Metis people are not aboriginal
I have wondered about writing an Editorial like this for a while and refrained – but decided this viewpoint needs to be heard. I have a very real and deep contempt for people who are claiming to be Metis, believing they should have any rights that non-aboriginal people do not have.
It’s not about the blood quantum – it is entirely about a made-up culture from a bunch of people who have a very serious identity crisis in wanting to be Aboriginal. As far as I am concerned, and a LOT of Aboriginal people in Canada, they never will be regardless of what the government says.
Most people know the history of where Metis people came from, and that might have been true 100-200 years ago – but the Metis people back then were genuine half-breeds (50% native blood). The Metis people that exist today are plainly white people trying to swindle the government out of money, and take away from government funding for First Nation people.
One of the sources of resentment First Nation people I have spoken to have that various sources of funding from the government for things like dental care, prescription costs, etc are getting progressively smaller because the misguided government is including ‘Metis’ people in that funding.
An example of Metis people screwing things up for First Nation people: there’s a medical centre called Kenora Area Health Access Centre which is based on Washagamis Bay First Nation just outside of Kenora. It was set up to cater specifically for the medical needs of First Nation people. One of the services it provides is sending Nurse Practitioners out to the reserves it services to provide a clinic for people with ailments. This service is sorely needed because many of the people on the reserves cannot just make trips to Washagamis Bay for appointments. However, the Executive Director Anita Cameron decided to open up a drop-in clinic right in the centre of town, and scale back the service to the reserves. I have it on good advice that it all down to her desire of ‘pan-aboriginal care’ in which she is including Metis people in Kenora. So Metis people in Kenora can drop into the KAHAC office by the Shell gas station and get medical care, instead of taking themselves to the hospital like every other non-aboriginal person.
So the less mobile people on the reserves, and people without ways to get to a service centre have to deal with a far less frequent visit from KAHAC.
Incidently… Anita Cameron is also the person who wanted to pay a newly hired Caucasian Nurse Practitioner about 30% more than the Aboriginal Nurse Practitioners, just so her paycheque after tax deductions equaled what the Aboriginal Nurse Practitioners received without tax deductions.
The point is Metis people and the vast majority of non-aboriginal people in Canada have very little or no understanding at all of the issues facing Aboriginal people in this country, and for a group of white people masquerading as Aboriginal is a slight to every First Nation person in Canada.
All over Canada, Metis people overall have a far higher living standard than First Nation people, and yet still want to take from Natives.
According to the ‘Self Sufficiency’ paragraph on this website, Metis people do not seek a ‘handout’ from any level of government. Yet according to this news story, Ontario Metis want cut of province’s gaming revenue. They don’t seek a handout, or they want gaming revenue? Metis people do not need gaming revenue. First Nation people do!
If it were up to me, regardless of what anyone said, I would let Metis people make their Metis cards, and identify as Metis, and have their little groups of white people jigging to non-native music… but I would not give them a single cent of government funding for anything, I would completely remove all rights to any natural resource and remove them from the definition of Aboriginal in Canada.
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you’re just as bad as a white man. Greedy fucking native = you
If you were intelligent enough to do some research you’d find out I’m not native.
I’d love it if you’d point out any factual inaccuracies or anything that is unfair.
Who are you? You seem to be heading off in the right direction, but, you also seem to be one of those CBC Type political flacks, hired to cause trouble. There is no depth to your arguments which are basicaly shallow and self serving. So, what if somebody wants to sell jigging and knit belts to the Government. If you could, you would. The aboriginal people of North America don’t mind being called Indians. Just like I don’t mind being called “halfbreed”. It suited my grandmother. You can continue to bitch about whether the French Canadiam Mixed Bloods have more rights to Government handouts than you do. Has your blood been tainted by the English? Scottish? Begged, for, handouts are not the Indian way. Who would put up with a part time nurse? Get a Doctor for gawdsake! Pay the nurses a better than average wage and get 6 nurses. Look after your people!!!!! My mother spent 12 years in the Residential School System in the early 1900s. She became a bilingual nurse. Why not You.
Apparently you’d rather sit on a stump and cry about someone who is more successful at begging than you. Knit a belt.
Having read your other editorials I have come to the concusion that you are a cloest racist. You are living on the Dalles reseve just out side of Kenora, Ontario. A mixed blood of Black and anglo. come over from Britan (because they have a very dim view of the mixed bloods over there) and trying to pass yourself off as a knowledgeable person on Aboriginal affairs.Your so called editorials are a joke.Just one more misinformed impostor trying to make a name for themselve by climbing on the aboriginal band wagon and otherwise known, as a member of the Wannabe tribe.
.http://www.ryanpaul.ca/ryan-kermit-paul/
I don’t try to pass myself off as anything – anything in this article is based upon everything that I’ve seen and heard with my own eyes, with nothing made up whatsoever.
I know who you are, know that you consider yourself Metis and know that you are using KAHAC’s company time to indulge in personal web surfing. I’d be careful if I were you.
Wannabe tribe? Tribe’s are from down south across the border. I haven’t climbed on any bandwagon – these are MY opinions. If you have a conflicting editorial – submit it and I’d be happy to post it up.
As for being a closet racist… not at all. I don’t think TRUE metis (half native – half other) are lesser people at all. I think the other sort of Metis people are a bunch of greedy folk trying to gain more material and social rights they don’t deserve or have a moral or inherent right to.
Dude;
I’m from “down south. I’m a mixed blood too. Of what Nation or Tribe or Band or whatever you want to call it is not relevant here. Nor is it any of your business. While I tend not to bother myself too much with what happens in Canada past trying to keep my own country from becoming more like it I have to take some interest here as it is a subject near to my heart. I don’t know anything about you. But I do know what it is like being mixed blood. I know what it was like for my “Half Breed” ancestors both within and outside of white society. I also know that nearly everywhere in this country mixed bloods are just as active as full bloods and so called full bloods in the various struggles in the native world and also in insuring that our languages, culture, traditions, history, religions, and so on are passed down to future generations and not lost to history. While I am of the personal belief that if you have one drop of “Indian” blood it should call out to you I also believe that “Indian” is more then just blood. I tend to believe that the guy who called you a closet racist may be right. You know there will come a day that almost if not all of the Native blood will be washed out. What will be left when that day comes? Who will the reservations belong to then? Who will be Indian and who will not? I’m betting that unless native people everywhere get it together the big plan will be complete. Without the culture and traditions who are you? And without that what claim will anyone have to being “Indian’? I’m sure that all the government handouts are real important to a lot of native people. I’ve certainly seen that among many of my people. And I have no doubt some really do need the help. But I’ll bet if you were to concern yourself more with using that little bit of sovereignty that most native people enjoy to bring the people as a whole up rather then running down people who might just be your best allies you would do a whole lot more good then whining over whether or not someone else may get one of those same handouts which are really never truly free anyway. If more native people as whole could get out of that dependant entitlement mentality and pull together we could all (all of various different blood quantum) do really great things. It’s so simple that so many refuse to see it. You know what you are really doing is no different from what all the various colonizers have done at one time or another. You are allowing then to play one group of Indian against another. Congratulations, you are just one more tool in the whole divide and conquer game.
Mvto
As a member of the Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement and a descendent of the Red River Settlement I must comment on your editorial; based on what you have heard.
We are a people made up of Aboriginal and European cultures who did not find acceptance among the Fathers of our Native Mothers or the bigot European men who fathered the Métis and the Half-breeds.
Just so I do not confuse you; a Métis is a person of both French and Aboriginal descent and a Half-breed is a person of Scottish or Dutch and Aboriginal descent.
The Métis and the Half-breeds banded together and created their own culture, for they were not recognized under Aboriginal Law or Canadian Law to receive the rights that any Human should be allocated.
One of “The two attempted democratic revolutions in our history “”the Métis Insurrection of 1885 in the Red River basin had the objective of ending an Imperial oligarchy and the creation of a democratic Republic in which aboriginals and Europeans could co-exist equally”
This equality that you speak of is an old concept! One that the Canadian Government does not wish to recognize.
However; there are many people in Canada who can be recognized as a Métis or Half-breed. People of”(50% native blood)”. All members of the eight Métis Settlements in Alberta have and always will be Métis. We do not receive the same benefits as the Treaties and the Inuit. We do not qualify for Dental and Medical Services. I suggest that you broaden your research to actual documentation, and not rely on the word of mouth.
As for our Music and Dance. Why would we dance and play Aboriginal Music?
We are Métis!
A proud nation that recognizes the cultures of both our European Fathers and Aboriginal Mothers and celebrated them both.
This is stupid… metis are aborignals. My grandmother is a full fudge indian and just because she had childern with a white man does not make me not aboriginal. There are many “treaties” that are whiter than I am and have 100% aboriginal status.. maybe you should right a article about that.
Metis are simply not Aboriginal… and in tens of thousands of cases are less than one-eighth Native.
Metis would not exist if it were not for white folk… so what right do they have taking funds and getting the same rights as more deserving Aboriginal people?
Crazy talk. Métis is a term a label given to recognize a group of people in Canada. Born of the first settlers and members of the various Indigenous nations – these courageous, strong, resilient people founded and made the passage for the next wave of new comers easier. They developed sophisticated languages, opened trade to Europe, built on cultural experiences and provided a legacy of which Canada still takes advantage of.
In my humble opinion the Métis people truly make up the first nations of Canada. Me – me and my people existed long before the borders were in place. This Canada of today developed around and over us.
