The Métis and Anishinaabe communities of Sault Ste. Marie have been long-time allies. Perhaps the most notable example of allyship between the two political groups occurred both during and after the Mica Bay Incident—one of the most important moments in the history of Crown-Indigenous relations in the Upper Great Lakes. Following their collective action at Mica Bay alongside their Métis allies, the Anishinaabek Chiefs Shingwaukonse-ibun and Nebainagoching-ibun advocated f

The Abitibi Inland Métis Community’s distinctive identity and enduring presence has been recognized in numerous official records in both historical and contemporary times. This included recognition within the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples—commonly referred to as RCAP—that was established in 1991 to examine Canada’s ongoing relationships with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. The RCAP final report, delivered in 1996, acknowledged numerous documented histori

Métis people have a long and proud history of military service. From the War of 1812 through both World Wars, the Korean Conflict, the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and peacekeeping missions, Métis veterans have steadfastly defended their communities and served in the Canadian armed forces across generations. Many Métis veterans have extended their leadership and community service throughout the rest of their lives, long after their active duty ended. Louis George Labatte of the Upp

January 27th, 2025, marks the 185th anniversary of the Penetanguishene Petition, through which members of the Georgian Bay Métis Community wrote to the Crown demanding recognition of their distinct political identity and their inclusion in annual present-giving be restored. This petition was the first in a long line of Métis communities using petitions as a form of political advocacy from the Upper Great Lakes westward. These efforts and the Georgian Bay Métis Community fro

The Atkinson-Moore family, originally from Moose Factory, has grown and maintained deep connections throughout the Métis Homeland for generations. After moving from Moose Factory to Red River in 1834, for example, several members of the Moore family—including Métis siblings Sarah Mary, Anne, and Philip, their mother Emma, and their Métis aunt Elizabeth Moore—were all baptized on the same day. While some members of the Moore family, including the recently baptized siblings and

After years of disrespect and colonial intrusion, the collective Métis and Anishinaabe action at Mica Bay in November 1849 succeeded in forcing the Crown to deal with their shared grievances. The following year, the Crown sent Treaty Commissioner William B. Robinson to Sault Ste. Marie to negotiate a treaty. In a continued act of allyship, Anishinaabek Chiefs Shingwaukonse-ibun and Nebainagoching-ibun advocated for Métis inclusion in the treaty-making process and the setting