Many members of the Upper Great Lakes Métis Community utilized their knowledge of the lands, waters, and local peoples to maintain meaningful employment as guides and interpreters. Lewis Solomon, a member of the Métis community at Penetanguishene, was one of those guides. Lewis was born on Drummond Island in 1821 and later moved to Penetanguishene during the community’s relocation in 1829. As a young adult, Lewis pursued “a tolerably fair education” that afforded him a “c

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

After the imposition of the international border following the War of 1812, the Métis community living on Drummond Island, just east of Sault Ste. Marie, was relocated to Penetanguishene. While the Métis community rebuilt their lives together in their new home, preserving and celebrating their Métis traditions, they faced anti-Métis prejudice from their new neighbours, both at the nearby naval base and from the growing settler population that began arriving in the area in th

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

Before the British and United States imposed the international border following the War of 1812, which displaced portions of the Upper Great Lakes Métis Community to Penetanguishene, many Métis families lived, travelled, and worked throughout the Upper Great Lakes’ many islands. Michilimackinac, or Mackinac Island, was once such island that served as "an eighteenth century nexus for the Great Lakes fur trade" where many Métis families emerged with a distinct Métis collective

The Georgian Bay Métis Community is home to many descendants of the Métis families who were forced to relocate from their homes on Drummond Island after the British ceded it to the United States following the War of 1812. The treacherous voyage from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene, across the unpredictable waters of Georgian Bay, holds an important place in the community’s history. Many first-hand accounts and stories are documented in "Migration of Voyageurs from Drummon