I am not Métis I am of mixed Sioux and Saulteaux and….maybe some Cree – I believe the world is big enough for all of us.
Why can I not post?
Here is a link to the video on youtube from which you borrowed (stole) the image for your “dubious” article.
youtube.com/user/FlatlandVideo#p/u/7/bt0obin0RZ4
I would ask that in the future you cite and credit your sources. It’s only polite.
You are on to something here, in a way. What is a Métis? In my opinion, the Métis of today- especially the youth- have a hard time defining what it means to them. Then again, so does any member of a culture that has been subject to a more dominant culture and discriminated upon for generations. What does it mean to be First Nations? How about African American?… What we do have is the right to our heritage and its knowledge. History is the only thing anyone has to use as a roadmap for the future.
A new culture was born in the Red River settlement and it’s growing stronger every day, a weave of two amazing peoples. It is sad that much of the knowledge of our First Nations grandmothers has been lost along the way, a result of shame and the need to fit in or hide in a dominant society for the sake of survival- The old “Indian grandmother in the attic” story. The good news is that the First Nations culture exists today in many strong circles, and can still be learned with a bit of dedication; often from our distant cousins and community members. If you’re curious, I encourage you to seek it out.
As the artist who created the video at the other end of that link- I find it ironic you chose to use an image from my artwork as an example of what a Métis person looks like (however flattered I may be). The video intends to explore prejudice toward the First Nations and Métis with regards to the “stoic Indian image” cast on us by a dominant societal perspective. The Cannibalistic lens if you will. It’s not a new lens, nor is it blurring in any hurry.
Metis people do not have to pretend to be anything to be Métis. Our culture came from our grandmothers and grandfathers- taught like a language, unavoidable like learning to tie your shoes. The preservation and celebration of our culture is a wonderful thing that has only recently begun to return. In general it is no longer bad or dangerous to be a half-breed in Canada. That is progress!
Stereotypes are just that. They are funny under certain circumstances and to certain people, they can be used for hate or the progress of understanding, seen as racist, ridiculous or hilarious depending on the audience. As the artist, I intend to delight and incite thought. What happens when fictional stereotypes meet? Check out the 4 episodes of “How’d you do that? I’m Metis” on youtube!
The Métis do not masquerade as Aboriginal, they are Aboriginal. They have First Nations and European ancestors.
Good luck in all your endeavors,
Christian.
@Metis Man –
Hi Métis Man,
I too believe that Métis do not need to masquerade. None of us should ever feel we need to done a mask to fit in. We do though – all of us – But I hate….detest with a passion calling anyone “Aboriginal” it dilutes and gives into the majority wish to see us all as one harmonious group and as you know – that’s not true. The Métis of the Red River Settlement are very different from the Métis of James Bay. And the James Bay Métis are very different from the Labrador Métis settlement.
I enjoy your question about the Métis or First Nation identity – I applied that question to the recent Gitxsan people in North Western BC and the Nisga’a land rights decision. I like what is happening. Of course there is a risk attached to both cases but I want to see the positive side. If you are secure in your identity then the more likely you are to allow yourself to try on other ideologies. If you are insecure or unsure of who you are then I would suggest that you will hold your identity (as defined by …who?) tight and restrict your membership to those fit a prescribed identity.
The Gitxsan traditional leaders say they don’t need the Indian Act to be Gitxsan – they need access to an economic base to provide services and programs to their members. I like that. I am Saulteaux/Sioux and maybe Cree mixture who was adopted and raised by British parents in an urban city. I’ve paid my municipal, provincial, and federal taxes like every other lucky employed jane and joe out there. None of that changes my identity, my want to know and understand my rich heritage, or share and explore the tastes, music, and ideologies of other nations – I would include dance but I was told I dance like one of those big orange long-haired monkeys…so I choose not to share there anymore.
Is that your art work? Beautiful – I didn’t post it but thought it was a still from that comedy show…this hour has 22 minutes with Injun Joe? I don’t watch TV so if I got that wrong too – sorry. Anyway by all means you should be credited with the art work.
Take care!
@Jamie Bourque –
Ok……half-breeds are of Scottish and Dutch and Aboriginal………………
I’ve nver heard of a tribe or band called the Aboriginals – please enlighten me. But you mention Aboriginal music. Is there a rock or country band called “the Aboriginals”? Do they sing in “Aboriginal”? Honestly I feel like that chick Carmen…what in the world is an Aboriginal…..?
@Metis Man –
The basic premise of things like residential school settlements, land dispute resolutions, certain tax-free benefits are to compensate for the thousands of years of freedom and culture that First Nation people have lost.
Metis people haven’t lost anything – they never had anything to lose in the first place. They’re newly created. They don’t have the thousand year old history that First Nations do… so what makes them deserving of the same things First Nation people are entitled to?
I’ve no problem with Metis people having their cards, and self indentifying themselves as Metis. But I have a big problem with my tax dollars going towards Metis people, when it should go to First Nation people who are more deserving.
Metis people are fucking up funding in so many areas for First Nation people it’s not even funny.
Actually Ryan……a promise was made and a promise should be kept. Metis people are not f_ing up the funding. Politicians have spun a story to make you believe that is the case but….if you believe that then you also buy that the Indigenous people of Canada are actually interlopers from somewhere else and the white man (such a silly term too) is just reclaiming the land as the original inhabitant…..
Crazy talk.
One of the best the BEST historical facts of why the Métis people are still fighting for the recognition they so deserve is because the women (of a variety of Indigenous nations) told their European men NOT to sign scrip or to sign treaties that would forever identify the future generations as Indian…under the Indian Act. These bold, clever, and proud women told their men that a promise was made a promise should be kept. These men honoured the wishes of the women. The same women that fed, guided, nursed, cared for, and loved those first European men through situations and conditions that killed many men in the early settlement years of what would become Canada.
Today’s Metis men and women are the decendants – the promises made were never kept. I commend those early women, the men that stood beside them, and the decents who stand proud today.
Yes they are – one particular example is what Anita Cameron did with KAHAC. She moved services into Kenora so she could embrace ‘pan-aboriginalism’ and cater to Metis people (who don’t have the same health issues).
My children are having issues with things like dental care and checkups because funding is getting split with Metis people.
I’ve an issue with Metis people masquerading as a seperate and distinct culture which they are not. How can someone be seperate from something that’s ‘half’ of what they are? Besides… most Metis people these days are nowhere remotely close to half native.
Look Ryan I understand how you feel about us, and I’m sure that there are those who care little for their heritage and only want the benefits, however this is no reason to insult our whole race. We take much pride in our native AND european heritage. So you can have your opinions, for you are intitled to them, however try to understand us before you condem us, and please stop insulting our customs. Thank You.
Ryan – If I understand you correctly you believe that the existence of Métis people have robbed your daughter of dental and medical services therefore your response is to deny they have an identity – despite historical records and constitutional recognition? Or are you saying your daughter can’t access medical services, I’m angry but rather than get angry at the Federal Government (because they live far away, I can’t see them, and they never do anything anyway….) I’ll just turn around and get angry at another Indigenous person? Cause you know that’s what a lot of people do – honest. It’s so much easier to hate and get angry than it is to build bridges and work towards solutions.
You’re not alone in attempting to wipe contemporary memories clean and paint the Indigenous people of this land as interlopers or a people without a culture or governance systems or that we had no organised religion so we were nothing more than savages – in fact that’s how this land was taken. Things don’t seem to change much.
I want my Nation to control its citizenship. Outsiders have no right to decide who belongs and who doesn’t. Somehow we have managed to acquire a value that exclude people (golly-gee I wonder where and why that would have come from?). And what do you think will happen to our land that is only “held for the use of Indians” when we’ve reduced our numbers to just a few?
I don’t much care if a person from my nation were to marry a person of another and give a new identity to their child. The child can still trace their blood to the first tribal people that occupied this land and that should always be honoured. Some of us choose to identify by our tribal status, others choose to honour mixed heritages, and others choose to ignore any indigenous heritage and live their life assimilated into the majority. None are wrong choices.
And don’t even try to give me the blond, blue-eyed, story…..there is no such thing as a litmus test on ‘shades’ of skin tone to decide ancestry. I know a heck of a lot of brown-eyed red skins that are “Non-practicing Indians” (if you will)………….do you want to blame them too for taking program dollars away from “real” Indians? I say – let those of us who identify with our ancestry decide our citizenship criteria. Outsiders have done enough harm in their attempts to tear us down.
Our attention should instead be turned to the common enemy: racism, ignorance, and poverty – work together – unless you think a few extra program dollars (cut all programs for Métis people and give to Status only First Nation programs) will fix everything. I’m sure you don’t think that way. I’m certain that you recognise that citizenship issues, capacity development, resource development etc…requires more than a few extra program dollars.
It’s possible you may be misunderstanding my viewpoint. I don’t believe in depriving or removing people’s right to identify as Metis so long as certain criteria are met, but I DO believe that Metis have not lost what First Nation people have lost and therefore should not have the same rights, benefits/entitlements.
One thing that is absolutely clear is my understanding of First Nation history and the founding of Canada. I don’t for one second think Natives had no culture or governance systems. Through talking to the elders and previous rez governments, I’m quite clear on how it was before my kind got here.
I absolutely do NOT see First Nation people as interlopers and am not trying to wipe any contemporary memories clean. I don’t deny that Metis played SOME part in founding this country but in my mind it doesn’t warrant them gaining the same social benefits that First Nation people are entitled to.
