Who We Are

The Metis are one of three Indigenous Peoples recognized under the constitution of Canada, and historically, the Metis were the offspring of the local Indigenous People and the early French Settlers who first arrived on the shores of what is now Nova Scotia, in the early 1600’s.

This mix of races is where the French term ‘Metis’ or ‘Metissage’ was derived from, which loosely translates to crossbreeding in English, and was used primarily by clergy and early explorers to describe our people of mixed ancestry. The term though was not used by our people until the mid to late 1800’s when Metis Pride was beginning to grown in the west. Prior to this, many mixed blood people often referred to themselves simply as Halfbreeds, Mixed Bloods, Acadians, Chico, Courier de Bois, Voyageurs, Bois Brûlés, etc.

During the 1600 and 1700’s, our way of life and culture emerged from the fur trade and fishing in New France, and intermarriage between the Indigenous People and early settlers was encouraged by the French, because the Indigenous women knew how to prepare the furs and help the early settlers survive the harsh winters. In fact, Samuel de Champlain was even quoted as saying, “Our men will marry your daughters and we will be one people”.

With culture taken from both our Indigenous and European ancestry, the Metis became a distinct people with our own language, culture and traditions. We served as the intermediaries between the Settlers and Indigenous People because we spoke both languages and knew both cultures and were highly respected. Many of our people even became signatories to the Peace and Friendship Treaties in the east.

Although we can acknowledge that Metis culture originated in the eastern provinces, it was the migration of our fur traders that ventured into the Great Lakes, then into the western prairie provinces in the 1800’s, that truly solidified the Metis as a People. During this time, great Metis leaders like Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont led the Metis Rebellion to many great victories against the British, unlike the Acadians and Metis who were expelled and nearly wiped out by the British in New France’s Acadia in 1755.

Despite the difficult past and politics that plague Metis unity today, Metis culture continues to evolve and flourish, as our people, young and old, discover the rich history that both the eastern and western Metis Peoples share.

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WHO WE ARE

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