Education in Northern Lake Superior

Petitions from Métis communities across the Homeland often reflect commitments to core values such as individualism, family, and education. 

In 1880, education emerged as a clear priority for Métis in northern Lake Superior. The Métis demonstrated resilience and organization by signing several petitions, in which they identified themselves as “half-breeds" and clearly articulated their community’s needs along with those of First Nations neighbours and relatives.

On July 6, 1880, “Indians and half-breeds” on Lake Nipigon petitioned for money to pay a schoolteacher. The next week, on July 13, 1880, a similar petition was submitted by the “Indians and half breeds of Lake Helen near the Hudson’s Bay Company Post, at Red Rock, Lake Superior,” requesting funds to pay a schoolteacher and land for settlement.

The July 6, 1880, petition, backed by an existing schoolhouse, highlighted the rapidly increasing families in the area and the need for access to education. By the time the petition was penned, the number of children had risen to thirty-two across nearly twenty families.

“That until lately, almost all of us have lived scattered on Lake Nipigon or in the interior of the land, but that of late twelve families of us have built houses within one mile of the school-House and into the intentions of residing altogether in that place.”

Métis families in northern Lake Superior consistently strived to secure their long-term survival and ensure future generations could thrive. Reflecting their commitment to community and progress, the 1880 petitions underscore their values of education and resilience, supporting the advancement of families across generations.

See Our Sources

• 1880 Petition of the Indians and Half-Breeds of the Reservation of Lake Nipigon

• 1880 Petition of the Indians and Half-Breeds of Lake Helen

• Upper Great Lakes Submission to the MNC Expert Panel

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