Métis political organization extended beyond formal settings like councils or petitions; it was also embedded in the shared responsibilities, customs, and laws that governed daily life, including how communities practiced land-based harvesting. Across the Métis Homeland, Métis people followed land stewardship practices that helped protect the resources their families depended on. In some places, these rules were complex and formally documented, such as the Laws of the Buffalo

The Métis Nation of Ontario’s Statement of Prime Purpose is a declaration of Métis values and a vision for contemporary Métis self-government. It memorializes the Métis history, culture, and generosity that have sustained and inspired generations of Métis people in what is now Ontario. The value of generosity runs deep through Métis communities historically and into the present day. It can be found in the harvester who provides for the larger community through a successful a

By the mid-1800’s the Métis community at Sault Ste. Marie had built a vibrant and thriving way of life around their Métis River Lots on the north shore of the St Mary’s River—the international border between the United States and what was then claimed as British territory. These customary family allotments were well-known throughout the region and widely recognized by the Métis community and outsiders alike. In 1826, for example, U.S. Indian Affairs Superintendent, Thomas L.