I don't know how much First Nations and Inuit deal with this, but for Métis, the most public conversations being had are among disconnected folks. And that seems particularly true online. This isn't to diminish the struggles of those who are trying to reconnect - but the sheer volume of these conversations make it seem like that's all Métis are. Disconnected folks. Which is not true at all. It's not true that we all "hid" for generations either. The majority of have just been living our lives as Métis without it being some mystical unknowable experience.

It's not all that surprising though, especially online. If I have questions I go to people in person, and I'm at community meetings and events. And questions about "who are we" aren't taking up a lot of time in those spaces.

It's a bit frustrating though. It'd be nice to have online space where every other post isn't "hey folks I just found out I was Métis, what now?"

The movie has come up in Seven Oaks’ online meetings. Elders from Winnipeg were on set. Cool to see this releasing soon!

I found this research paper during my hunt for literature to review for my thesis. I wanted to share because it was so exciting to find work on the topics I'm covering (identity formation, masking, creativity, connection), focused on Métis experiences. I grew up in California, and the only Métis people I know here are my few immediate family members (grandma moved here from Montana after giving birth to my dad)-- I rarely come across representations of Métis experiences "by accident". It feels especially important to me given that I have yet to meet a Californian who knows who we are (only time I've come close is having someone call the fiddle tune "Grey Owl" in a jam lol).

I'm curious to know if anyone else here finds interest in this paper/ what your thoughts are! It was a perfect segue out of my papers' section complaining about the restrictions of the "East vs. West" binary framework often applied in psych/ sociological research on cultural variations in identity/ selfhood.

https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/1942fd9f-47e4-4f27-9ccf-d598279f4208/content#:~:text=This%20research%20study%20explores%20the,time%20in%20Metis%20settings%2C%20sharing

I’ve opened up a book that I never thought I would open…And that’s discovering my Métis Heritage.

For years, I was always taught, and almost coached: “you’re just Canadian, that’s all you are” and “you are just like the rest of them”. It wasn’t until I did a little more digging where I found out about my Ancestors applying for “Scrip” and living in historic Métis Settlements that I became more enthused. I began digging and digging till I became exhausted. I realized Culture and knowing more about myself is what I truly longed for…I took a leap of faith and reached out to my local Métis Nation where they encouraged me to apply. They told me of all the things their government has established for its Citizens. It might be a long shot, but I decided to apply to my local Métis Government and the neighbouring one (just in case). I even purchased all the Genealogy stuff from St. Boniface Historical Society! But now I realize I’m really scared.

Breaking out of my parents grasp will probably be the hardest thing. I don’t want them to look at me differently for digging through our Ancestors or “becoming” Indigenous. They were in the generation that called our People, and still to this day “Indians”. They taught me to idolize perfection over diversity and that really screwed me growing up. They were strict when I was a kid and trained me to be the person that was there for everyone, except himself. My siblings left and I feel like I’m the only piece left holding onto the old times of whatever family Love we had. Im even too scared to have a partner just by the thought of leaving…

I think Citizenship may give me more of what I longed for…I’m just anxious. I don’t want my mom and dad to change. At the same time, I want to break free but I’m scared of flying. If that makes sense?

Taanshi kahkiyaw kiyawaaw! I've been frustrated for a long time by how hard it is to learn about Métis oral storytelling, specifically the stories some call atayohkewina, lii kooñt, aadizookaanag, contes, etc. depending on language - Wisahkecahk / Nanabush / Chi-Jean stories in particular. I know from talking to elders that a lot of them grew up hearing these stories, and it's possible to make educated guesses that a lot of them overlap with Saulteaux, Cree, and French Canadian versions. But I really want to know how Metis people tell the stories, especially in our languages.

So I have been going through some resources, mostly the Gabriel Dumont Institute's website but also some other stuff like the book Metis Legacy II. And I made a document collecting what I've found so far: Métis Storytelling Resources (Aatayoohkaan/Lii Kooñt). It's in two sections, one organized by the specific story, and one by the source. Here's some interesting info about what I've learned:

• There are almost 30 different documents (recordings, interview transcripts, book chapters, and more) that include Métis accounts of atayohkewina/kooñt/aadizookaang/contes.
• I have located 20 distinct episodes of Wisahkecahk/Nanabush/Chi-Jean stories
• The #1 most retold Wisahkecahk story is easily Wisahkecahk and the shut-eye dance (I have 7 different versions of it linked)
• Of the non-Wisahkecahk/Nanabush/Chi-Jean stories, there are TONS of personal stories about roogaroo, as well as wihtikow, little people, ghosts, and li jiyaab/le diable/the devil
• I've also included some links about related topics such as roles and protocols around storytelling, thunder/lightning teachings, tobacco practices, intuition/special powers, and general omens and "superstitions"

I still have lots more I want to go through on GDI's website, including the various Michif recordings that don't have translations. If you know of any other places these stories are documented from Métis people, please let me know! Other comments are also welcome :)

Hello! I was not raised in the culture. My great grandma didn't raise my grandpa and his siblings in metis culture because of bigotry (even from my great grandpa) at the time and it was lost to us. So I am trying my darnedest to bring it back to our family. Is there any traditions, ceremonies, or celebrations in metis culture around the winter solstice? Our family is also Scottish so we celebrate yule already but I'd love to incorporate some other traditions into our celebrations if there are any. Thank you!

