Sara Mary Moore was born in Moose Factory in 1818. Her Métis father, George Moore Jr., was a steersman with the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), who had entered the company’s employ as a labourer half a decade earlier.  George and his wife, Emma, raised Sara Mary within the vibrant Métis fur trade world of traders, guides, and woodsmen along western James Bay. In 1833, George briefly moved east “to Canada” before retiring to the Red River in 1834.  Then, about 16, Sara Mary moved

The marriage of Charles Roussain and Elizabeth Turner reflects the deep traditions of kinship, leadership, and community responsibility that have long defined Métis family life. Their union brought together two families with enduring legacies of defending Métis rights, sovereignty, and identity across the Métis Homeland. Charles Roussain was born around 1820 and raised along the shores of Sault Ste. Marie. The Roussain family was known for its long-standing role as Métis advo

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

Familial relationships, including those between brothers and sisters, are the glue that binds Métis communities together and the bedrock that distinguishes the Métis from other communities. These foundational connections, such as those within the Turner family of Moose Factory, can often grow and evolve across geography and time, connecting siblings and their extended families across generations. On June 30, 1822, three Turner siblings, Philip, Joseph Jr., and Elizabeth, were

In the decade following the War of 1812, Métis siblings Louis, Augustin, Adolphus, Marguerite, and Angelique Nolin extended their family’s connections from Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Great Lakes across the Métis Homeland through lives defined by shared purpose, responsibility, and service. Their paths took them in different directions, but the siblings carried forward a family tradition and legacy rooted in diplomacy, trade, education, and leadership. Following in his fath

Métis across the Homeland relied on fishing for sustenance throughout the year. Not only did fishing provide food to Métis communities, but it was also relied upon by many as an essential economic practice.  During the winter months, Métis along Northern Lake Superior had to be creative if they were going to continue fishing on the frozen lakes and waterways. One common practice was ice spearfishing. In January 1840, for instance, an ice spear fishery in Michipicoten Bay yiel