On January 3, 1916, at the height of the First World War, Métis sixteen-year-old Lawrence Young voluntarily enlisted in the Canadian military. Not yet officially old enough to serve, Lawrence recorded he was older than his actual age on his military enlistment papers, joining the 94th Overseas Battalion in Kenora. Seven months later, Lawerence departed for England to receive training. After arriving in Europe, Lawrence was soon transferred to the 17th Reserve Battalion in Ken

Lawrence Young was born into a large Métis family on February 15, 1899, at Lac Seul in Northwestern Ontario. Lawrence, along with his five sisters and five brothers, was the son of Ellen Young (nee Thompson), a Métis woman also born in Lac Seul. Lawrence shared a particularly close bond with his older brother, James. From ages twelve to seventeen, Lawrence lived with James and other extended family. The 1911 census reveals that much of the Young family resided next door to o

In 1942, at the age of 94, Métis matriarch Elizabeth Longlade (née Dusome) shared stories from her remarkable life, which were captured in a Toronto Star article. Although brief, the article recounts Elizabeth’s reflections, revealing her family’s experiences spanning both generations and geography. The article was published at the height of the Second World War. For Elizabeth, these seemingly faraway global events were deeply personal, as several of her grandchildren were a

Loyalty to family has long been a foundational value for Métis in the Upper Great Lakes, including the Georgian Bay Métis Community, both before and after its relocation from Drummond Island in 1828. This observation was made by many, including A.C. Osbourne, who wrote about the community’s Métis families in 1902: “Fidelity, however, was a marked characteristic among them … This also explains the apparent anomaly of numerous couples, with large families … ” Georgian Bay Méti

In 1850, the Métis community at Sault Ste. Marie stood together to protect their River Lots from settler encroachment, following the Robinson-Huron Treaty, by signing the 1850 Sault Ste. Marie Métis Petition. Michel (Michael) Labatte was among the 1850 Sault Ste. Marie Métis Petition’s signatories, on behalf of his Métis River Lot family. Born in 1814 on the American side of Sault Ste. Marie, Michael was the son of Métis War of 1812 veteran Louis George Labatte and Louisa Cad

In 1850, the Métis of Sault Ste. Marie petitioned the Crown for the recognition and protection of their River Lots on the St. Marys River following their exclusion from the Robinson-Huron Treaty. The 1850 Sault Ste. Marie Métis Petition was signed by members of numerous prominent Métis families in the area, including the Biron, Cadotte, Lesage, Nolin, Sayer, and Labatte families. Seven members of the Métis Boissonneau family were also among the 1850 Petition’s fifty-five sign