Métis Essay

Life for the Métis was adventurous with all of the hunting and trading they did. Métis were the result of Aboriginal people and Europeans. Many would work at fur trading companies or just be hunters. When they would travel to different places they would often use Ox Carts to haul all of their belongings. Their culture was very important including what music they played and the language. When they traded they would sell a lot of things because they were so talented at making things. The Métis grew up an having unique and adventurous life including who they were, the culture, what they made, Red River Trails, the Fur Trade, where they've live and how they live today.

The Métis grew up with a unique history, culture, lifestyle, language,

and places they lived (“Who are the Métis” para 1). Métis were a group that originated around the 1700s and were very important (“Métis Nation” para 1). They were an indigenous nation that combined Native American and European cultural practices since the their century. (“Métis People” para 1). Their origins often traced back to the Red River Valley and prairies (“Métis” para 2). Most workers work as fur traders or hunters. “Distant Métis communities devolved along the routes of the fur trade and across the Northwest within the Métis Nation Homeland.” (“The Métis Nation” para 2). Many lived around the areas of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and other Northwest Territories (“The Métis” para 1).

Métis had a unique and complicated culture they had to live.

(“Métis Culture” para 14). “The Métis had a unique presence in art, music, dances, and storytelling.” (para 7). Their culture was very loud because of all the celebrations and music festivals they had (para 9). Music was a huge part in the culture that was called Red River Jig and it is still known through Canada today (para 10). Woman were talented in their artistic skill so they would make different paintings and sculptures to sell (para 11). They were also known for the beads and jewelry they had on many of the things they wore (para 9). A big part of the culture was their language that was called Michif and was a combination between French nouns and Cree verbs (para

12).

The Métis made things by using the things they've caught like berries, buffalo, and fish. (“The Métis” para 3). Métis would make things to sell at trading posts or to trade for other tribes goods (para 5). Most of the woman made the clothes and furniture by hand (para 4). Men would go out and gather the fur and meat so the woman could make the goods (para 4). They often caught wild berries or edible fruits that would make desserts or meals with them (para 4). Fish would serve as making clothes or something to eat (para 4). Buffalo would make a lot of different things with the skin, bones, and horns (para 6). Skin from the buffalos would help make containers, shields, ropes, and bags (para 6). Bones from the buffalos would help make knives, pipes, arrowheads, shovels, and clubs (para 6). Horns from the buffalos would help make arrows, spoons, power horns, and paddles (para 6).

Métis community would take trips to and from St. Paul to get more supplies. They took regular trips through the Red River to get to St. Paul carrying furs and meals to return with merchandise (“The Métis and The Red River Carts” para 13). The Red River was also used for communication between the Red River settlements and the people in St. Paul (para 6). Many people traveling would take their buffalo huts and would have to spend days on the trail (LaRose slide 12). Often Métis would built carts to haul the furs to the ports and companies that want it on the trail (“The Métis and The Red River Carts” para 11). “Large groups of Métis from the entire Red River Valley met semi-annually for their bison findings and would stay in their hunts.” (para 14). After the Métis would transport the fur through the Trails the fur would be steamboats down the river down by Missouri (para 17).

The Métis would sell lots of furs because of how they hunted and traded.

Métis were important because they were skilled buffalo hunters so they could sell a lot of buffalo hides (“Métis and the Fur Trade” slide 4). “Trading companies would use the Métis for their knowledge of the fur trade or use them as employees (slide 2). They were also used for voyagers, hunters, employees, traders, and interpreters (slide 3). Woman played a role by trading while the husbands went out and got more fur (slide 2). Many woman would also make moccasins to sell or trade with the fur from rabbits, squirrels, and other smaller animals that they would hunt (Rahsai slide 4). If they didn't sell any items they would make furniture and clothes out of them (“The Métis” para

8).

The Métis would normally move a lot to find different spots for privacy and more food. When they first appeared they were by Ontario and the Great Lakes then eventually many moved (“The Métis” para 3). “Métis settlements were located as far west as British Columbia.” (para 4). To get to these places they would go on foot, canoe, or Ox Cart (para 2). “As the Fur Trade moved west, so did the Métis.” (para 4). Many settled by using a lot of the supplies they had to build huts, furniture and clothes (para 4). Settlers would often settle by rivers or waterways to ship or export things off to be sold (“The Métis and The Red River” para 5). As they moved they would often find better food and hunting places (“The Métis” para 9). They made sure that the places were capable of having a lot of people and that it had privacy.

Métis still try and keep their origins like the culture, traditions, language, and lifestyle alive (“Métis Nation” para 4). Their nation is still trying to pass and create laws to keep the culture going (para 26). They now get to work wherever but many are still skilled at hunting and carving (para 1). Instead of using canoes and ox carts they now can use cars if they want to for transportation (“Métis” para 1). In total today still living for the Métis community is about 350,000 to 400,000 in Canada (“The Métis” para 1). Many present day Métis still are by Ontario and the Great Lakes (para 3). Most Metis today have now moved by the urban or city areas now (para 6). “The Métis are now recognized in the constitution of Canada as one of the aboriginal groups that make up the Country.” (“Métis Nation” para 1).

The Métis grew up an having unique and adventurous life including who they were, the culture, what they made, Red River Trails, the Fur Trade, where they've lived and how they live today. They were very advanced in their time period because they were talented in selling the fur and on how they got the animals. The Metis had unique cultural practices that included their own language, style, music, and dances. Many would move all over to find good hunting spots, privacy, and would also move for the fur trade. Métis are still around today and many still have the skills that were around in the earlier generations.