Nolin Brothers’ Leadership Through Language

Following in their father Jean Baptiste Nolin’s footsteps, Métis brothers Louis, Augustin, and Joseph Nolin carried their knowledge of languages and diplomacy into new generations of leadership and service.

Having grown up in the culturally diverse Upper Great Lakes fur trade and later serving during the War of 1812, their combined experiences navigating relationships between communities and speaking multiple languages made the Nolin brothers valuable figures in moments where careful communication was essential across the historic North-West, from the Upper Great Lakes, to Red River, and beyond.  

For Louis Nolin, these skills made him an ideal candidate to work as a personal translator for Lord Selkirk in 1817, when he acted as interpreter during the Peguis–Selkirk Treaty at Red River, helping communicate between leaders during a significant moment of agreement. 

Augustin and Joseph Nolin, who followed their brother westward in the years that followed, brought with them the same background and abilities. Each took on roles translating and witnessing negotiations in the region. Half a century later, Augustin’s sons, including the Métis politician Charles Nolin, carried on this tradition of service, acting as interpreters during the negotiations for Treaty 3 in 1873.

Together, the Nolin brothers carried more than fluency of words. Whether in trade, diplomacy, or treaty negotiations, their ability to speak across languages and cultures helped ensure that the sacred agreements they were facilitating were shaped and understood by all.

See Our Sources

• Upper Great Lakes Written Submissions to the Expert Panel

• Nolin Family Vignette

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