“inordinately proud”

During the 1905 Treaty 9 expedition, Métis head guide Jimmy Swain helped lead treaty commissioners through northern Ontario and western James Bay regions. Born in northwestern Ontario, Swain spent much of his life living and working in the expedition’s regions, developing the knowledge needed to lead others through the difficult country. 

On a trip where every item was packed with intention, Swain brought his fiddle. The instrument was fragile and personal, and while it may not have been strictly “necessary” like food, tools, or blankets, it still held significance. It reflected Jimmy's pride, identity, and the role of music in Métis life, even amidst the challenges of travel.

Commissioner Samuel Stewart’s journal highlighted Swain’s pride in the instrument: “He had brought a fiddle with him of which he was inordinately proud.”

The fiddle’s place among the expedition’s supplies reveals how music travelled with Métis people as part of daily life, even in rough conditions. At camp, the fiddle became a source of energy and connection. Swain’s music gathered attention, lifted spirits, and brought the sound of Métis social life into the travelling company.

By bringing his fiddle onto the Treaty 9 expedition, Swain carried Métis culture with the same care and purpose as any other essential part of the journey.

See Our Sources

• "The James Bay Treaty 9. Places visited by the Commissioners, Summer of 1905"

• Abitibi Inland Métis Community’s Submission to the MNC Expert Panel

Mini Word Search

Have fun with the facts by completing today's mini word search.