The Métis fought as allies to the British in the Upper Great Lakes throughout the War of 1812, protecting their communities and homelands from American invasion. Métis militiamen fought in the Voyageur Corps, raised by the North West Company, and played key battlefield roles in pivotal engagements like the capture of Fort Mackinac. Métis women also contributed significantly to the war effort, equipping soldiers and their loved ones with essential items, like now-famous Macki

Métis across the Homeland are connected through shared culture, including material items such as clothing. A common piece of winter clothing worn by many Métis from Ontario-westward was the capote. The capote is a thigh-length coat with full-length sleeves which could come with or without a hood or cape. Early capotes were made with Hudson’s Bay Company Point Blankets, often identified by the colourful stripes around the blanket. These blankets were fashioned into coats for M