1.5.3 Canada's Mètis

What is the effect of globalization on your life?


When a people from a cultural group are forced to the edge of the society because they do not fit in or belong, they cannot live fully and their culture often disappears. This is called
marginalization
Marginalization occurs when a less dominant group picks up some of the habits and customs of the more dominant society, becoming incompletely assimilated and no longer belonging to any cultural group. A marginalized group of people are pushed out of the mainstream to the fringes of society.
marginalization. However, sometimes the opposite happens — a group can experience a rebirth. That is called
cultural revitalization
When a culture experiences a rebirth or newfound interest and growth.
cultural revitalization.

The Métis in Canada came into existence because of globalization and then were marginalized by it. Today, they are experiencing revitalization. Canada has more than 350 000 Métis, more than a quarter of the Aboriginal population. In recent years, more Canadians are identifying themselves as Métis.

Who are the
reserve or reservation
The Métis nation was created by the descendents of aborginal women and European men after the arrival of the French and English in Canada.

The uniquely Canadian cultural group followed the fur trade and developed its own identity and was a part of the expansion into the West. The Métis have a shared history, a common culture , a unique language, extensive kinship connections from Ontario westward, a distinct way of life, a traditional territory and a collective consciousness. 26% of Canada's Aboriginal population is Métis, with nearly 400,000 Métis in western Canada.
Métis? Canada's Métis are the descendants of First Nations women and early European explorers, fur traders, and settlers in Western Canada who came from France, England, and Scotland. Métis means mixed blood. Because the men spoke mostly French and the woman spoke mostly Cree, a new language appeared called Michif with features of both languages. The main religion of the Métis was Roman Catholicism.

The first Métis had the survival skills of the native people and the technology of the Europeans. Their skills made them well-suited to harsh life in Canada. Unfortunately, many white men eventually left their Métis families. Métis women had to be resourceful to survive, and some had to take important roles in their communities. As their numbers grew, men and women of Métis heritage intermarried, forming their own communities along the fur trade route and at the site of trading posts. Métis communities were connected through the fur trade network, by their relatives in various places, and through their distinct way of life. Today, Métis communities occur in every western Canadian province and the Northwest Territories.

The Métis sash is a handwoven sash worn over the shoulder (by women) or around the waist. It demonstrates uniquely the interweaving of cultures and the marks of history on the Métis.

  • The blue and white stand for the national flags of the people.
  • The red represents the other national flag of the Métis.
  • The black symbolizes the dark era of the Métis people when they had their land taken away and were beaten and shot on the streets of Winnipeg. 
  • Yellow represents those who are honoured by the community. 
  • Green symbolizes expansion and success of the Métis Nation and the reclaiming of honourable status in Canada.

Michif is the Métis language. Michif-speaking parents once discouraged their children from learning their language, but now it is spoken with pride.

Métis sash
Source: Wikimedia Commons


Reflect


Marginalization: The Métis did not belong with First Nations or with the European immigrants. The execution of Louis Riel in 1885 showed the Métis people that the Canadian government did not recognize their unique status.

Although First Nations Canadians had their
reserve or reservation
in Canada, land specified by the Indian Act for the use and benefit of registered Indians

Canada has more than 600 Indian reserves, most quite small. Most reserves contain little resource revenue. The resources of any reserve are held in trust by the Minister of Indian Affairs.

Reserve lands and the personal property of bands and resident band members are exempt from all forms of taxation except local taxation, but corporations owned by members of First Nations are not exempt. Most reserves are self-governed under guidelines established by the Indian Act.
reserves and
treaties
international agreements between representatives of two or more nations

For example, a First Nations chief signed on behalf of his tribe, and a representative of the British government signed on behalf of Canada.

Treaties are legal contracts because they establish legally binding terms to which both parties have agreed. If one party fails to meet its responsibilities, it can be charged under international law.

Treaties are used to set terms at the end of a war, such as the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I.
treaty rights, the Métis had no such rights. When they lost their homeland, the Métis people were in danger of losing their language, religion, and culture.

Marginalized people live on the fringes of society

  • They are often poor.
  • They often feel their culture is not valued
  • They often lose their sense of self-worth and their sense of community.
  • Substance abuse, unemployment, family violence, abuse, and suicide often result.

Rebirth: During the past several years, interest in Métis culture has increased. Many people, especially those whose families have lived in Canada for generations, are interested in tracing their ancestries. Being Métis has become a source of pride for thousands of Canadians. The hybrid culture of Métis shows how a mix of ancestry, values, cultures, and traditions can form a culture that is adaptable and strong. In many ways, the Métis are uniquely Canadian.

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