Credits Copyright Notice Cover: www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/44644/ No part of the content of this document may Nouvelle_Carte_du_Territoire_de_LOregon_dresses be reproduced in any form or by any means, s_le_RP_De_Smet_de_la/De%20Smet.html including electronic storage, reproduction, Publish date 1846 execution, or transmission without the prior written permission of Métis Nation British Columbia. Graphic Design: Kim Vizi-Carmen, a Métis woman Every effort has been made to trace the source of and owner of Pinerock Ridge Graphic Art & Design. copyright material contained in this learning resource. The publisher will appreciate any additional infor- Funding for the Métis Learner Series was provided mation regarding rights and will rectify any errors or by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. omissions in future editions. A PDF version of this document is available on the Métis Nation British Columbia website at: www.mnbc.ca/education Contact Information: We acknowledge the financial support of the Métis Nation British Columbia Province of British Columbia Suite #103-5668 192nd St. through the Ministry of Education. Surrey, BC V3S 2V7 Toll free: 1-800-940-1150 Phone: 604-557-5851 www.mnbc.ca Education For Reconciliation: Métis Professional Learning 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS t has long been said that there needs to be a “Metis 101” in British Columbia. For those of us that work on ́ behalf of our Nation, we are immersed in “Metis”. We know it, we live it every day. We are often taken aback ́ when someone asks us questions like “Do you consider yourself Indigenous?” or “Which one of your parents is First Nations?” Developing a Métis specific learning resource for professional Idevelopment for the people of British Columbia was a collective For those of us that work on effort. It involved experts on Métis identity, researchers, educators, community members, artists and Métis Elders. The process behalf of our Nation, was inspiring and educational for all of us. There were many insightful moments shared and the need to “get it right” was we are immersed in “Métis”. and will always be our responsibility as Metis people. Laura ́ Forsythe took on the challenge of documenting the narrative. We know it and Her work included reaching out to Metis Citizens and writing ́ their stories. we live it every day It took considerable effort to gather all of the “pieces” that this learning resource includes. Brodie Douglas, MNBC researcher and historian made this possible. Brodie’s perseverance and passion for Métis history is remarkable. Aboriginal Success Teacher, Heather Myhre kept us connected to our “Métis pedagogy” and contributed from a teacher’s perspective. MNBC Director of Citizenship and Registries, Laurel Katernick is the expert on Métis identity in British Columbia. Her unwavering ethics and leadership were foundational to developing the resource. The beading images that are shared in this resource are those of Métis artist Kim Hodgson. Each piece of her art tells a story. Her generosity and willingness to share is inspiring. I am so proud she is my Sister. Métis Elder Stella Johnson completed the Michif translation for the learning resource. Stella is a good friend and one of our few remaining fluent speakers and teachers and it was predestined that her words be written here. Métis Elder Phil (MBEVF led us, as always, to the good place that you need to be to accomplish something as important as this resource, meegwhich. Thank you to our Métis communities; it is you who make our Nation strong. “It took humility to write the words and courage to own them.” Colleen Hodgson Director of Education, Métis Nation British Columbia Métis Beading: Kim Hodgson 4 Education For Reconciliation: Métis Professional Learning INTRODUCTION Métis Nation British Columbia Governing Assembly Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) is a Nation representing nearly 70,000 self-identified Métis and over 16,000 Métis Citizens in British Columbia. It is a strong Nation and is determined to protect and preserve Métis identity, history, culture, and language. This learning resource was designed to help people understand who the Métis are in British Columbia, where we came from and where we live today. Part One will focus on Métis identity and why it matters. Chris Anderson, Native Studies Professor at the University of Alberta writes “I’m Métis because I belong (and claim allegiance) to a set of Métis memories, territories, and leaders who chal- lenged and continue to challenge colonial authorities’ unitary claims to land and society. What’s your excuse for recognizing me – for recognizing us – in any terms other than those of the Métis nationhood produced in these struggles?” PART ONE: Métis Identity and Why it Matters will provide the clarity that has long been needed on who is the Métis Nation and who are the people that are its strength. It will clearly define how all Métis Citizens in British Columbia have kinship connections to the Historic Métis Homeland. “Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, states