ONTARIO MÉTIS FACTS

Métis children in the Upper Great Lakes consistently found ways to access formal education, including through correspondence schooling for the Métis families of Agawa Bay. Within these close-knit families along the shores of Lake Superior, children learned together while staying on the land and close to home.  In her handwritten memories of childhood at Agawa Bay, Métis Elder Dolores Pinder (née Bussineau) described her experiences as an enthusiastic correspondence student an

Métis sisters Angélique and Marguerite Nolin carried their commitment to education with them across the Métis Homeland, creating a lasting legacy for generations to come.  Raised within a strong and active Métis family along the St. Marys River at Sault Ste. Marie, Angélique and Marguerite Nolin were sent to Montreal for their schooling. During the 1800s, being educated in Montreal was not uncommon for the Métis children of successful fur-trading families, including Louis Rie

Petitions from Métis communities across the Homeland often reflect commitments to core values such as individualism, family, and education.  In 1880, education emerged as a clear priority for Métis in northern Lake Superior. The Métis demonstrated resilience and organization by signing several petitions, in which they identified themselves as “half-breeds" and clearly articulated their community’s needs along with those of First Nations neighbours and relatives. On July 6, 18