I resent Metis people trying to gain the same rights as First Nation people – every bit of funding given to the Metis takes away from First Nation people. Each deer hunted without a license by a Metis person is one less for a First Nation person who in about 85% of cases needs it more.
I am glad my tax dollars go to paying for things like First Nation social and health issues. Metis people simply do not generally have the same social and economic problems that First Nation people have.
I see it every day… I hear it from my children’s mother (who’s currently at the AFN meeting at the Westin Hotel). Metis ARE changing things for First Nation people.
i want to know anout the metis culture about the dance and music ,
needing information please and thanks
I read this post with great sadness. Absolutely no one on this planet should ever have to defend their heritage, their blood lines or their race and if you are of mixed ancestry, no matter what it is, you have every right to claim that heritage. I am a descendent of the Hudson’s Bay men and their aboriginal wives through 3 generations and I am very proud of my aboriginal heritage because I know how incredibly difficult the lives of these men and women were. I make no claim to free anything or land claims or anything else, other than my genetic makeup which can never be erased because thats who I am.
If you ever tried to pull this kind of dialogue off with any other racial or ethnic group in this country, you would be in serious trouble. Your remarks are racist. You cannot criticize people who are born of mixed racial backgrounds ever. None of us are at fault for this, nor are we to be held victim to such thinking.
I am what I am and you really need to do a serious study of the complexities of aboriginal history in Canada. Its far more than what you have trivialized and negated.
Proud descendant of James Bay Cree
By the way, the Hudson’s Bay company would never allow their employees from England, Wales and Scotland to bring wives from Britain. These men integrated with the native community and if you look at provinces from Manitoba for instance, many people their are Rupertslanders, descended from these men and women. It is suggested that far more Canadians are of aboriginal descent than they even know. We also have Afro Americans who were accepted and integrated into Aboriginal communities during the time of the Underground Railroad. Are you going to criticize them too?
Very often the HBC men returned to Britain to take British wives and left their “country wives” and children to fend for themselves. In most cases they were integrated back into the native communities they came from and the divisiveness that has occured between Metis being torn and shifted between 2 cultures is more prominent today than before. If you think Metis people don’t struggle, you really need to stop and consider how you live compared to them.
Really, native or non native people cannot discriminate against someone whose heritage is mixed. That is not a fault of theirs ever, nor should they ever be made to feel that it is a fault. That is simply how people’s lives intertwined and developed over history and no one in this world is of one blood only. We are a world of 6 degrees of separation, always.
ummm wtf is this?
haha deserving aboriginal? Are you seriously thinking that native people are owed anything from any hard working tax payer in Canada? The people in Canada today are paying for something that happened a hundred years ago. You dont see African American people in the USA trying to get more rights and freeload of taxpayes in the States. So please before you say something like “Metis dont deserve” what aboriginals do..please think again.
Cincerly
“Half breed”
Hey, I don’t understand how being Metis makes you not Aboriginal. My mom’s grandparents were french and scottish and so therefore that makes her french and scottish too, but according to you it doesn’t? It is retarded that it wouldn’t work that way with Aboriginals either, or are you trying to say they aren’t a cultural themselves? When someone asks who what your cultural background is what do you say? I am french, scottish, and Cree. But according to you I’m not right?
And you are right we did not lose what Native Americans lost but we were stuck in the middle. We weren’t accepting by either culture. We were too white to be indian and to indian to be white. Native Americans had their rights, and canadians had theirs, and we had none. And you don’t think we lost anything? give your head a shake and get the real facts buddy
METIS PEOPLE, ONE OF THE THREE ABORIGINAL GROUPS OF CANANDA. ABORIGINAL GROUPS…. ABORIGINAL IS NOTHING MORE THAN A NAME FOR THE FOLLOWING – FIRST NATIONS, METIS, AND INUIT..these are the people, and I am Metis and very proud of it, I pay my taxes, work, and pay for my own health care and dental benfits. I do not believe that a number on some list tells me I am Metis, my parents my grandparents lived the life as Metis People for generations, It is something that is in you. If you were Metis you would know what I am talking about. We are A People… not First Nation, not White but METIS…
and there is plenty of deer in Alberta for every white, first nation or metis or any other nationality out there, in fact there is too many if you ask me.. they run out at you from the ditches and hit your cars…
Normally I would never waste my time responding to what was said in this Opinionated Editorial article, but I just can’t help myself.
Alternatively to looking at the big picture, you have taken a few small terms from a much larger equation, re-arranged them for a conclusion that justifies a feeling on something that has offended you or is affecting you.
Quote:
***Most people know the history of where Métis people came from, and that might have been true 100-200 years ago – but the Métis people back then were genuine half-breeds (50% native blood)**
Response #1:
So let me try and understand this, what you are trying to do is convince not only yourself, but others who may also have the misfortune of reading your article……
That early settlers (“Men”), went out, and had children with every single Métis woman in the country, and ONLY Métis, from the east coast to the west coast of Canada… wow!
Now IF this was the case, yes, all Métis would have been 50% native blood (“LOL, Genuinely”)
Quote:
I’d love it if you’d point out any factual inaccuracies or anything that is unfair.
Response #2:
I am Métis, and would only like to point out the Original agreement the Government of Canada signed with all of the Aboriginal Bands.. Remember.. oh yeah.. That one..
This was a simple mistake on your part, a little more patience, less misguided frustration and more open mindedness would have led you to actually researching this.. It’s ok though, as the old ignorant influences die out with this generation, new, less informed ones always take their place.
P.S. Your Stereotyping is unfair, your assumptions are inaccurate, but not your fault.
Quote:
Métis would not exist if it were not for white folk… so what right do they have taking funds and getting the same rights as more deserving Aboriginal people?
Response #3:
Ryan, come on now..You’re just being silly..In your Opinionated Editorial article you said there were Métis people 100-200 years ago.. (That were 50%), but you forgot to mention that before that, I guess before that there was only metes Indian people.. weird
Also refer to response #1.
P.S. More Deserving Aboriginal People??
Quote:
Métis people haven’t lost anything – they never had anything to lose in the first place. They’re newly created. They don’t have the thousand year old history that First Nations do.
Response #4
Métis people were here before Canada was formed; in fact they were a key factor in creating Canada and helping win the war with the US.
What are now known was the Métis people were here before the settlers came (“Quote: White Folk”). So I would imagine they lost a great deal, not only though out history trying to reclaim their Historical footprint, but during the war, and then also when the original agreement with the government wasn’t honored… just a guess though.. Food for thought…
P.S. You do sound like a racist in the response I quoted above, just thought I would let you know.. Might want to tone it down!
Quote:
Métis people are fucking up funding in so many areas for First Nation people it’s not even funny.
Response #5
The Canadian Government fucked up on their Original agreement…
It is always easier to point the finger instead of taking responsibility, your Opinionated Editorial article is a perfect example of this.
If the Government took responsibility.. There would be fewer issues.. And confusion.
I found this article both offensive, and ignorant.
After reading your responses to previous replies, it made me feel better,
I felt less offended, and more satisfied by your ignorance.
I feel, like many others, that this situation will eventually be resolved (“with allot of educating”)
The original or at least a partial of the original agreement will be honored.
I did however enjoy some of the responses; it makes me happy to see Métis People standing up for themselves as a group.
I grew up with a resist, and Abusive Foster Parent.
Adopting the Idea “Being Native is good” at an early age, it gave me strength; it’s something inside of me that feels wild like a free spirit.
Not understanding something is not wrong, but passing judgment without all the facts is.
Good luck on your future Opinionated Editorial articles, I hope they increase in both fact and depth as this is the last one I will experience.
Cheers
Jesse
I am not implying that the Metis haven’t lost anything – I’m just at a loss as to what ‘Metis’ people have lost from this land and country that they always had. First Nation people lost the land… their culture, language, people, traditions. All of that was here before Europeans got here which makes them entitled to have it back in some measure. The difference is Metis culture was NOT here before the European invasion.
Yes I am thinking that Native people are owed something from EVERY hard working tax payer in Canada – SUCH AS MYSELF. By living here – we are still colonising them. If you do something wrong – the right thing to do is make amends. It’s that damn simple.
@Jesse – I’m not implying that the early settlers went out and reproduced with every Metis woman. I’m stating early settlers mated with First Nation women and created real Metis people. GENUINE ‘halves’ of two cultures and races. Not this hybrid mutated form of Metis identity around today.
Metis means half and it should have been kept that way.
I’d be willing to bet my car that if you did genetic fingerprinting of all Metis Nation of Ontario members – probably around 95% of them would have more than 95% of their blood being non-aboriginal descent. If 95% of your genetics are in common with Caucasian people – that’s hardly distinct and seperate is it?
