Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 4K views

    Who Are The Metis

    Uploaded by

    bettio_smith
    The Metis are an Indigenous people of Canada who emerged from relationships between Indigenous women and European men. They developed distinct communities and culture that was neither European nor Indigenous. Key aspects of Metis culture include their homeland in western Canada, use of the Metis flag and sash as symbols, traditions of fiddle music and jig dancing, and the Michif language. Today there are estimated to be 350,000-400,000 Metis citizens across Canada, with over a quarter of the total Indigenous population.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Who Are The Metis

    Uploaded by

    bettio_smith
    4K views11 pages
    The Metis are an Indigenous people of Canada who emerged from relationships between Indigenous women and European men. They developed distinct communities and culture that was neither European nor Indigenous. Key aspects of Metis culture include their homeland in western Canada, use of the Metis flag and sash as symbols, traditions of fiddle music and jig dancing, and the Michif language. Today there are estimated to be 350,000-400,000 Metis citizens across Canada, with over a quarter of the total Indigenous population.

    Original Title

    Who Are the Metis

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The Metis are an Indigenous people of Canada who emerged from relationships between Indigenous women and European men. They developed distinct communities and culture that was neither European nor Indigenous. Key aspects of Metis culture include their homeland in western Canada, use of the Metis flag and sash as symbols, traditions of fiddle music and jig dancing, and the Michif language. Today there are estimated to be 350,000-400,000 Metis citizens across Canada, with over a quarter of the total Indigenous population.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    4K views11 pages

    Who Are The Metis

    Uploaded by

    bettio_smith
    The Metis are an Indigenous people of Canada who emerged from relationships between Indigenous women and European men. They developed distinct communities and culture that was neither European nor Indigenous. Key aspects of Metis culture include their homeland in western Canada, use of the Metis flag and sash as symbols, traditions of fiddle music and jig dancing, and the Michif language. Today there are estimated to be 350,000-400,000 Metis citizens across Canada, with over a quarter of the total Indigenous population.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    You are on page 1of 11

    Who are the Metis?

    A look at one of Canada’s


    Indigenous People
    A Definition
    • Prior to Canada's crystallization as a nation in west
    central North America, the Métis people emerged out
    of the relations of Indian women and European men.

    • The initial offspring of these Indian and European


    unions were individuals who possessed mixed
    ancestry.

    • The gradual establishment of distinct Métis


    communities, outside of Indian and European
    cultures and settlements, as well as, the subsequent
    intermarriages between Métis women and Métis
    men, resulted in the genesis of a new Aboriginal
    people - the Métis.
    Geography
    • The Métis Nation's Homeland
    is based on the traditional
    territory upon which the Métis
    people have historically lived
    and relied upon within west
    central North America. This
    territory roughly includes the 3
    Prairie provinces (Manitoba,
    Alberta and Saskatchewan),
    parts of Ontario, British
    Columbia and the Northwest
    Territories, as well as, parts of
    the northern United States (i.e.
    North Dakota, Montana).
    The Culture
    The Métis Flag
    • The horizontal figure or infinity symbol
    featured on the Métis flag was
    originally carried by French 'half-
    breeds' with pride. The symbol, which
    represents the immortality of the
    nation, in the centre of a blue field
    represents the joining of two cultures.
    • Historically the Métis were strongly
    associated with the North West
    Company (NWC), a fur trading entity in
    competition with the Hudson Bay
    Company (HBC) and they fought often
    for NWC causes. In a gift giving
    ceremony in 1814, NWC partner
    Alexander MacDonnell presented the
    Métis with this flag and it soon became
    a trademark for the nation.  The Métis
    flag is carried today as a symbol of
    continuity and pride.
    The Sash or Ceinture Flechee
    • Perhaps the most prominent symbol of the Métis Nation is
    the brightly coloured, woven sash. In the days of the
    Voyageur, the sash was both a colourful and festive belt
    and an important tool worn by the hardy tradesmen,
    doubling as a rope when needed. Not only functional, the
    sash is colourful and identifiable as Métis apparel. The
    sash 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 Métis
    were on a buffalo hunt.
    • The art of sash weaving was brought to the western
    regions of Canada by Voyageurs who encountered the
    bright 'scarves' through contact with French Canadians.
    • The Métis share the sash with two other groups who also
    claim it as a symbol of nationhood and cultural distinction.
    It was worn by eastern woodland Indians as a sign of
    office in the 19th century, and French Canadians wore it
    during the Lower Canada Rebellion in 1837. It is still
    considered to be an important part of traditional dress for
    both these groups.
    • The sash has acquired new significance in the 20th
    century, now symbolizing pride and identification for Métis
    people. Manitoba and Saskatchewan have both created
    "The Order of the Sash" which is bestowed upon members
    of the Métis community who have made cultural, political
    or social contributions to their people.
    Fiddle Music
    • The fiddle has figured prominently in the lifestyle of the
    Métis people for hundreds of years. It is the primary
    instrument for accompanying the Métis jig.
    • The famous 'Red River Jig' has become the centrepiece
    of Métis music. Since this European instrument was
    exceedingly expensive in early Canada, especially for 
    grassroots Métis communities, many craftsmen 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 beginnings
    and the joyful spirit in which we lived and grew. Fiddle
    and jigging contests are always popular events and
    provide an opportunity to showcase the fiddle as a
    symbol of Métis nationhood and pride.
    Jigging
    • The Red River Jig, the unique dance
    developed by the Métis people,
    combines the intricate footwork of
    Native dancing with the instruments
    and form of European music. Often the
    Métis made their own fiddles out of
    available materials because they could
    not  afford the European imports.
    • Traditionally, dancing started early in
    the evening and would last until dawn.
    Witnesses were often dumbfounded by
    the energy and vitality evident during
    celebrations which was  matched only
    by the long, arduous days of labour
    necessary to keep Métis communities
    running.
    • Métis people continue to enjoy jigging,
    and have local, provincial and national
    dance teams who attend conferences,
    exhibitions and powwows.
    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 Métis specific
    language 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 Métis community. Efforts are underway to
    rescue and preserve this critical component of
    Métis culture.
    The Metis Population
    • In September 2002, the Métis people adopted a national definition of
    Métis for citizenship within the Métis Nation. Based on this definition,
    it is estimated that there are 350,000 to 400,000 Métis Nation
    citizens in Canada. The Métis Nation is now in the process of
    uniformly implementing this definition across the Homeland, as well
    as, developing a consistent acceptance process.

    • Although the Canadian Census has never accurately reflected the


    Métis Nation's population, in 2001, the Métis population from
    Ontario westward was 262,785. Based on these statistics, the Métis
    now represent 26% of the total Aboriginal population in Canada.
    The 2001 Census further reports that one third of the Métis
    population is under the age of fourteen and two thirds of the Métis
    population lives in urban centers.
    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 became
    a 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. 
    Works Cited
    Metis Nation of Canada. Metis Nation of
    Canada, n.d. Web. 29 Sep 2010.
    <http://www.metisnation.ca>.

    Metis Nation of Ontario. Metis Nation of


    Ontario, n.d. Web. 29 Sep 2010.
    <http://www.metisnation.org/culture--
    heritage/symbols-and-traditions.aspx>.

    You might also like

    pFad - Phonifier reborn

    Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

    Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


    Alternative Proxies:

    Alternative Proxy

    pFad Proxy

    pFad v3 Proxy

    pFad v4 Proxy