The Swanson Family’s Resilience

The Swanson family has been an active part of the Upper Great Lakes and Abitibi Inland regions for generations. As Hudson’s Bay Company employees and community advocates, they left a significant mark on the region, though not without facing resistance along the way.

While six of William Swanson and Frances Robinson’s Métis sons travelled throughout the region and beyond, continuing the family’s work with the HBC, their Métis daughters remained in the Abitibi Inland area. There, they sustained community connections, contributed to local initiatives, and married fellow Métis community members who also contributed to strengthening the Métis community through their own efforts.

When the Canadian government began granting scrip to Métis in parts of the prairies, many Métis in what is now northern Ontario assumed that, as persons with a similar origin and connection to the lands, their rights deserved equal consideration as Métis on the prairies.

For example, Métis in Moose Factory knew that their close relatives who had moved westward were granted scrip. By 1896, at least eight Métis in Fort Albany had submitted scrip applications themselves, including William and Frances’ son, Robert Swanson. Robert’s application was denied, not because he was not Métis, but because he resided outside of the districts in which scrip was being issued. This arbitrary and discriminatory policy was later criticized by Indian Commissioner J.A. McKenna, who argued for its repeal by government officials in 1902, stating: 

“The consequence is that Halfbreeds living on the Keewatin side of the English River are recognized as having territorial rights and get scrip, scrip which they may locate in Manitoba or any part of the North West Territories, while the Halfbreed on the Ontario side who naturally comes and makes claim has to be told that he has no territorial rights. We must take care to avoid the perpetuation of this.”

Despite repeated denials of their rights as Métis, members of the Swanson family refused to let setbacks define them. Growing and adapting, they continued to travel and work, raising future generations of proud Métis kids. Even when separated geographically, the family maintained a strong connection, bound by a shared sense of resilience and determination.

See Our Sources

• Abitibi Inland Historic Métis Community Métis National Council Expert Panel

• Scrip Record of Robert Swanson

• Swanson-Robinson Family VMFL

• “Report from J. A. McKenna Regarding Half-Breed Claims,” LAC RG 10, Vol. 3033, File 235,225 Pt. 1, C-11314.

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