@rhodespop –
I agree with everything you said. I am what I consider a half breed. I am proud of that. Though I am only 1/4 Creek Indian and the rest Scott Irish I self Identify as Indian or if you will Native American. I have great sympathy for the Metis people as they have had a unique struggle simailar to that of many of my people. What this Racist fool who seems way too concerned with government handouts and not concerned enough about Sovergnty doesn’t seem to understand is that being “Native” has more to do with cultural identity and less to do with blood quantum. I know that my people did not count blood as the be all end all as to whether you were Muskogee (Creek). Adoption into our world was and still is practiced and if you were Creek you were Creek. Period! One of our most famous ancestors the great leader William (Red Eagle) Weatherford was only 1/16 Creek. He has red hair and freckles. But he was the chosen leader who fought hard against the tyrant Andrew Jackson. Would this fool say William Weatherford was not a Native American because he wasn’t full blodded? Probably. This great warrior gave his all for our people. He could easily have blended and became white and he would have lost nothing. But he followed his heart and his culture and he was as much if not more Creek then any full blood. I challenge anyone out there to show me a Creek who would say William weatherford was not Creek not Native American. It’s the same principle here with the Metis. I don’t know then personally. But as a mixed blood I understand perfectly. That Said I do believe that as it has been said “If you have one drop of Native American blood it will call out to you”.
Some may ignore that calling and that is thier right too. But to deny these people who they are because you don’t think they have enough blood is ignorance at it’s greatest. I am a mixed blood. I look like a blue eyed shaved head white boy. But I can assure you just as I’m sure any Metis would I am indian. I am a named Medicine Member of our sacred cerimonial grounds, and a Tvstvnvke Emarv which for those who are interested is a very important appointed position in the service of our people. I am also an Iraq ar combat veteran. I am an American citizen and also a citizen of my own Creek culture. Real Native Americans understasnd it isn’t simply about blood quantums and handouts. It is also not what any federal government says you are. I’m always quite amused at the federal government in the U.S. telling people who can be an Indian and who can’t. Would you look at a white man who claims to be a Scottsman and tell him he isn’t Scottish because he had an Asian in the mix? How often do people say “How much white do you have in your blood?” Or do you ask an African American “How Black are you?” It is foolish. By the way I’m sure there are plenty of half breeds on those First Nations Reservations up there. I’m sure they don’t consider themselves as as undesrving of being first Nations people. At some point in time much of our blood on this continent will quite likely be so intermingled you won’t know one from the other upon visual inspection. What will matter most is maintainin our unique cultures, language, history, traditions and so on. These lovers of Blood Quantum will one day “Blood Quantum” thier selves right out of existance. I’m sure there are many within our respective federal governments who would love for that to happen. World history and indeed even pre contact North American history is full of examples of one race coming into contact with another sometimes by conquest sometimes not. In some cases there was assimilation. in others dispite intermingling of blood the culture continued either in it’s intirety or as a unique mix. This is nothing new. It is up to all of us who identify as Native both mixed and full blood to carry on our culture for future generations so it will not be lost to history. To put a dollar sign alone on being Native really cheapens it.
Though I was disgusted when I first cam accross the article on the internet and the things this fool said I have to say it has made me quite happy since reading so may of the replys by people out there who have been setting it straight.
I would welcolme anyone who would like to discuss this and other issues important to Native Americans everywhere to email me directly at confedindian@yahoo.com. Look forward to hearing from anyone with common sense.
Mvtto (Thank You)
Mark ( My White Name)
There is no way to genetically test for race. Just as many “full blood Natives” would have genetics in common with “Caucasian people” as other “Caucasian people” would. You are full blooded ignorant.
Are there not “full blood Natives” conceiving children with “European whites,” creating new Metis people, right at this very moment?
Whine, whine, whine.
Everyone should get free or low cost accessible health care. You should spend your energy on attaining that goal. Instead of dividing people by their worth, defined by their percentage of blah blah blah…
Interesting dialogue. Would you be willing to tell me who funds this website? Just curious.
I’m not Métis, but Ryan, why do you need to state this in such a manner. I understand that aboriginals of Canada do face a whole lot of social and economical problems, and that this group needs all the resources available to regain control of their lives. But, how are we going to go about this turmoil of calling out those that call themselves something and are not. There is very little mechanisms in place to say that one Métis is more or less then another. In fact, how are we to say one Aboriginal is less or more then another and use this filter to see who receives funding from the federal and private sources. The past genocide of the aboriginal people should not be used as a tool to gain more in a financial aspect, or for personal gain. If a person of any race needs help the whole should be there to provide the support. If I saw a homeless child on the street I would help, if I encountered a sick old man in need of help I would help. I wouldn’t first think of the color of skin and think to myself if these people fit the criteria for help.
Why create a fight or segregation between Métis and Aboriginal factions? We are only creating one more avenue for ourselves to fail. Who says a Métis that knows more then half a tribe isn’t allowed to call himself/herself a member of that band? Cultural knowledge needs to be asserted and discussed rather then us following the federal governments idea of what we are.
@Ryan – I am confused, my self having a great grandmother who was native from New Brusnwick and a grandfather from my mothers side who was apparently Metis. No one in either family line ever considered them selves native. they were firmly Canadian, identified purely by Canadain english speaking.
with that said today if we took every Native who has some where in the ancestory a non native would that not take away thier right to be called native and make them metis? or just a non status Indian ? why is it that a hundred years or so ago if native married white they produced half breeds or matis and today they produce native? I am confused here why a double standard. ? maybe they were not married and just produced “some thing other” out of a non marriage.
My family also believed that they we not belonging to a tribe or a native nation but that we are independant . Natives band together to form larger communities to get what they want from the government of canada, so as i understand it did the Metis peoples.
why if they need it as canadians would any one want to refuse this equality ? I believe that Native, Metis and all canadians should live of reservations and learn to exist in the great canadian country as individuals , canadian first, instead of tryin got make others look bad so they can look good. I am proud of my native ancestory but i do not use it to descriminate against other canadians . i am confuse das to why Natives want every thing for them selves and dont fight for the rights of the Metis people along side of them. I think that every Native in this country who has white blood in them should stand a side and remove their native status and declare that they are not native or to quote “not 100 % native”. Are their any true native people in this country ? I joke when i say they should be separated by their ability to speak native tongue. lol would not this really push the native population to a real low level? so come on now if i am confused the rest of you must be ? what is it to be native in the year 2010? what was it to be native in 1760? I am not writing this to anger any one, i am writing it just to get you thinking. if i offended any one i am sorry that was not my intent. i am just one of those people who love my native ancestry but am fed up with all the anger that Natives and Metis have gotten directed at me from the other canadains who suffer and live on the streets in this country withoput a band or a nation standing behind them. The ones who eat from garbage cans never get a bath and if they die are just put in a grave with out a send off. If you want to fight , fight for these souls maybe Native or Matis families could adopt them and make them native and end starvation on the streeets ? You see i care about Canadians firdt of which you all are.
Ryan, i feel your pain,but as i recall from speaking with an older native canadian who was researching Native history in Canada and the USA , Native Nation sof the past wer ekilling each other off the more civilized nation either were wiped out or their men wiped out and their women and children taken by the attacking tribes.
I cant imagine how it would have been to live in those days. but as history fades and our Native Nations struggle to maintain something of their past, playing video games, driving white mans cars, living in white mans houses enjoying white mans food and modern conveniences . its hard at best to even know what makes us native. maybe the struggle to keep some thing of our past or maybe the colour of our skin. we are losing both those battles we have had our fun mating with the different nationalities andnow we try to reclain that which we lost.
i dont hink we can ever get back that which is lost. yet we fight against the white man who modern day have our backs most times and then we single out metis and attack them. i believe i have no one to blame but my self for my lost heritage,. do you wear native clothes or white mans? do you use native fishing gear or white mans? what Do you hunt with ? you got it white mans Gun for me. I am challenged to find a native restaurant ?
i believe that if we stop and think and put our culture out there food clothes hunting trips you name every thing Native we would be welcomed. instead i believe that what i see on TV ( white mans) we are portraying our selves as drunks , fighters, angry, gasoline sniffers, jealous , picky
uneducated Natives. This is not the Native image i want portrayed we are allowing white mans TV to portray us, we should portay our selves. We should stop blaming others for our problems and show that we have the intelligence to fix our own problems, then we can proudly call our selves a soverign nation. I dont like what i see on TV and then i see this web site. i am so disapppointed that this thread was not stopped. I am a peacefull Native decendant and i love all people . To read metis versus Native or native versus Metis just does not sit well with me. together we will have a better chance of preserving our cultures.
we should unite as one and be proud
This has never been about Native vs Metis, this whole blog has been a rebuttal to Ryan Paul’s statement that Metis are just white people pretending to be First Nations.
“The Metis people that exist today are plainly white people trying to swindle the government out of money, and take away from government funding for First Nation people.” – Ryan Paul (article at top of this page)
This statement is incorrect for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is that Metis do not get the same benefits that First Nations get. Not even close. The First Nations don’t get what people think the First Nations get. But that’s another discussion.
By the time that “Canada” reached the Metis settlement (1869) of what is now Manitoba, the Metis had a very unique lifestyle, owned land and had an established government. They relied on their blended cultures for body, mind an soul. They spoke a language (mechif) that was a mix of Cree and French. Their Catholicism was practiced in a church with a priest but it included many elements of Cree spirituality. They were unique in the world, raised by their Cree grandmothers and mothers, the children were often taken to Quebec to study by their French fathers.
A few hundred years after they began as a people (the beginning of the fur trade on the Red River), Canada decided to build a railway right through their village. The Metis made a deal. The Manitoba Act of 1870 which incorporated many of the Metis demands such as language rights, denominational schools and land grants.
Things did not go as planned… (as per usual)
Their awarded land was mishandled by the government and there are current battles to prove the government often went out of their way to prevent the Metis from receiving their land.
Just like the First Nations in Canada, Metis children were sent to residential schools throughout the past century, resulting in many of the current issues of abuse and social problems we still face today.
