Who are the Métis?

Distinct Nation

The Métis are a distinct people, which means they are a Nation with their own shared identity, history, culture, and way of governing themselves. They have unique traditions, language, kinship, and leaders who represent their communities.

The Métis are one of the three Indigenous groups recognized by the Canadian constitution in 1982.

Communities

Over time, Métis families built their own strong communities. They shared stories, helped each other, traded goods, and celebrated special days together. They worked on the land and supported each other like one big extended family.

As the years passed, they developed their own distinct culture with unique music, food, clothing, language (Michif), and traditions. This was the beginning of the Métis Nation. They were no longer just a mix of cultures but a proud people with their own identity, language, leadership, and way of life; the Métis became their own distinct nation.

Historically, Métis people lived in a variety of different types of communities. Examples of these communities are summer hunting camps, wintering camps (hivernants), River Lot settlements, fur trading posts, road allowances, and farming communities.