Weekly Word Search: Apr 7 - Apr 11, 2025
- Ontario Métis Facts
- Apr 12
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 23
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Northwestern Ontario: “of the Métis Nation”
The Rainy Lake/Lake of the Woods Historic Métis Community, known today as the Northwestern Ontario Métis Community, was one of seven historic Métis Nation communities in northern Ontario studied by the landmark MNC Expert Panel through the lens of the 2002 National Definition and contemporary Métis governance.
During its year-long study, the MNC Expert Panel reviewed over 50,000 pages of evidence, engaged with over 160 Métis Nation citizens, elders, youth, scholars, and leaders during more than 120 hours of meetings, and visited the Rainy Lake/Lake of the Woods Historic Métis Community to engage with and gather additional evidence from community members themselves.
The MNC Expert Panel’s 260-page Final Report represented the most comprehensive, transparent, ethical, and objective study ever conducted on historic Métis Nation communities in what is now Ontario and outlined fact-based historic and contemporary relationships between the Rainy Lake/Lake of the Woods Historic Métis Community and the larger Métis Nation.
The Expert Panel’s conclusions were unambiguous, stating that the Rainy River/Lake of the Woods Historic Métis Community “clearly meets the threshold and is a member of the Métis Nation” (pg. 124) as per the National Definition and contemporary Métis governance.
The Expert Panel also recognized that, “The community is clearly located within the 2018 map
and within what would be considered Western Canada, as per the National Definition,” (pg. 125) with such clear “evidence of outside ascription and collective understanding as a separate people from European and First Nation groups... that it seems difficult to imagine anyone arguing otherwise” (pg. 130).
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Northern Lake Superior: “of the Métis Nation”
The Northern Lake Superior Historic Métis Community was one of seven historic Métis Nation communities in northern Ontario studied by the landmark MNC Expert Panel through the lens of the 2002 National Definition and contemporary Métis governance.
During its year-long study, the MNC Expert Panel reviewed over 50,000 pages of evidence, engaged with over 160 Métis Nation citizens, elders, youth, scholars, and leaders during more than 120 hours of meetings, and visited the Northern Lake Superior Historic Métis Community to engage with and gather additional evidence from community members themselves.
The MNC Expert Panel’s 260-page Final Report represented the most comprehensive, transparent, ethical, and objective study ever conducted on historic Métis Nation communities in what is now Ontario and outlined fact-based historic and contemporary relationships between the Northern Lake Superior Historic Métis Community and the larger Métis Nation.
The Expert Panel’s conclusions were unambiguous, stating that the Northern Lake Superior Historic Métis Community “clearly meets the threshold and is a member of the Métis Nation” (pg. 132) as per the National Definition and contemporary Métis governance, highlighting that “[I]t was in the Lake Nipigon region that one of the first modern-day Métis political associations was formed… In 1965” (pg. 136).
The Expert Panel also recognized a regional Métis community in the Upper Great Lakes, of which the Northern Lake Superior Historic Métis Community is an indivisible part, and that “Clearly there were communities of ‘Halfbreeds’ in this area, characterized by their involvement in fur trade enterprises, their unique amalgamation of religious practices, and their political actions” (pg. 138).
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Sault Ste. Marie: “of the Métis Nation”
The Sault Ste. Marie Historic Métis Community was one of seven historic Métis Nation communities in northern Ontario studied by the landmark MNC Expert Panel through the lens of the 2002 National Definition and contemporary Métis governance.
During its year-long study, the MNC Expert Panel reviewed over 50,000 pages of evidence, engaged with over 160 Métis Nation citizens, elders, youth, scholars, and leaders during more than 120 hours of meetings, and visited the Sault Ste. Marie Historic Métis Community to engage with and gather additional evidence from community members themselves.
The MNC Expert Panel’s 260-page Final Report represented the most comprehensive, transparent, ethical, and objective study ever conducted on historic Métis Nation communities in what is now Ontario and outlined fact-based historic and contemporary relationships between the Sault Ste. Marie Historic Métis Community and the larger Métis Nation.