Overnight Winnipeg, the central home of the Manitoba Metis, was flooded with European settlers. Imagine any non-european community in Manitoba suddenly flooded with europeans in 1870, the prejudice and disadvantage the First Nation and Metis faced was overwhelming, and suddenly after all these years they are the minority in their home town. No jobs, no food- you would have to run or hide.
That is what happened. I bet in the 1880 census of Manitoba there are no “halfbreed” families living in Winnipeg. They either left for greener pastures to the west (hoping the buffalo would be there) or they hid behind their French last names. There are many accounts of this happening. All these Metis families hiding their First Nations grandmothers in the attic so people won’t know they are Metis.
So they were given land in their home area (Along the banks of Winnipeg), they were giving guaranteed rights to language and culture, and the rights to live as they did. (nothing ever goes as planned)
There are many First Nation communities that have faced very similar challenges, what makes the Metis different? is it because our Cree ancestors had French Voyager visitors passing through a hundred years earlier and we picked up some of their language and had a few babies?
We are all part of the same Circle. Each of us has to work to invoke the changes we want to see.
Right across Canada there have been injustices that must be mended.
Now pay attention here:
This is not just about First Nations and Metis trying to heal from the damages done in the past by a dominant culture / country /nation. This is about that dominant culture learning to heal itself, learning from its mistakes, healing so these damages will never happen again.
Christian
Quote “This is about that dominant culture learning to heal itself, learning from its mistakes, healing so these damages will never happen again”.
I only hope actions speak louder than words. I see your comment as just another way to blame the dominate culture for our woes. I ask many questions about our useage of the white mans modern conveniences of which i use nearly all of them. as long as any nation seeks to solve their problems with cash infusions from the dominate culture they will never be independant of the circle. It is only when the less dominate cultures learn to sustain them selves either thru work, trade or as i said earlier putting our culture out there to be seen by the dominate culture and their buying power that we will, as Native Canadians, First Nations, Metis or what ever we choose to call our selves, see our place in this broad country.
you see as i said earlier i turn on my TV to see the First Nations asking for a settlement , then in the same telecast i see a news brief about young natives being drunk , high or fighting.
To quote you, ” now pay attention here” this showed me that my first nations want money to feed this disorderly conduct not to prevent it. This is what i talk about whether it be a problem with metis people getting funding that is taking away from the first nations as this thread started out or just another call for hand outs as mentioned.
would it be fair to all if all funding to all nations was stopped till this was sorted out? we dont know what we have till it is taken away. I know one thing i dont get a penny in funding from the Governement of canada and i dont want it. i work pay taxes like every canadian and support my own family. This is why i say if we all continue to wait for the dominate culture to pull us out and preserve any of our cultures it likely wont happen for the reason that they are the dominate culture. Have you ever noticed how all our disturbances only get a little positive attention, most all the attention we draw to our selves is of the negative one and we turn more of the dominate culture against our plight. I dont have the answers and i wont pretend to. My advice would be for the funding to equalized, both Metis and the first nations receive their funding based on the same rate as the Metis people no more and no less. As i understand it the Federal Government has still maintained the same rate of funding to the first nations and funds the metis nations from a nother pot. Its not like there is limited funds in either pot. the candian people thru taxes support these pots and it would only be right that if canadians get fed up with our antics they cut the funds in both pots. my question to you all is what would happen if the dominate culture ran out of money and our collective pots ran dry. i think its time we start looking after our own Nations and create jobs and collect our own taxes from our own people. I did some calculations and we first nations have already been paid many times for our land thru this funding . i hope the ” white man” never realizes this flaw in their funding progam. If they do the Metis , native canadians and even those of us who choose to call our selves north americans will suffer big time. Like i say i am Canadaina first with a very proud native ancestry. I would like to see a proud First Nations and Metis holding our heads high self supporting and self sustaining. i know its possible i have seen the knowledge base and the hard working spirit that we have.
as before it was not my intent to up set any one, I just want mor eof us to start thinking about our furture.
It is funny that you keep saying ” useage of the white mans modern conveniences of which i use nearly all of them” – What is a White man’s convenience? are you talking about technology? because “White man’s” independence from Aboriginal, culturally has not existed for around 3.5 centuries, the moment of contact was the end of cultural isolation, now they begin to interact, to learn from each other, become one. If you are talking about arch support shoe inserts and downloadable cell phone rings- no body had that stuff in the 1600′s. To go further, “White man’s” culture at contact had formed from several differing cultures, including African and East Indian cultures (1498).
So the culture of today that is coming up with ways to better secure your oversized Mcdonalds pop while driving back to work? it is not “White man’s” culture. It is a united culture of people from all over the world. As a side note- I believe that a lot of the old tech that is no longer used was better for people and the living world. we did just fine before the era of technology for the sake of technology. Unfortunately with the wold population the size it is, we can not go back to a time when we did not use things like ammonia fertilizer, because crop yield would drop and food costs would be higher.
For the sake of convenience I am going to shorten “White man’s” to Whitmans. It is just for convenience.
“you see as i said earlier i turn on my TV to see the First Nations asking for a settlement , then in the same telecast i see a news brief about young natives being drunk , high or fighting… this showed me that my first nations want money to feed this disorderly conduct not to prevent it.”
2 things- one, the media loves to focus on negatives, for shock value. That is a fact. When it comes to aboriginals in Canada that is doubly so. They get lots of coverage on social problems, and not the progress that shapes their success and futures. This is what you call bias- in this case bias in the media. Critical thinking helps to deconstruct that bias. Try it some time. Critical thinking is what helps you make your own mind up about things happening around you. Critical thinking is something that should be taught more vigorously in high school. Look it up- Critical thinking, but don’t take my word for it
Dominant and subordinate cultures coexist under the Canadian banner today. It would be difficult to say they are separate creatures in the year 2010. We are all Canadian, we all have our own ways of living- some off the land, some in urban centres. Taxes go toward helping those in need. Hospitals, education centres, drug rehab, single mothers, even roads and sidewalks (people walk all over them daily).
Aboriginals of Canada are a distinct group of people and a visible minority. So as it has always been in the past, they suffer prejudice and racism (re: media bias). More over, they have suffered the loss of their land and many of their traditional foods, technology and culture. Because of Whitmans colonization process, including residential schools and inequality issues past and present.
Money is the Government of Canada’s only avenue to provide aid to those in need.
“Money is the Government of Canada’s only avenue to provide aid to those in need. ”
i will use your above quote and ignore all you have said in the rest of your comment as you and single out one item to comment on.
You are agreeing with me in this line “Money is the Government of Canada’s only avenue to provide aid to those in need. ” Canada, its many people thru taxes are the ones who are providing the aid . The people are the government in wont go into a lesson on government and how it all works. I dont have time. The government does provide other measures as well, housing , and health care indirectly Money. there are many more ways as you have said. Every canadian has access to to the assitance.
Those who dont pay taxes but continue to want more from the Governement of Canada and cry foul when they feel another is getting more than them is where the editorial comes in.
If the canadian government or the tax payers of the country should stop paying, the money runs out and we are left to look after our own. Once what we have is taken away we will appreciate what we had a lot more and stop bickering about who get what and who has mor e or who has less.
you agree also that our native or metis cultures are being lost as your self why. my great grandmothers apple pie recipe lives on, maybe its because the we pull back our culture to preserve it in so doing we are losing it. or is it that its easier to walk to the store or a restaurant and by other cultures prepackaged things ?
Have the generations past not shown the next generations how to cook or sew or prepare traditional Native Nations items and food stuffs ?
I have many questions i dont need history lessons or lessons on government or stories on how badly we are discriminated against. I want to hear the positive solutions to the varied problems we face. we dont want to pass on the problems we want to pass on solutions and quite frankly money does not seem to have worked in the pass. Violance has not worked either. i dont have the answers but working to gether i know we can find the answers. we have to stop blaming every one else work together . If the other guy gets an extra dollar but shares it with you, or you get the extra dollar and share it with him it will work. its when we keep it for our selves that we greedy and want more.
we are talking, and saying pretty much the same thing all we have to do is agree. that would be a start.
Actually I singled out several of your opinions. I focus on your opinions like “White Man’s modern conveniences” and the media bias to expose the fallacy in your argument.
Now your statement that “i will use your above quote and ignore all you have said in the rest of your comment as you and single out one item to comment on.” This is incorrect, misleading and is called a logical fallacy, Ad Hominum in particular. It is where you are attacking the person not the question.
Google logical fallacies, it’s all part of critical thinking… I feel like i am repeating myself.
“Those who dont pay taxes but continue to want more from the Governement of Canada and cry foul when they feel another is getting more than them is where the editorial comes in.”
Who are you referring to here? Is this still about the Metis, or FN’s?
That is a very good point about why we are losing our cultures. I don’t know why. It is not as simple as US using THEIR technology… Culture and tech are constantly changing things effected by the entire world, so we are all part of a global society. World culture. A lot of First Nation cultures are celebrated today by the main stream, is that good or bad for the FN’s people and culture? in general the mainstream perversions include China made moccasins, dream catchers for sale in the gas station to hang in your window, the stoic Indian post cards and the old wooden Chief in the cigar shop. These are examples of what we call cultural cannibalism. The mainstream takes real culture, chews it up and spits out a cold dead product. In other ways, however there are communities benefiting from the sale of their art works and the genuine cultural exchange and celebration. So there are pros and cons. The culture is not disappearing it is just changing, and it is under attack. But the changing use of tools does not dictate the loss of culture. Traditional ways of doing things have constantly been changing for every culture over the past 70,000 years.
