Métis Marriages: Boissonneau & Finlayson

On September 23, 1908, John B. Boissonneau and Elisabeth Finlayson were married in Thunder Bay, a union that brought together Métis families with ties to Sault Ste. Marie, Fort William, and Northwestern Ontario. These Métis marriages were more than personal unions; they served as community bridges, strengthening shared identity across generations by extending kinship ties.

John B. was born to Francois Boissonneau and Marie Corbiere in 1888 in the Sault Ste. Marie region and raised surrounded by siblings and extended family.

Elisabeth was also born around 1888 to Nichol Finlayson and Jane Souliere. Like many Métis families, her early life was influenced by her father's work for the Hudson's Bay Company, particularly his positions at posts at Long Lake and Red Rock.

John B. and Elisabeth’s marriage strengthened kinship ties across regions, carrying Métis identity forward into the twentieth century.

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• Boissonneau VMFL

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