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The metis struggle to self-define
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The metis emerged as a nation due to several factors contributing to a distinct metis national identity. As a nation, the metis developed due to their growing national identity. Metis national identity is based on three factors, the bison hunt, common cultural practices and military involved events. Metis origin can be traced back to the early 1700’s, the arrival of the fur trade in North America. The fur trade can be credited with the formation of the metis race and identity. The bison hunt, played an important role in the solidification of metis unity. The bison hunt gave the metis a common purpose, strengthening the metis as one. Shared cultural practices distinguished the metis from native and Europeans groups. Military factors brought the metis together under one common enemy. The metis continued to emerge and develop due to their strong national pride, definition and identity. The bison hunt contributed to the sense of identity among the metis. ‘The buffalo hunt was a spectacular event the involved the entire community.’ (pg.141) These organized hunts involved hundreds of men, women and children. These hunts were social occasions, bringing families together who saw each other few times a year. With better, understanding of one another, families created bonds strengthening the unity of the metis. The metis no longer saw themselves as children of French and Native instead they became the Metis, the great buffalo warriors. During the hunt, the metis would come in conflict with groups such as the Plain Indians. A common enemy contributed to sense of identity among the metis. The buffalo hunt became an important occupation for the metis. From the hunt, the metis produced pemmican for the fur trade, which in exchange provided ... ... middle of paper ... ...an from the Red River. This proclamation angered the metis, who responded with a fierce rebellion. This conflict between both sides escalated and a battle undertook. The battle, Battle of Seven Oaks, gave the metis a symbol of pride and a common enemy leading them to foster their own identity. Several factors and events, contributed to a metis identity, furthermore it hastened metis emergence and development. Metis identity was formed on the bases of common purposes, enemies and pride. The bison hunt, shared cultural practices, and military events cemented unity of the metis nation as one. The fur trade played a major role in the contribution of a metis identity, one which would become stronger as it developed. “We must cherish our inheritance. We must preserve our nationality for the youth of our future. The story should be written down to pass on.” (Louis Riel)
The indians had created the birch-bark canoe. They had started a war against their enemies and Champlain had to settle the argument.
Beginning in the mid sixteenth century, French explorers were able to establish a powerful and lasting presence in what is now the Northern United States and Canada. The explorers placed much emphasis on searching and colonizing the area surrounding the St. Lawrence River “which gave access to the Great Lakes and the heart of the continent”(Microsoft p?). They began exploring the area around 1540 and had early interactions with many of the Natives, which made communication easier for both peoples when the French returned nearly fifty years later. The French brought a new European desire for fur with them to America when they returned and began to trade with the Indians for furs in order to supply the European demands. The Natives and the French were required to interact with each other in order to make these trades possible, and, over time, the two groups developed a lasting alliance. However, the French began to face strong competition in the fur trading industry, which caused many problems between different European nations and different native tribes. Therefore, the trading of fur allowed early seven- teenth century French explorers to establish peaceful relations with the Natives, however, com- petitive trading also incited much quarreling between competing colonies and Indian tribes.
The French offered protection from neighboring enemies while the Indigenous people offered resources such as fur trade, and education of European settlers on how to use the land. In creating this mutual alliance, the differences between the two cultures of people led to a natural formation of gender and power relationships. To better understand the meaning of these gender and power relationships, we can look at Joan Scott’s definition. Scotts states that “Gender is a constitutive element of social relationships based on perceived differences between the sexes and gender is a primary way of signifying relationships of power (SCOTT, 1067).” By incorporating these two ideas from Scott, we can better understand the different perceptions of social relationships between the French and the Indigenous people and how the misunderstood conflicts created a hierarchy and struggle for
To start off, I’ll be writing about the life of people in British North America and its significance towards unifying Canada, as well as background knowledge of conflicts that existed. Life in British North America was changing at an alarming rate. New technology and services were being introduced such as railways and steamships. Industries such as building, producing and farming were being introduced. This was in part due to the many immigrants from Britain and France who’d settled. This was dreadful for the First Nations as their land had been taken away even more so than before. More resources were needed for the growing crowd so trade agreements were made. As more people came, the First Nations were even more distanced from the Europeans. Meanwhile, the French and the British wanted the other’s culture to be erased from the
To them, the excitement and the adventure of the buffalo hunt held more appeal than farming. Hundreds of Metis were content to earn a living by hunting buffalo, making pemmican or finding employment as freight drivers. After a while Canada bought Rupertsland from Hudson Bay Company. When the Metis heard this they were alarmed. They feared their religion,their language, their lands and their old, free way of* life.
