George Dusome's brief life is best remembered not just for his sacrifice, but for the joy, warmth, and sense of togetherness that once shaped it and continue to define his memory. Family gatherings were central to the Métis household in which George grew up in Penetanguishene, where time spent together offered comfort, strength, and a sense of belonging. George’s niece, Leona Paul, recalled the care George carried for his family.  George voluntarily enlisted in the First Worl

Michael Labatte’s life reflected the patterns of travel, endurance, and kinship that have long defined Métis families across the Upper Great Lakes and the larger North-West. The circumstances of his birth are themselves a testament to that resilience. Michael’s parents were Louisa Cadotte and Louis George Labatte, who along with other Métis families had established their home next to the naval base on Drummond Island. A veteran of the War of 1812, Louis George maintained long

The stories of Métis communities across the Upper Great Lakes are filled not only with strength and resilience but also with the deep generosity shared between families and community members.  Reflecting on her life in A.C. Osborne’s The Migration of Voyageurs from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828 , Métis matriarch and storyteller Rosette Boucher highlights this generosity as a defining feature of the region’s Métis identity, carried forward by her own family throug

Rosette Boucher (née Larammee), born on Drummond Island on December 12, 1815, is a unique and valuable Métis storyteller whose voice continues to resonate today. Boucher is notable as one of only two Métis women whose accounts are featured in A.C. Osborne’s The Migration of Voyageurs from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828 .  Growing up in a Métis family deeply tied to fur trade travel and military life, Rosette was surrounded by stories and carried them with remarkab

Storytellers have long sustained Métis communities, celebrating the Métis way of life and safeguarding stories to be shared across generations. Non-Métis storytellers who have immersed themselves in community and captured the authentic Métis voices of their members have also contributed meaningfully to this legacy. A.C. Osborne and Christy Ann Simons are two such observers who, despite not being Métis, took great care to document the vibrant Métis lives, relationships, and ex

Lewis Solomon was a prominent figure throughout the Upper Great Lakes Métis community, known for his extensive travels as a Métis guide throughout the region. His numerous adventures ensured he had a remarkable collection of stories, a direct result of his life of constant movement and connection-making. Solomon offered insights into his lifetime of memorable experiences in A.C. Osborne’s, The Migration of Voyageurs from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828 . Lewis’ nar