a proiminent

role in celebrations as a symbol of our early beginningsand the joyful spirit in which we lived and grew. Fiddleand jigging contests are always popular events andprovide an opportunity to showcase the fiddle as asymbol of Mtis nationhood and pride.


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Jigging

The Red River Jig, the unique dancedeveloped by the Mtis people,combines the intricate footwork ofNative dancing with the instrumentsand form of European music. Often theMtis made their own fiddles out ofavailable materials because they could

not afford the European imports. Traditionally, dancing started early in

the evening and would last until dawn.Witnesses were often dumbfoundedby the energy and vitality evidentduring celebrations whichwas matched only by the long,arduous days of labour necessary to

keep Mtis communities running. Mtis people continue to enjoy jigging,and have local, provincial and nationaldance teams who attend conferences,exhibitions and powwows.


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The Michif Language

The citizens are descendants of people born of

relations between Indian women and European

men who developed a combination of distinct

languages that resulted in a new Mtis specificlanguage called Michif. In Ontario, Michif is a

mixture of old European and old First Nation

languages and is still spoken today by some in

the Mtis community. Efforts are underway torescue and preserve this critical component of

Mtis culture.


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The Metis Population In September 2002, the Mtis people adopted a national definition of

Mtis for citizenship within the Mtis Nation. Based on this definition,it is estimated that there are 350,000 to 400,000 Mtis Nationcitizens in Canada. The Mtis Nation is now in the process ofuniformly implementing this definition across the Homeland, as wellas, developing a consistent acceptance process.

Although the Canadian Census has never accurately reflected theMtis Nation's population, in 2001, the Mtis population from Ontariowestward was 262,785. Based on these statistics, the Mtis nowrepresent 26% of the total Aboriginal population in Canada. The2001 Census further reports that one third of the Mtis population isunder the age of fourteen and two thirds of the Mtis population livesin urban centers.


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Beatrice Culleton Mosionier

Beatrice Mosionier, also known as Beatrice

Culleton, was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba

on August 27, 1949.

When she was three years old, she becamea ward of the Children's Aid Society.

She grew up in foster homes, mostly away

from her real parents and people.

There were several years however, when

Beatrice lived with her older sisters, two of

which committed suicide later in life.


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Works Cited

Metis Nation of Canada. Metis Nation of

Canada, n.d. Web. 29 Sep 2010.

.

Metis Nation of Ontario. Metis Nation of

Ontario, n.d. Web. 29 Sep 2010.

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