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

Through their strength, resilience, and ingenuity, Métis matriarchs have preserved and protected their families and communities for generations.   During the influenza crisis at the turn of the 20 th  century, for example, Elizabeth Longlade (née Dusome) demonstrated her care and dedication by using her professional cooking skills to safeguard her loved ones in Penetanguishene.  A 1942 Toronto Star  article shared Elizabeth’s simple immunity-boosting recipe, crafted during th

Métis across the Homeland have consistently demonstrated pride through significant accomplishments and simple everyday actions. Many Métis individuals have shared stories that reflect these points of pride in contributions to their Métis family and community life. Elizabeth Longlade (née Dusome) was one such Métis matriarch from the Georgian Bay Métis Community, centred at Penetanguishene, in the Upper Great Lakes, who shared her life’s story and points of quiet personal prid