that “the existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed” and “the ‘aboriginal peoples of Canada’ includes the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples”. PART TWO: Who are the Métis: Contemporary Perspectives, defines the contemporary Métis people living in British Columbia. Métis people had a significant role in the development of British Columbia pre and post government and there are many places, roads, parks and rivers named after Métis families. They were the entrepreneurs and guides and were instrumental in the economy. “The Métis have been an important part of Canadian history stand- ing for cultural, political, religious and linguistic rights, demon- strating ingenuity creating political and social structures, technology and trade systems, as well as developing a unique presence in art, music, dance and storytelling. Today, the Métis Nation continues to press for rights as a means of preserving cultural traditions and as a means of bringing honour to past, current and future generations of those proud to call themselves Métis People”. Education For Reconciliation: Métis Professional Learning 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART ONE Métis Identity & Why It Matters Introduction Who are Self Identifying Métis Kinship 05Métis Nation 10 12 14Métis Citizens in the Métis as Métis British Columbia British Columbia and What is the Métis Nation Honouring our families “We are a Nation not their connection to the Homeland and who and our ancestors. an Organization”. Métis Homeland. is a Métis Citizen?. Asserting Reconciliation Resilience Métis in Indentity18 24Taking back our Re-entering28 Canada’s British32 Columbia The Constitutional rights identity and protecting history as strangers Métis communities of Métis people in our Nation. in our own land. in British Columbia. British Columbia. 6 Education For Reconciliation: Métis Professional Learning TABLE OF CONTENTS PART TWO Who are the Métis: Contemporary Perspectives Contemporary38 39Imprints Contemporary42 46History of Perspectives On BC Métis Resistance & The Métis Nation is Métis contributions to Connecting the Resilience thriving in contemporary Métis to British Columbia The fight against British Columbia the historic Métis assimilation and separation Métis In BC 50History Historic communities were distinctly Métis and had a distinct culture, traditions and language Education For Reconciliation: Métis Professional Learning 7 NOTES Education For Reconciliation: Métis Professional Learning PART ONE: MÉTIS IDENTITY & WHY IT MATTERS Who are the Métis? Métis National Council definition states: “Métis” means a person who self-identifies as Métis, is distinct from other Aboriginal peoples, is of historic Métis Nation Ancestry and who is accepted by the Métis Nation.” Since 1983, the Métis National Council has represented the Métis Nation on both the national and international stage. It represents the Métis Nations governments and moves forward on the desires and aspirations of its members. The Métis National Council definition of the Métis has evolved since its inception. All Métis National Council Governing Members have adopted the MNC Métis definition. These governing members include Métis Nation British Columbia, Métis Nation Alberta, Métis Nation Saskatchewan, Manitoba Métis Federa- tion and Métis Nation of Ontario. What is the Historic Métis Nation? It means the Aboriginal people then known as Métis or Half-Breeds who resided in Historic Métis Nation Homeland. Where is the Historic Métis Nation Homeland? It means the area of land in west central North America used and occupied as the traditional territory of the Métis or Half-Breeds as they were known. What is the Métis Nation? Métis are one of the “aboriginal peoples of Canada” within Section 35 of the Constitution Act of 1982. The Nation is comprised of contemporary Métis Citizens who descend from the Historic Métis Nation. Who is a citizen of Métis Nation British Columbia? There is a myth amongst scholars, politicians and general Canadians that the identity of the Métis is ambiguous and undefined. Claims that it is uncertain who belongs to this distinct culture and who does not can often be heard when discussing the Métis. However, these misconceptions are easily proven false by citizens of Métis Nation British Columbia who have a firm understanding of their heritage, culture and identity as Métis. All of the citizens of Métis Nation British Columbia have an understanding of who they are through the well docu- mented experience of their ancestors that connect them to the Historic Métis Nation Homeland and the founders of the First Métis Nation who had settled in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario. The constitution of Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) states that a citizen is a person, who self-identifies as Métis, is of historic Métis Nation Ancestry, is distinct from other Aboriginal Peoples and is accepted by the Métis Nation . Self-Identification Self-identification is one of four criteria that each Citizen must meet to register with the Nation.