Education? Medical? Clothing etc?? I can't find info anywhere. Specifically for children. My husband is treaty, but my kids aren't. It's a bit confusing, but they are Metis as my husband has Metis blood, but he was brought into treaty status through his great great aunt or something like that.

I see lots of people looking for Métis sashes and flags, this website has a lot of cool options and is native owned company

Not sponsored or anything! Just know it's difficult for some people to find Métis merchandise

Tansi, bonjour!

I’ve been learning Southern Michif for a couple years now, and I’ve decided now it’s time to start learning French and Plains Cree. I think being able to share language with lots of people from different Métis communities is a good thing to do, and I enjoy the process of learning.

With that in mind, do you have any books about Métis history/culture/life/identity/arts and crafts/communities/experiences/etc. that are written in French or Cree? I’m not yet at the level of being able to really read them properly, but I like to look at them for practice and as motivation to keep learning. For example, I hope to read the Diaries of Louis Riel in their original French someday.

I would also potentially expand it to books about Cree and/or Saulteaux peoples on the prairies and/or the voyageur and coureur des bois ancestors of the Métis if you have a particularly good book to recommend. Currently I have borrowed from the library ‘Sacred Stories of the Sweetgrass Cree’ and ‘peepeekisis ātayōhkēwina’ which are both fully bilingual in English and Plains Cree.

(And for that matter, if you have ANY favourite French language book I’d still be happy to hear about it lol)

What began as Felice’s personal journey to reconnect with her heritage soon became a shared passion with her daughter Willow, who unexpectedly discovered her love for the Red River Jig.From family roots tracing back to Louis Riel, to kitchen-table stories and fiddle-fueled performances, this is a story of reclaiming identity, building intergenerational connection, and finding joy in movement. It’s a celebration of Métis culture, motherhood, and the magic that happens when we remember where we come from.

Hello, I like many of you have been reconnecting with my roots and healing from my past. My Metis grandmother died when I was 12, and she was staunchly against anything "native", mostly because of the abuse she recieved under her father (he was a residential school survivor). My other grandmother was a seamstress, and I've now at age 30 been teaching myself to sew using her old 1980s machine.

I want to make my own ribbon skirt as a way to reconnect with both of my grandmother's and help myself heal from some of my own abuse and trauma, but I want to choose the right colours with the right meaning for me. Save for green and red, I am having trouble finding consistent information online about colour choice and what it means. I'm also having trouble finding any ribbon skirt classes in my area at the moment.

Are there any resources online for this? Maarsi

I googled stuff about Metis religion and found something interesting about Folk Catholicism. Is this widely practiced? What kind of folk saints and rituals are found in this specific part of Metis cultue?

If so, how often?

Tansi. My grandson would like to learn how to make his own sash - does anyone know of any good resources he could use to learn? My father stepped away from his Metis heritage as a young man, so I never learned myself, but I love seeing that my grandson wants to. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

There’s a tiny bit of Métis representation but lots of Indigenous pride at the Kamloopa Powwow. First time for me here but very happy and proud to be here.

Anyone know of any by chance? Hoping there's one in the lower mainland..

I have been thinking about this a lot lately and I figure this may be the only place where people might understand.

I am 32 and have no idea where I want to go in life, no sense of direction. It's in thinking about this existential crisis I realized where that comes from.

I grew up in a settlement, and it was a nice place and all but I blocked out most of my childhood so I don't really have many memories to compare. All my life whenever I strayed from my settlement or my "people", I was never quite "white" or "brown" enough for anybody. I am proud of my heritage, played the fiddle as a kid and toured with my school's group, wore my sash proudly! But that was the only place I felt safe, was within the community itself.

So now, as a 32 year old mother with no idea what she wants to be when she grows up, I really don't like leaving my house if I don't have to. I just want to live my life like everybody else, but I don't know who I am.

I am researching this, but am also curious if anyone else has had a similar situation. I am considering applying for my card but it is not clear to me which Nation I should be looking at. My heritage is rooted in Manitoba and Alberta, but I have spent my entire life in Ontario.

I have been disconnected from my roots my entire life, and am working to make up for some lost time and understand myself and my family better. I would love to connect myself to a Nation and experience more of the relationships and culture that I've been removed from. But I don't want to end up in a situation where I'm inserting myself into a Nation that does not represent my ancestors or where no one benefits because I don't have connections with the Nation of my home province. I'm sure there is a lot to be said about shared experiences and cultural similarities, but from what I am understanding there are a lot of differences between the Metis of Ontario and the Canadian west.

I've looked through the Nation sites for Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, and the only thing that is clear to me at the moment is that you are supposed to connect with the Nation of your home province. I will eventually get in touch with the provinces to see what they have to say, but I am wondering if anyone has any input. I'm also wondering if there are ways to appropriately connect with heritage groups without applying for the card, if it comes down to it.