Métis Mail Carriers: A Family Legacy
- Ontario Métis Facts
- May 5
- 1 min read
Métis mail carriers have a rich history of helping isolated communities stay connected socially, politically, and economically. They often navigated long, difficult routes and hazardous conditions, relying on extensive knowledge of the land that was passed down from generation to generation.
In the 1880s, the Native Copper Company operated copper mines on Michipicoten Island. While the company provided employees with amenities such as a store, a dance hall, and even a “completely stocked” farm, it was seventeen-year-old Métis mail carrier Charlie Davieaux who helped ensure the “bustling mining community” could stay in contact with others across the Upper Great Lakes.
In a 1948 Sault Star article, Charlie recalled some of the “hair-breath escapes from death” that he and his father, Hyacinthe Davieaux, faced as they transported the mail to and from the mainland:
“There was considerable risk involved in these trips over the ice, especially just before the break up in the Spring… On one of these late winter trips, the trio, Charlie, his father and one Ned Reviter, stared death in the face more than once during the journey.”
Despite his young age, Charlie bravely undertook the dangerous yet vital task of transporting mail across Lake Superior, following in his father's footsteps. Together, they relied on their extensive knowledge of the land, waters, seasons, and trails to deliver mail under challenging conditions that few others could safely navigate.
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