material to cultural dispossession + Madelein to Rooster Town

métis expériences 1900s

1950s - metis was a dirty word in prairies. métis heritage came with losing housing, jobs, and love.

some metis attended residential schools; prov and territorial gov were reluctance to provide services to metis people. they did not ensure there were schools in their communities or work to see metis children were admitted and welcomed into public school systems

The Forgotten Years

1885-1960

federal and provincial governments of canada largely ignored, underserved and “forgot” about metis people

prov gov took position that indigenous people were the responsibility of the federal gov

as metis, they did not fall under the indian act, so federal gov decided they weren’t their responsibility

as result, neither did anything

l’union nationale métisse st. joseph du manitoba

founded in 1887 by kin & associates of those who fought at batoche in 1885

main objective to defend metis rights, history rehab, promotion of michif french language and culture

the union attempted to accomplish by preserving metis stories (visiting elders in batoche) most memories ended in archives due to lack of publishing metis stories and voices

Ostracism & Francophone Divergence

1916- alexander riel accused french of being traitors to metis, treating them as second class citizens in their own french community

1923- Charette points to ostracism of the young metis women being refused employment due to identity

Ste. Madeleine

1935, Prairie Farm Rehab Act > community was designed to become a pasture, but it was already inhabited. great depression = metis unable to pay taxes on properties > inhumane relocation.

1938-1940: people were forced out, homes burned, dogs shot, school & church torn down

Rooster Town & Municipal Colonialism

a metis settlement on the fringe of winnipeg

pushed south repeatedly through the early 20th century

demolished in 1959 to make way for grant park mall & area

Lagasse Report

Designed to study and address issues of indigenous poverty

estimated that 80% of the métis people in manitoba were not included in the study as they have integrated themselves into not being recognized. some members like the union are proud of their heritage still