The Upper Great Lakes are known for their treacherous waters, where unpredictable weather and hidden shoals have led to untold numbers of shipwrecks over the centuries. Many—including the wrecks of the Hackett at Horse Island and the Labatte family at Thunder Beach near Penetanguishene—have been preserved by Métis communities through stories and passed down through the generations. With such events looming large in Métis communities’ memories, it should come as little sur

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

Like other Indigenous Peoples, Métis in the Upper Great Lakes possessed an intimate knowledge of the lands and waters that enabled them to maintain their distinct Métis communities, culture, and way of life. This knowledge is perhaps best exemplified by Métis mail carriers whose routes traversed the rugged landscapes between Métis communities before the introduction of roads and railways—often in grueling conditions. Louis Miron was one such Métis mail carrier who traced

Throughout the 19th century fur trade, Métis fishing was essential to the survival of Hudson’s Bay Company posts at Lac la Pluie (Fort Frances) and Rat Portage (Kenora). As HBC employees, Métis harvested fish primarily to feed the post population. Numerous Hudson’s Bay Company records document Métis men operating large seasonal fisheries, as well as angling and spearing fish throughout the year. Whitefish, in particular, was a dietary staple at both posts, consumed by the p