Module 5 - Belanger Ch 6 - The Metis Flashcards
Why is it important to include the Métis in discussions of Indigenous peoples in Canada?
The Métis play a central historical role in Canada’s economic and political evolution and are one of Canada’s founding peoples, though they have been historically marginalized and misunderstood.
How does the Canadian state define the Métis in the Constitution Act of 1982?
The Métis are recognized as one of the “aboriginal peoples of Canada,” along with First Nations and Inuit, under Section 35 of the Constitution Act.
What challenges do the Métis face regarding their identity?
Métis identity is contested due to Canadian policies that often portray them as hybrids of Indigenous and European cultures, undermining their legitimacy as a distinct Indigenous people.
What was the Métis role in the creation of Manitoba?
Manitoba’s entry into Confederation in 1870 is largely attributed to Métis efforts, as the Red River Settlement was a predominantly Métis territory.
What is the “file drawer effect” as it relates to Métis academic research?
It refers to the lack of focus on 20th-century Métis history, as research has traditionally centered on fur trade-era and Red River events, leaving gaps in understanding contemporary Métis experiences.
How did French colonial policies influence the emergence of Métis communities?
French policies encouraged intermarriage with Indigenous women to expand colonial influence, creating kinship networks that formed the foundation of Métis society.
What is the impact of Métis kinship and geographic stability on their identity?
Métis identity is deeply tied to expansive kinship networks and connections to the land, challenging portrayals of them as a hybrid or transient people.
What factors contribute to the contested definition of Métis in contemporary Canada?
Political, legal, and cultural definitions vary widely, and accusations of “race-shifting” complicate the understanding of Métis identity.
What is the historical significance of the Great Lakes Métis communities?
By the 1830s, there were 53 Métis settlements around the Great Lakes, which played key roles in the regional fur trade before many Métis moved westward.
What is the concern with the term “Métis” as a bureaucratic classification?
It was created during colonization and can misrepresent Métis relationships to land and identity, reducing their recognition as a distinct Indigenous nation.
How has the Métis population changed according to recent census data?
From 2006 to 2016, the Métis population grew significantly, with the 2016 census reporting 587,545 Métis people, representing 35.1% of the Aboriginal population.
What is Michif, and how did it develop?
Michif is the language of the Métis, blending Plains Cree and French grammar and vocabulary. It emerged in the 1700s and is spoken by about 650 people today, mainly in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, North Dakota, and Montana.
What event is considered the birth of the Métis Nation?
The Battle of Seven Oaks in 1816, where Métis leader Cuthbert Grant and his forces defeated the Hudson’s Bay Company, is often identified as the birth of the Métis Nation.
What were the “Rules of the Hunt,” and why were they significant?
The Rules of the Hunt governed Métis buffalo hunts, ensuring order and fairness. They later evolved into democratic self-governance models for Métis communities.
How did the Pemmican Proclamation impact the Métis?
Issued in 1814, it banned pemmican exports, undermining the Métis economy and escalating tensions with the Hudson’s Bay Company.
What economic activities sustained the Métis in the 19th century?
The Métis engaged in farming, hunting, fishing, trapping, trading, and running small businesses. The biannual buffalo hunt was a significant economic and cultural activity.
What was the significance of the Manitoba Act of 1870 for the Métis?
The Manitoba Act created the Province of Manitoba, recognized Métis rights, and promised 1.4 million acres of land for Métis children. However, these promises were poorly implemented and eroded over time.
What was Métis “scrip,” and why did it fail?
Scrip was a promissory note for land given to Métis individuals. The process was plagued by government fraud, discrimination, and the distant location of allotted lands, resulting in the dispossession of Métis land.
How did Métis land ownership change between 1870 and 1886 in Manitoba?
The Métis population dropped from 83% to 7% in Manitoba, with 90% becoming landless by the turn of the century due to scrip speculation and discriminatory policies.
What led to tensions between the Métis and the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)?
The HBC’s trade monopoly and opposition to Métis trade activities, including convicting Guillaume Sayer in 1849, fueled tensions. Métis economic success further strained relations.
How did the Métis organize their buffalo hunts?
Hunts involved hundreds of participants, organized under a guide and captains, with rules to ensure order and prevent theft or premature hunting.
