In 1845, the government opened lands north of Lake Huron for settlement and began negotiating treaties in the region. These newly opened lands included many Métis families’ River Lots along the St. Mary’s River at Sault Ste. Marie.   In 1850, the Métis were explicitly excluded from the Robinson treaties.  However, during the treaty negotiations, Anishinaabe leaders had advocated for the recognition of Métis rights to their River Lots. This advocacy prompted Treaty Commissione

Marguerite Guilmond, the Métis matriarch of the well-known Métis Boissonneau family, was a Métis woman originally from the English River region in present-day Manitoba. As a young adult, Marguerite fell in love with Joseph Boissonneau. Joseph was born in Lower Canada in 1787 but eventually made his way westward—first to St. Joseph Island in the Upper Great Lakes before continuing farther west, where he met Marguerite. Marguerite and Joseph soon started a family together. By t

Métis oral histories contain many stories of New Year’s celebrations across the Métis Homeland, Sault Ste. Marie is no exception! They...

Métis across the Homeland love dancing and having a good time. Kitchen parties and “half breed balls” filled with music, food, and...

Christmas and New Year’s celebrations were important for many Métis families and communities. Unsurprisingly, many shared and well-loved...

Check out our Special Seasonal Colouring Page: Métis Mail Carriers The Upper Great Lakes is known for its snowy winters with high winds,...