ONTARIO MÉTIS FACTS

As the fur trade around Moose Factory expanded in the early 19th century, clear communication and adaptability became critical to its success; skills that many Métis like William Polson brought to their work each day. After beginning his career with the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1807, William Polson became an interpreter for the HBC’s Abitibi region operations in 1821. Polson’s knowledge of multiple languages and the region’s geography made him a valuable asset to the Company,

The spring maple sugar harvest has been an important seasonal Métis community tradition for generations. For many, the annual maple sugar harvest has involved the entire family.  In a late March 1853 journal entry, for example, Mattawa postmaster Colin Rankin noted of the Métis Langevin family that it was “Mme. Langevin and family” who “started out to their sugary”. This built upon earlier entries, including one from early January 1849 in which the Langevin family was noted a

Rosette Boucher (nee Larammee) was born on a cold December 12, 1815 to Jaques Adam Laramee, North West Company employee and War of 1812 veteran, and Rosette Cloutier, a “half-breed woman” from Mackinaw Island in the Upper Great Lakes.  Rosette’s upbringing was grounded in her Métis community’s traditional way of life, including participating in the annual spring sugar camps common among Métis families throughout the Upper Great Lakes. In 1828, however, at just thirteen years