Indigenous Success Stories: Métis

NationTalk: This August you will be able to get your hands on the latest edition of Canadian Geographic Magazine – which includes a feature article entitled “Rivers of Resistance” telling the story of Métis in Ontario. The article was written by MNO citizen and academic, Dylan Miner, with contributions from MNO citizen and researcher Courtney Vaughan and featuring the illustrations of MNO citizen, Alexander Young.

The issue is the result of a resolution that MNO citizens brought forward at our 2018 Annual General Assembly, as they expressed interest in a partnership with Canadian Geographic to educate about the culture, history and way of life of Métis communities in Ontario.

The magazine will include the history of MNO’s hunt for justice, profile Ontario’s historic Métis communities and the voices of several citizens from across the regions. The issue also includes a pull-out map showcasing the history of Métis throughout the province.

“We are very excited about this edition of the magazine,” said MNO President Margaret Froh. “Canadian Geographic is iconic in this country. This wonderful publication is focused on amplifying the voices of our communities and will help educate all Canadians about our rich history.”

The MNO-Canadian Geographic partnership doesn’t just end here. The MNO will soon launch a hub of information dedicated to the culture, history and way of life of Métis in Ontario. Stay tuned for more on that exciting announcement to come and look for copies of the special edition magazine at MNO’s upcoming Annual General Assembly in Toronto, Ontario.

Manitoba Métis Federation – The Canadian Commission for UNESCO, Library and Archives Canada and the NWT Archives are pleased to announce the inscription of two new collections on the Canada Memory of the World Register. These unique and irreplaceable documents highlight the preservation and transmission of Indigenous cultures and knowledge. Created in 2017, the Canada Memory of the World Register promotes the immense diversity of the country’s significant documentary heritage that extends from the initial settling of the land by Indigenous Peoples up to the present time.

The two new inscriptions are:

Gwich’in Tribal Council – Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute fonds
The Gwich’in Tribal Council – Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute (GTC-GSCI) fonds held at the NWT Archives consists of the complete research and administrative records created by the GTC-GSCI over 25 years of work. The fonds is an irreplaceable collection of Indigenous knowledge, created expressly for the preservation and promotion of Gwich’in culture, language, history, archaeology, place names, land use, ecology, genealogy, ethnobotany and traditional skills. This collection is significant as it is the most rich, comprehensive, and meticulous documentation of Gwich’in knowledge in the world. The Gwich’in Tribal Council and the NWT Archives work together to honour the intent of the Gwich’in Elders who wished to safeguard, preserve and provide access to this knowledge for future generations.

Métis Nation River Lot Settlements Maps

Library and Archives Canada holds plans of Métis river lots as required by the Manitoba Act and the transfer of Rupert’s Land and the North Western Territories. These river lot plans, created by Canadian government surveyors beginning in 1870, are important documents in the understanding of the Métis Nation. They are invaluable to the entire Métis Nation because they show where Métis ancestors lived before their homeland was included in Canada. While these river lot plans do not include any Michif, they clearly show where this language originated in Red River and delineate the families that spoke this unique Métis heritage language.

“The history of the Manitoba Métis originating in Red River is the history of the Métis Nation. We are the only Indigenous people to bring a province into Canadian Confederation. On behalf of our Cabinet and Citizens, I’m proud to see our history recognized by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. These river lots show our original role of strength and leadership in the Red River Settlement and give us a chance to reflect on where our Nation would be today, if we had not been forced off these lands. If we had been allowed to flourish and develop, I know our economic growth would have been impressive.”
– David Chartrand LL.D (hon.), O.M., President, Manitoba Metis Federation