The Expert Panel’s conclusions were unambiguous, stating that the Sault Ste. Marie Historic Métis Community “clearly meets the threshold and is a member of the Métis Nation” (pg. 138) as per the National Definition and contemporary Métis governance.
The Expert Panel also highlighted the Métis Nation’s long history of recognizing and claiming the Sault Ste. Marie Historic Métis Community, before and after its landmark Supreme Court of Canada victory in Powley, emphasizing that, “Following the decision in Powley, all Métis Nation leaders celebrated, including David Chartrand, Clemént Chartier, and Audrey Poitras” (pg. 68), concluding that:
“when evidence related to the maps is viewed together with the fact that the National Definition was established in the years and months leading up to Powley being heard by the SCC, it is both logical and credible that, at the very least, the National Definition is inclusive of Rainy Lake/Lake of the Woods and Sault Ste. Marie, as a constituent part of the Great Lakes Métis and Métis Nation” (pg. 89).
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Georgian Bay: “of the Métis Nation”
The Georgian Bay Historic Métis Community was one of seven historic Métis Nation communities in northern Ontario studied by the landmark MNC Expert Panel through the lens of the 2002 National Definition and contemporary Métis governance.
During its year-long study, the MNC Expert Panel reviewed over 50,000 pages of evidence, engaged with over 160 Métis Nation citizens, elders, youth, scholars, and leaders during more than 120 hours of meetings, and visited the Georgian Bay Historic Métis Community to engage with and gather additional evidence from community members themselves.
The MNC Expert Panel’s 260-page Final Report represented the most comprehensive, transparent, ethical, and objective study ever conducted on historic Métis Nation communities in what is now Ontario and outlined fact-based historic and contemporary relationships between the Georgian Bay Historic Métis Community and the larger Métis Nation.
The Expert Panel’s conclusions were unambiguous, stating that the Georgian Bay Historic Métis Community “clearly meets the threshold and is a member of the Métis Nation” (pg. 145) as per the National Definition and contemporary Métis governance.
The Expert Panel also recognized that “the community strongly satisfies each of the four Sash Threads of distinct Métis ancestry... and cultural distinctiveness even through the 20th century with kinship connections that run throughout Georgian Bay (e.g., from Moon River to Penetanguishene), Killarney, Sault Ste. Marie, and as far west as Red River and Alberta” (pg. 153), highlighting that:
“In the mid nineteenth century, the Georgian Bay was considered a part of ‘Western Canada,’ as well as the location of the easternmost Halfbreed or Métis community. This is likewise a significant historical document, as it recognizes that halfbreed/mixedblood/ mixed-ancestry processes occurred in parts of ‘eastern Canada,’ but it is not until the Great Lakes (and particularly Penetanguishene) that one encounters a distinct Métis or Halfbreed population or collectivity” (pg. 98)
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Killarney: “of the Métis Nation”
The Killarney Historic Métis Community was one of seven historic Métis Nation communities in northern Ontario studied by the landmark MNC Expert Panel through the lens of the 2002 National Definition and contemporary Métis governance.
During its year-long study, the MNC Expert Panel reviewed over 50,000 pages of evidence and engaged with over 160 Métis Nation citizens, elders, youth, scholars, and leaders during more than 120 hours of meetings.
The MNC Expert Panel’s 260-page Final Report represented the most comprehensive, transparent, ethical, and objective study ever conducted on historic Métis Nation communities in what is now Ontario and outlined fact-based historic and contemporary relationships between the Killarney Historic Métis Community and the larger Métis Nation.
The Expert Panel’s conclusions were clear, stating that the Killarney Historic Métis Community “meets the threshold and is a member of the Métis Nation” (pg. 154) as per the National Definition and contemporary Métis governance.
The Expert Panel also recognized that the Killarney Historic Métis Community “has a long history and is a hub within the larger Upper Great Lakes Métis regional community”, with “its own unique history and political conflicts with settlers and others” (pg. 157), “culture and lifestyle [that] are similar to other Métis communities” (pg. 157), and that it has been “recognized in historical documentation as a ‘small half-breed village’” (pg. 156).