Because you drive a car from Japan does not mean you suddenly speak Japanese.
“quite frankly money does not seem to have worked in the pass. Violance has not worked either.” What violence are you referring to? What is your evidence that money has not worked in the past?
You are going to have to do better than this. You are “confused on” the issues because you blog for answers instead of picking up a book or taking a course.
You want a positive solution of change?
Time.
It will take time. Healing and forgiveness takes time and support. It has already begun.
You are right when you say you and I are talking about the same thing, we are arguing the components that make up the ultimate goal of stability, prosperity and equality for Canadian Aboriginals (Innu, Inuit, First Nation and Metis).
“quite frankly money does not seem to have worked in the pass. Violance has not worked either.” What violence are you referring to? What is your evidence that money has not worked in the past?
If money had worked in the past you and i would not be discussing this issue.
The problem would have been solved.
“Those who dont pay taxes but continue to want more from the Governement of Canada and cry foul when they feel another is getting more than them is where the editorial comes in.”
Who are you referring to here? Is this still about the Metis, or FN’s? Read below its the first line of the editorial we are discussing.
“I have wondered about writing an Editorial like this for a while and refrained – but decided this viewpoint needs to be heard. I have a very real and deep contempt for people who are claiming to be Metis, believing they should have any rights that non-aboriginal people do not have.”
I question this opening line is this line saying that aboriginals have more rights than non-aboriginals ? That metis peoples should have the same rights as non-aboriginals ? You see maybe you can explain this, if aboriginals all ready have these rights and dont want the metis people or non-aboriginals to have them. which means that aboriginals are better off. is this why the aboriginals are afraid to share these rights with non aboriginals or metis ? why are the aboriginals fighting if they already have superior rights ? ( I dont identify as aboriginal or metis although my ancesters are from both lines. ) I am canadian i believe that all canadians should share equal rights.
I think maybe you have mistook my questioning as arguing where i want nothing more than answers and to get people thinking. go way back and read the original editorial . you may find that we are agreeing about the equality of all canadians. That we as canadians should work together for every one, my native heritage and my metis ancestry have made me who i am today. I love all canadians and when i read this editorial it made me realize that if this editorial was speaking for all Aboriginals then i did not want to embrace my heritage.
The same way that personally i am hurt when i see portrayals on tv news casts that i mentioned earlier. It has nothing to do with the editorial but as we cast our selves in the media affects how others view us. watching Native dance before the royal family brought a tear to my eye, if only the world could see that side of my heritage in every news cast. the joy on the dancers faces was picture perfect.
i hope you see that i am not looking to argue I dont have a point other than wanting us to have the pride we should have and project it into this mighty nation.
to gether maybe we can go into the future embracing our past and putting our culture from the past out there. To be copied is a good thing. Its a step towards preserving our culture.
I know i am of topic but we are closer in our beliefs than i think we realize.
First Nation people have endured many things that Metis people simply haven’t. They have problems that ‘Metis’ people haven’t.
First Nation people don’t have ‘superior’ rights. They have different rights because they are a different people, and have endured different things.
Many First Nation people resent Metis people trying for the same rights because the meager resources already set aside by the Government get smaller and smaller every time some white dude with a ‘Metis’ card decides he wants to rough it and play ‘indigenous’.
Ryan, first of all thanks for clarifying. i appreciate that. also as you say Many First nations resent but not all right. Thats a start, i believe also that understanding that there are more than Native canadians with issues in this country also paves the way to even greater understanding and resolution of all problems.
“First Nation people have endured many things that Metis people simply haven’t. They have problems that ‘Metis’ people haven’t.”
could we say here that Metis people have endured many things that the first nations people simply haven’t. They have problems that ‘first nations’ people haven’t.
“First Nation people don’t have ’superior’ rights. They have different rights because they are a different people, and have endured different things.”
My question here has been, Are the offspring from a “first nations and white” entitled to the same rights as the first nations parent ? I know the non first nations parent has no first nations rights.
“Many First Nation people resent Metis people trying for the same rights because the meager resources already set aside by the Government get smaller and smaller every time some white dude with a ‘Metis’ card decides he wants to rough it and play ‘indigenous’.”
my concern here also is that if we dont want metis , which are the offspring from white and First nations in the past, are we not creating the same thing for our own acendents down the road.
we have to also watch that meager amount of funding, with our own procreation taking place are we not increasing the demand on the funds available. How can we in good faith ask the governemnt for more funding when we our selves are adding to the burden. would birth control education for our people also help reduce the increasing draw on the funds. can we create our own funding to support our selves and become less reliant on the funding . Are we asking the metis peoples to look after them selves?
I know perhaps that yes the Metis people are turning up across this country, many of who may not have the real rights, but who decides who is metis and who is not ? who decides who is First nations and who is not? maybe this approval system should be brought under the study maybe we should not jusge those who are approved Metis but those who are approving them same falls true for the Status cards and First nations, i saw an east indian with one at the gas station the other day. No questions asked.
as you are aware there has been many Natives living of reserves working and supporting them selves they are still First nations people right ? Many have become self employed are they still drawing on the available funds?
Is any first nations family, who has married or lived with and produced offspring with a non-firstnations still considered first nations? If we go back to 1904 a Native canadain married a non native lived on the reservation and produced several children those children grew up and had children who had children who had children all are still considered Native or firstnations? In 1904 depending on who was native the man or the woman affected this? after 1990 the gender of the first nations parent no longer matters?
Thanks ryan.
I really appreciate your time here , i am just trying to understand how much of what i have been told is truth and how much is hear say.
hey guys!!! do you mind if i join in on the disscusion.
@george shanks –
why not there are always different views that may show a different way of looking at things.
I ran across this site after a search for Metis culture. I am a bit distraught by the article here. My history is based in the Red River valley and the formation of Canada. They were interpreters and intermediaries between the First nations and were participants and treaty signings.
My ancestors were guides for the Palliser expedition, and the Red grave party, who brought the first non-aboriginal people in the province of BC. They were invited by the Hudson’s bay company to settle the Willamette Valley since they were hardy people, they hunted buffalo and lived off the land. Yes, there fathers were from the Orkney islands who took aboriginal wives, and their offspring took the aboriginal way of life and amalgamated the best of both worlds, with the music and the language.
My grandfather and great grandfather spoke Bungee a mixture of Gaelic and Cree. While my grandmother spoke Michif a mixture of French and Cree. My grandmother taught me my medicines, to hunt and fish. Living in the North and not in the city we have retained our cultural values. I am not sure where you live but many of the reserves across canada have percentages of mixed blood to this date, there are not too many left that did not mix with the non aboriginal culture.
After reading this I am forced to reiterate some of our aboriginal history. The government has created these divisions by their policies of the Indian act. Our Nation has a rich history of what is called “scrip”. Although we had every right to claim status, our mother’s could not and were discriminated against simply by marrying an non aboriginal. She would have to leave her reserve, her home and her share in any benefits. Aboriginal women were often used as a trade item, and offered to non aboriginal explorers to bridge the communication and trade between a new nation that were here for furs and trade goods.
Getting back to Scrip, the whole foundation of Canada was built upon the denial of rights. Scrip was given via the scrip commission that was shortly behind the Treaty commissions. Many aboriginal people opted out since they had the right to ‘characterize’ themselves under the policies of Alexander Morris (1888). A whole population of aboriginal people specially those of the half-breeds understood that the reservation system was nothing more than a modern day concentration camp, furnished complete with a guard called an Indian agent. Indian agents of course gave aboriginal people passes to come and go, and made sure those who were now on the reservation adhered to the policies of the Indian act. Research the Indian act and all the amendments you will be surprised at the archaic policies of this document.
In your article I must understand your view to understand why your have taken this stance, and it is apparent that you do not fully understand our history. In understanding our history you would fully understand these division lines that you are trying to draw here. It is also in our history that the Twatt band whom was formed by an halfbreed Chief William Twatt from the son of a man from the Orkney Islands, which is now called the Sturgeon Lake band. From what I have read here I urge you to go back to your history books and study the evolution of treaty, and scrip. What you might find is nothing short of assimilation, and destruction of a culture and one that half-breeds were very adaptable to, since they were a mobile nation.
For one I am proud of my history
Northern BC
I’m confused, so if Metis don’t exsist do Mulatto people exsist or are they just white people that wanna be black?
I was always under the impression that the reason the Metis have been fighting for their rights is because when they (caucasians and north americans) first started intermingling they lost thier rights from thier own people. No one would recognize them and they were forced to become thier own individual group to have rights.
I think this sounds like a hate mail, you are angry because most politicains screw everyday canadians to push thier own agenda.
Just because an ethnic group is fighting for thier rights doesn’t make them “wanna be’s” (and I acknowledge they aren’t always right)
I think your anger is being misdirected which makes you sound like a racist, with a weak arguement.
Think proactive, maybe you should get in contact with your MLA and discuss the real issuse avoiding anything that sounds like prejudice ( especially if you want to be taken seriously because you never know “whos in bed with who”).
