A Very Special Mother’s Day

Every Mother’s Day, Métis families and communities across the Homeland take time to honour and celebrate the Métis matriarchs in their lives, past and present. This annual tradition stretches back generations. 

A May 1942 Toronto Star article, for example, celebrated a very special Mother’s Day for Georgian Bay Métis Community matriarch, Elizabeth Longlade (nee Dusome) of Penetanguishene: 

“Sunday, Mother’s Day, will be the 95th birthday of Mrs. Charles Longlade, pioneer resident of Penetanguishene.”

Elizabeth was one of the “pioneer” members of the Georgian Bay Métis Community—like Angelique Lepine (nee Cadotte), Rosette Boucher (nee Larammee), and Angelique Langlade—whose love and resilience helped to maintain their Métis community’s traditions and solidarity in the generations following its relocation to Penetanguishene from Drummond Island after the War of 1812.

These incredible Métis matriarchs and many others like them continue to be remembered and celebrated within their Métis communities each and every Mother’s Day.

See Our Sources

• Daughter of Red River Native, Toronto Star, May 8, 1942

• The Migration of Voyageurs from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828

• Upper Great Lakes Submission to the MNC Expert Panel

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