(“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
...h and the French and Indians, but shows some of the ironic nature of this conflict: that due to kidnapping and tribal adoption, some Abenaki Indians were likely to have almost as many English ancestors as the frontiersmen they opposed. The English frontiersmen could be as "savage" as the Indians. Brumwell does very well dispelling the clichés and stereotypes that many have become accustomed to. He uses records of the Abenaki Indian oral tradition to give a voice to both sides. It is a great book from start to finish. This is a true history buffs companion and a great addition to any library. The book is as complex in its knowledge as it is simplistic and detailed in its imagery. As a result, this book can be read by both specialists and general readers alike and can be pared with almost any text giving light to the French and Indian War or the aftermath thereof.
This book and the Aboriginal people described within are successful in showing how late nineteenth century ideas of authenticity can at once be complied to and challenged, which is perhaps a reflection of how the definition for authenticity was created. One example Raibmon gives is the work Aboriginal people did in the hop fields. They were an important part of an important industry on the Northwest Coast which challenges the idea that authentic Indians were not part of modern economic endeavors, but at the same time the Aboriginals were using this economic opportunity to maintain ties with their kinship network as well as to locations that were traditionally culturally important.
... middle of paper ... ... Regina: Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina. Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) (2013).
In the introduction, Hämäläinen introduces how Plains Indians horse culture is so often romanticized in the image of the “mounted warrior,” and how this romanticized image is frequently juxtaposed with the hardships of disease, death, and destruction brought on by the Europeans. It is also mentioned that many historians depict Plains Indians equestrianism as a typical success story, usually because such a depiction is an appealing story to use in textbooks. However, Plains Indians equestrianism is far from a basic story of success. Plains equestrianism was a double-edged sword: it both helped tribes complete their quotidian tasks more efficiently, but also gave rise to social issues, weakened the customary political system, created problems between other tribes, and was detrimental to the environment.
MacDougall, Brenda. One of the Family: Metis Culture in Nineteenth-Century Northwestern Saskatchewan. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 2010.
Across Canada and the United States there are many First Nations languages which are a part of the Algonquian language family, all of which with varying states of health. Although these languages share many characteristics of the Algonquian language family, the cultures, systems of beliefs, and geographic location of their respective Nations differentiate them. In being shaped by the landscape, cultures, and spirituality of the First Nations, the language brings the speakers closer to their land and traditions while reaffirming their identity as First Peoples. Using the Blackfoot Nation to further explore this concept, this paper will show that while language threads together First Nations culture, spirituality, traditions and land, as well as their identity, each of these essential components also maintain and revitalize the language.
The history of the Metis started with the European colonization of North America. With the arrival of the West European powers, fraternization and trade began between the European settlers and the many First Nations peoples throughout Canada. The French were the first foreign power to realize the potential benefits of allying with the First Nations peoples. Consequently, the French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, proposed a union of the French and First Nations . Champlain’s, and therefore France’s, goal was to create a mixed-blood race to populate the continent and form a new, thriving colony for France . The offspring of these unions did not live the life Champlain envisioned; instead they often lived exclusively with one group or another. It was not until the years when fur trading became a lucrative, thriving business that children of mixed descent began to realize their own unique place in the world.
...attles. It eventually ended when Louis Riel surrendered on May 15 1885, after the defeat at Batoche. Riel had written a letter to General Frederick Middleton (British general), saying that he didn’t like war and he’d surrender himself only if the Métis were freed. After the rebellion ended, Riel became a prisoner of the Canadian government and was taken to trial for treason in Regina. He was eventually convicted and executed as a traitor. And so lived and died the heroic, peaceful founder of the Province of Manitoba, and defender of the rights of the Métis.
The history of the Cree Indians begins where they live for the most part in Canada, and some share reservations with other tribes in North Dakota. The Cree Indians, an Alogonquian tribe sometimes called Knisteneau, were essentially forest people, though an offshoot, the so-called Plains Cree, were buffalo hunters. The Cree’s first encounter with white people was in 1640, the French Jesuits. The Cree Indians later lost many of their tribe in the 1776 break out of small pox, battles with the Sioux, and a defeat to the Blackfeet in 1870. The Cree lived by hunting, fishing, trapping, and using muskrat as one of their staples. They made sacrifices to the sun; the Great Master of Life (Erdoes, Ortiz 504).