Sometimes I feel like this stuff is minorcompared to global issues. There are scarier things out there like the fish population have less and less males because some of the chemicals we use everyday act like female hormones and they are weeping into our water supply or The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Just my take.
p.s. I recently read news article about the chemical/hormone problem affecting humans too
Maybe one day there will only be a few men left on earth and they will be worshiped by the billions of women pining for thier attention. I bet no one would be complaining about ethnicity then.
Hope I gave you some thing to think about, but you are probably going to get defensive so just take it easy on me………please.
Dear Confused,
No they didn’t lose their rights from their own people. Search a gentlemen called Alexander Morris. Since in the 1880′s there was no division lines between what we now use the terminology called “Metis”. In our history our people were called, “halfbreeds” and in the previous post the government gave the people of Manitoba the rights to characterize themselves. Those rights to characterize themselves some Halfbreeds took Treaty, and some halfbreeds took scrip there were two options during the settlement of Canada. The policies of the day also excluded Aboriginal women who married out of their reserve, they then lost all of their status, and their rights, and forced to take scrip as a means of survival.
Scrip built canada. You must know that in our history many of the largest banks in canada ended up with those scrip notes for a fraction of the prices since our ancestors were starving. Most of the aboriginal (halfbreed) people could not read or write.
In the settlement of Canada reservations were created in the goal of, sorry to say, taking away the nomadic rights of nomadic people who followed food sources for settlement. “Scrip” was an option for many eligible for treaty so that they would not lose their rights as Aboriginal people and their nomadic way of life. Mass exoduses of aboriginal people migrated into the Western part of Canada to escape the Westward expansion of Sir John A Macdonald’s railroad and settlement policies.
The term, “Metis” is used to describe a culture of people who were subject to racist policies of Canada and the denial of their aboriginal rights due to these past policies of the the Orangemen. Metis people are not simply a mix of two cultures that has been recently developed, it is a long historic tie to our homeland which originated in Manitoba, which includes a distinct culture and is tracable to at least three to four generations. Metis people moved communially, took other Metis wives in the same community, they did not take welfare or government handouts. Within the history that our foundation has studied the Halfbreed people were Interpreters, guides, scouts, and an integral part of the development of Canada. They were and we still are an independant community. I would first examine who you are defining as “Metis” here, since our registry has been developed their has been many denied who once self identified, without any ancestoral proof of their claims.
Since the Metis registry has been created in most provinces it has assisted in redefining our Historic communities. Our families work and farm and live off the land, I would reword your choice of words in your article, in relation to our Canadian history and ourselves as “Metis” people.
Study Canadian history you will be enlightened without having to write articles such as this misinforming people of the true history in Canada.
PS. I have documents and lots of them from our foundations research named, “Halfbreeds who were in Treaty” So doesn’t that further confuse you. Halfbreeds and “Metis” are one in the same, and the term Indian to future to confuse you, was a miscalculation of continents. Let me explain, when the first explorers came across from England they were looking for trade goods, like spices etc. They were lost and believed they reached India, thus the term, “Indians”.
Keep learning, that is what keeps everyone out of trouble.
Canadian History
Ah I get it because you were denied services you thought you would take your frustration out on the other aboriginal group who are recognized under section 35 of the constitution…
I think you better examine the Federal throne speech where they cut back all aboriginal funding.
This woman you speak of is she self identified as many of the imposters in our Metis Nation, then you might just have a point here. There is a big difference between a true Metis and some who just thinks he is …
Just want to make it clear That i did not write the editorial , or the the blog Dated april 5th , i dont identify as metis or aboriginal i am canadain with ancestory from both lines. my blogs are asking questions to better help me understand the issues surrounding the opening editorial. To understand why two societies cant get along, or is it just a few who dont get along. myself i have never had a problem. My heritage has made me strong and proud of canada and the first nations and to me that includes the metis.
well you are focused so much for me creating a tangent….
@MARK – Well sid, brother.
Lisa
opps…typo, said.
i took some heat from a few friends . thats all
This is a very racist peice of work. It is intolerant people like you that give Canada and the US bad names for being racist. I am a working white man. Yes sometimes it can be annoying to support indigenous people because they seem to take and not give, but you have to remember that they were here first and we took their land. Not only did we take it, but we promised them portions of it that we never gave them. You are obviously an ignorant person (a minority yourself), that will not support a different minority. What if the government decided to build a military facility on your home, told you to leave, gave you no comphensation for your house and told you “tough luck go find somewhere else to live.” I am sure you would be less than enthused. The Metis deserve just as much as any native group, becaus ethey share this native heritage, and unfortunate plight.
If you do not believe me about the racist thing go on microsoft word and click replace word, and replace every word of metis with black. You will feel ashamed of this atrocity you have written. Show some respect.
@ummmmmm – Dude… you are just not getting are you? Along with the many other people that love to skim an article, with no research of their own and accuse me of being a racist.
Fact #1: Metis do not have the same problems that First Nation people do.
Fact #2: Metis people do not have the long standing history & loss ratio First Nation do.
If the two groups have not had the same or very similar experiences they should not receive the same entitlements.
Why can’t people get that through their thick head?
Lastly… wtf has black people got to do with this issue? Seriously dude that was a lame attempt at getting a point across. The treatment of black folk in Canada is a seperate and completely different subject.
Do your research before you put out comments that
don’t make any sense.
Found on another forum in regards to Halfbreeds and Scrip…
List of Half-breeds in Treaty 1888-
http://www.scribd.com/doc/29670743
List of Half-breeds who were in Treaty 1886
http://www.scribd.com/doc/29670627...
Ryan,
i agree with you buddy, there is no need to attack you the writer of a well thought out and undoubtly researched article. As i pointed out earlier you said many natives and that means not all. which meant to me that you spoke to a few native canadians who did not feel the way you do.
To call you a racist (because of a point of view that had to be voiced) upsets me.
as we all have our right to freedom of speech you could have deleted that accusation but you choose to allow it it which shows me that you are ok with freedom of speech.
you and i share differences of opinion but we share a native heritage and we are united in that. I dont like seeing you the person attacked. people should learn to argue about an opinion and not get personal.
Now that you have changed your forum to moderated, this tells me that you are not open to other people’s point of view on this subject, without moderating it first. This is a major sign of ‘your views do not count’ and quite frankly a sign of a racist.
Good day, my posting also didn’t show up, as with the posting in regards to Metis history… and a true accounting. No more time wasted on someone who’s views are obviously tainted because he isn’t getting any money.
Dude – this forum is NOT moderated and I allow all comments except blatant and unabashed racism.
Your comment was withheld by the system because it had more than one link in it – it’s called Spam Fighting.
As for being tainted because I”m not getting any money – you’re clearly full of crap – I do this because I love it, because I like to have my personal views heard and love to hear other people’s opinions on my views regardless of whether they conflict.
I can Say with pride that I am a Metis. My mother is a Metis, Half Cree and Half Assiniboine. A half-breed if you will. She married an Irish man, My father. So does that make me Metis or just a wanna be. I do understand your concern. But remember we are not all like what you said. Some of us do have pride to have just a little bit of Ancestry blood in us.
I do not know your personal history Mr. Paul, yet as i read what you have said, ( quote) :My children are having issues with things like dental care and checkups because funding is getting split with Metis people., This, leads me to believe you have children who make use of KAHAC, for health related issues! Now correct me if i am wrong or misguided, you being of half black, and half white British, decent, and if i understand correctly, having children via a native woman, makes those children aboriginal, or is it half breed/Metis, as your opinion is unclear. Yet in reality it does not make them, anything other then of aboriginal descent. Yet you speak blatantly of how none pure blooded aboriginal descendants are taking away from the natives. Again i must ask you to correct me, yet i believe you reside in town now and not on reserve, and if you are any kind of a man, you would have your children living with you! now if they are indeed of aboriginal descent, then you have effectively removed them from their culture, reducing them to halfbreeds. Now i could prattle on for hours in this regard, but as i do not have all relevant facts, i do not feel i have the authority to condone this train of thought! Just mention it as, it would bring to light , the reasons for your hypocrisy!
My children are registered First Nation with the blessing of other racial identities mixed in. They both have Status Cards. The Status Card is what makes them seperate from Metis.
If a Metis person has enough First Nation blood to get a Status Card then they should become registered First Nation, and take pride in their aboriginal roots / place of ancestral origin or whatever.
A First Nation person who voluntarily gets a Metis Card is a bit like someone becoming elected President of the U.S, and then becoming the Whitehouse Chief of Staff instead.
My children live with me in town half of the time, and the other half on the rez so I haven’t removed them from their culture or people at all.
Ryan -
You have a lot of learning to do about the history of Indigenous peoples here. And as many real elders (not faux-elders) will tell you, keep your lips zipped until you do some more of it. You whole approach to this discussion is so non-Native, such a white way of speaking and acting toward and about our people. It’s natural that you would feel upset with the limited assistance rightly available to your children, but that does not give you the right under our traditions and laws to speak on issues of importance to our people. Part of the the project of anti-racism is us coming to speak for ourselves.
Quite problematically, you rely on “status” as the arbiter of Indian-ness. It is only so if you recognize the colonial government’s mechanisms. If you can recognize that you, as a settler, continue to colonize us, why are you so blind to this government who you so readily defer to as being the one to define who is and is not Indian, Métis, whatever. In many of our nations, traditionally, our heritage is passed patrilineally, which would mean in some nations, your kids are white, non-Native, etc. – they are what you are, but they are definitely NOT Native. I can’t speak for Anishnaabe tradition (I’m not one – see, here’s the line you haven’t realized you shouldn’t cross – to speak about a people, tradition, things you don’t know), but in other communities, yeah, your kids wouldn’t be considered Indians either.
