“their dance was a kind of jig”

Whether through their work as guides, the sharing of harvests, or advocacy for their rights, the many customs of Métis life in northern Ontario have been observed and recorded across generations. 

Again and again, observers have remarked on Métis people who celebrated their community and culture openly, without shame, and with an unmistakable sense of pride. Métis gatherings were social occasions and the embodiment of belonging.

One such moment was recorded by a visitor who attended a Christmas Day dance in Timiskaming in 1873. The celebration left a vivid impression, particularly the dancing itself. A visitor’s account of the evening noted the presence of young Métis women, whose families had relocated from the Moose Factory region. These women confidently took to the floor, and poked fun at the visitor’s attempts to demonstrate what he considered proper dancing.

“There were several pretty half-breed girls present, and they openly laughed at my efforts to show them to the best of my ability how the thing was done in the best circles in England; … Their dance was a kind of jig with a mixture of Scotch, Irish and Indian movement in it.”

Distinct and entirely their own, the Métis jig defied comparison. True to their culture, the Métis women at the dance celebrated on their own terms, leaving a lasting impression rooted in joy, cultural strength, and enduring beauty.

See Our Sources

• Abitibi Inland Historic Métis Community Métis National Council Expert Panel

• Success! The Life of Charles Cobbold Farr, a Colonist in Canada as Told by Himself

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