Under Section 35 of the 1982 Canadian Constitution, "Aboriginal peoples of Canada" includes the Indian, Inuit, and Métis. The United States does not recognize the Métis as a separate group of people; therefore, we have elected to provide a page that discuss Canadian Resources and a separate one that discuss American Resources.
Wikipedia Article: Indigenous Peoples in Canada
Daniel v Canada (Supreme Court of Canada Case): In this case which was decided 14 April 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Metis and non-status Indians are “Indians” and existing laws burden the federal government of fiduciary duty to them and an obligation to negotiate or consult on their rights. See: http://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/15858/index.do
Book: Gail Morin, First Mètis [sic] Families of Québec 1622 – 1748 (Baltimore, Maryland: Clearfield Publishing, 2012). The book covers 56 Families headed by a French or French Canadian and a Native American. The descendants of these couples are listed for three generations if the data is available. The entry for each individual contains a source for the record and the entries for each family includes a bibliography. Although there are some errors, this book is a good starting point for researching these families; researchers should confirm the entries with primary records if possible. Gail Morin is also the author of a number of other books dealing with Métis Families or Communities in Alberta, Manitoba, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and North Dakota. These books are available for sale on Amazon.
Reports from Statistics Canada
Reports on the Canadian Residential School System
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 15 December 2015 statement on the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Final Report.
- The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Final Report published on 15 December 2015.
- The Aboriginal Healing Foundation’s Research Series report published in 2006: Métis History and Experience and Residential Schools in Canada
Canadian Resources Related to Métis and métis
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada Website
Canadian Encyclopedia articles about Métis
- Métis
- The “Other” Métis: This article discusses Department of Justice of Canada studies of historic Métis communities in 20 regions of Canada on the basis of the criteria in Powley.
- Métis are a People, Not a Historical Process
Métis Nation of Ontario’s Guide to Researching Your Ancestors
Library and Archives Canada (LAC): See the Resources for researching First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Heritage at LAC:
Records from Canadiana Heritage
- Manitoba and Red River Census Returns
- Records Relating to Louis Riel and the North West Uprising
- Parish Registers - Manitoba
- Aboriginal Affairs: Contents Page
Veterans and Families of the 1885 Northwest Resistance, by Lawrence Barkwell of the Louis Riel Institute
Councillors of the Provisional Government of the Métis Nation. Louis Riel is in the center of the photograph – Available from Library and Archives Canada, see Mikan #3194516