As for the Métis, as anyone who does even a tiny bit of talking to Métis communities or peoples, you’d know that they have their own creation stories regarding their existences – and that Métis, except as it was applied by people like you, does not, and has never meant strictly “half.” Take a look at the 1901 Canadian Census, for example – try educating yourself. Métis itself is a French word meaning “mixed” which is a far cry from meaning “half” (which would be demie).
Yea, there are white people who play Indian through Métis and sound like the woman you’re talking about has been doing just that. But Métis DO have problems, some Métis who became Métis when their reserves were taken and they were given no other options for self-identification face racism, lack of access to resources, and a decline in traditional resources, because yes, Métis (which you seem to routinely forget) are effected by what “whites” have done and by the suffering of Indians, AND have suffered being in the middle too (come on, pick up a book, talk to a Métis elder….really? Really?? Do some learning, the info is out that, it’s not that hard).
“Métis do not have the longstanding history” – seriously? No, really?? You think they just sprung up out of nowhere? They carry (the real ones) the bloodlines of Cree and French – yes, they are the products of the colonial relationship, but they have a history, claims, and connections, which while different from Indians (very different), they have every right to claim. Shame on you for embarassing our people with your ignorance – don’t presume to speak on behalf of people of which you are not one. Shame.
In response, that is exactly the question you bring up, a Metis, person is, the exact same, blood quantum as your own children, with the exception, of cultural believes. The traditional Metis person, was extricated by both worlds, and developed their own culture, mixing both religion and spiritual, beliefs. The Metis people, are truly no different then, your own offspring, as an individual, you need to take into account that blood quantum plays very little, into a persons way of life. Myself personally, am Metis, my child is full status, first nations, her blood quantum is 80 % , yet you would claim i have no right to , health care for my child? Again the word hypocrite springs to mind!
The Metis ARE different to my children – in the fact they’re not jigging with fiddles, and have full status.
Your child has every right to healthcare – your child has Status. You do not have the right.
It’s the way the system works.
You, miss the very point you made early in this discussion , you stated : Most people know the history of where Metis people came from, and that might have been true 100-200 years ago – but the Metis people back then were genuine half-breeds (50% native blood). The Metis people that exist today are plainly white people trying to swindle the government out of money, and take away from government funding for First Nation people. your exact words, may i point out , (50% native blood), before there was a status card! Metis people back then were genuine half-breeds (50% native blood) your child can not possibly be any thing more then the 50% native blood as you yourself state you are not native. Now enlighten us as to how your children are so much better/different then any other. Oh i am sorry , that’s right, it is because they are your children! You twist things to suit your own selfish view, if it was true that a Metis was 50% native, then your children would be Metis by blood quantum, as you so stated, yet your children of 50 % native blood are status, therefore any Metis would be full status! How do you explain this?
You’re missing my point – I don’t have an issue with anyone who has enough native blood to get a Status Card or anybody who’s GENUINELY half native (yes that does include my children).
I have an issue with people who’s bloodlines are getting down to cutting the percentage into 32 parts and still trying to claim the same rights as native people.
Get it now?
No i do not get it, as you need to reread your own post, you use a double standard. You come down on the Metis, people, because they do not hold status cards, and in your own words, play fiddles and dance the jig, so they are not aboriginal! No offence, to the native populace, but, saying a Metis is not aboriginal due to a fiddle and jig, is like saying a native is not an aboriginal, due to the ford/dodge/chev/honda they drive, or the country/rock/rap coming out of the stereo speakers! You blatantly state that a Metis is to be 50% native blood, that would make them, enough native blood to get a Status Card or anybody who’s GENUINELY half native!!!! and again i quote you! The point here is simple, and no matter how you fancy dance around what you have said, the fact still remains, this has nothing to do with Metis as aboriginals! Bigots are famous for citing a certain group of people, as the bad apples, so that they may ring an squeeze every cent, from the system for their own personal gain. After reading and rereading your posts, Mr.Paul, i clearly see, that being the case in this instance, you are now dancing around previous statements, you stated in no uncertain terms ( quote) : I’m not implying that the early settlers went out and reproduced with every Metis woman. I’m stating early settlers mated with First Nation women and created real Metis people. GENUINE ‘halves’ of two cultures and races. Not this hybrid mutated form of Metis identity around today.
Metis means half and it should have been kept that way.
Now tell me these are not your very own words? Does the term double standard, leap to mind? Well it should, Stop and think the words you said :
Metis means half and it should have been kept that way = your very own children, half blood, now if in your esteemed opinion, Metis indeed means HALF you effectively catagorize your children as Metis, so why are you taking away from the natives, you claim to support ? Do you now deny they are your words?
its convenient to say all candians should be equal to each other but is it just really saying i should assimilate and not be seen as a problem for canada
btw ryan where did you get the idea that metis means half ???
@nahgunnie – dude you are still not getting it. I don’t have a problem with Metis people who identify as such who are half native getting the same rights.
The best way I can describe it is – if someone has enough native blood to get a Status Card but they choose to identify as Metis, then I’m cool with it. If they aren’t able to get a Status Card (not including non-status natives) then I’m not cool with them trying to get the same entitlements and rights.
I have a problem with people whose native blood are blended down into almost obscurity trying to gain the same rights.
At some point you have to draw the line based upon blood quantum – because if you don’t one day in the future, the government of Canada will get its wish and nobody will have enough native blood to qualify as aboriginal (by the govts standards) and the Feds will cease to fund anything at all citing that there’s nobody left with enough native blood.
The precious few resource dollars allocated to indigenous folk (that are shared with Metis) aren’t enough as it is.
Why should a Metis person with a mere 1/16th native blood have the right to hunt a deer which could be used to feed a native family on a rez somewhere?
They haven’t been doing it for five thousand years and it isn’t the only way their heritage has given them to feed themselves.
It’s quite simple – the large majority of Metis people today are too far culturally and genetically disconnected from aboriginal life, culture and all else – and simply should not get what native folk do.
Dude, you need, to look at the whole picture, you have missed the entire, point! You are prattling on about, (At some point you have to draw the line based upon blood quantum – because if you don’t one day in the future, the government of Canada will get its wish and nobody will have enough native blood to qualify as aboriginal (by the govts standards) and the Feds will cease to fund anything at all citing that there’s nobody left with enough native blood.) WAKE UP, IF FOREIGNERS CONTINUE TO CREATE MIXED BLOOD NATIVES, ….. children, such as yours, are the original Metis, people, step away from the (STATUS CARD ) and realize, that , you have historically, added to the Metis, people. This is the point i am making! No matter if its a wolf in sheeps clothes, it is still a wolf! Where do you start the process? Do you, say, LETS KICK EVERY IMMIGRANT OUT OF CANADA? or maybe impose a huge fine on them for every none pure blood native, ( Metis ) they help create? Make that fine payable to D.I.A so it can be disbursed to help fund the natives?
Or do we focus on people who have become disconnected from the culture? Take status away from every native who is not, culturally active, the ones who have moved to the city? the ones who have become doctors, lawyers, and other professionals? As they are no longer native, by
(It’s quite simple – the large majority of Metis people today are too far culturally and genetically disconnected from aboriginal life, culture and all else) statement!
As you put it Dude, you just don’t get it! The metis people are traditionally, outcasts, by both societies, and created a culture based on the heritage and location, the people go back, way further then 1 or 200 years,
Mestizo or metis as we say here, Mestizo is the same word in spanish, going back to the conquistadors , who ravaged the south, and into north america, raping a pilaging the natives, leaving mixed blood children, in the wake of disaster, somewhat like Europeons are doing today, leaving mixed blood children! Then some Europeon, comes along, saying, these children should have no rights.
Let me ask you Mr. Paul, are you Canadian by birth? Or did you immigrate? What goverment hand outs did you receive when you did immigrate if you did? Is it possible those funds may have been used to enhance native life quality? Ever stop and consider, that if it were not for immigrants, none of this would be necessary?
The very real and true point here, is your children, are exactly, the definition of original Metis,
historically speaking! ( before government control )
Once again – I am fully aware my children are the definition of the original Metis. IF YOU’D BEEN READING YOU’D SEE I DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM!
I also am fully aware I have added to the problem I wish didn’t exist – as is evident by this forum post: http://www.ndnbloggers.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=426 – you should read it!
Yes I do get that Metis were outcasts – why would you assume I didn’t get that?
I immigrated here and did not use a single penny of Federal or Provincial funds. I funded it all myself and didn’t take away a penny from anybody who was born in this land.
@Yes I do get that Metis were outcasts – why would you assume I didn’t get that?
(Metis are simply not Aboriginal… and in tens of thousands of cases are less than one-eighth Native.
Metis would not exist if it were not for white folk… so what right do they have taking funds and getting the same rights as more deserving Aboriginal people? )
Maybe you should rephrase your thoughts , since this makes it seem like, you suggest, Metis had a choice!!!!!!!!!!!
Your just mad because you have to pay taxes, if you didn’t have to pay taxes this page would not exist. But i agree on your subject and am now MAD at those damn j*wbags.
Yes!
I completely agree.
There are these metis people in my school and the go around yelling “I’M NATIVE”
& i’m like “No, stfu”
shares use a good web site decent Gives with thanks for the effort to guide me personally