A Métis community in the Abitibi Region exists and isn’t going anywhere
Our rights, though historically denied, continue to exist as constitutionally protected rights today. These rights coexist with First Nation rights.
By Jacques Picotte
Dec. 7, 2022
There is a sad irony to a First Nation leader denying the existence of the Métis people and our community in the Abitibi region in a Toronto Star op-ed. Instead of colonial governments denying our existence and rights, it is now some of our relations and kin. This often comes from fear that there are finite resources for all Indigenous Peoples, and that the recognition of Métis rights will somehow diminish or lessen others.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
What is also not truthful is ignoring the facts of history. Here are some. By the late 1700s, distinct Métis populations began to emerge along the well-travelled fur trade routes in what is now Ontario. By the 1800s, young “Halfbreed” men, dubbed “factory boys,” replaced the Hudson Bay Company’s English apprentices in the Abitibi region. These “servant” class positions included canoemen, blacksmiths, coopers, and carpenters. “Halfbreed” women were also subjected to a class system, with European women refusing to socialize with them. Despite this prejudice, our people helped build this country, and developed our own identity, culture and way of life that continues to this day.
By the mid 1800s, a majority of the employees at the Abitibi inland fur trade posts were identified as “Halfbreeds.” These “factory boys”— and often their families — moved between a network of trade posts that included Matachewan, Mattagami, Flying Post, Abitibi House, and Frederick House. Many stayed in these areas. These families were repeatedly identified as “Halfbreeds” in the record over multiple generations. Some of their surnames — McKay, Beads, Faries, King, Polson, McBride, Saunders, McLeod — were most certainly not “Indian.” Through genealogies and kinship connections, we have documented our Métis community.
When the “Indians” began negotiating Treaty 9 with the Crown, “Halfbreeds” at Moose Factory separately petitioned for land scrip (like what was made available to “Halfbreeds” in Western Canada). Similar to the petitions issued in Penetanguishene, Sault Ste. Marie, Nipigon and other locations in Ontario, governments ignored our assertions. These actions are what make our claims different from those who now claim “Métis” rights in areas where there is no history of collective assertions when colonial laws began to be imposed.
While we no longer use pejorative terms like “Indians” to describe First Nations or “Halfbreeds” to describe Métis, these two distinct Indigenous groups continue to exist in Ontario. Despite these facts of history and Métis inclusion in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, governments continued to deny our existence and rights well into the 1990s. In response, the Métis Nation of Ontario advanced the Powley case all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2003, the highest court in the land unanimously confirmed the Métis are a distinct Indigenous people with rights, and that governments were obliged to negotiate with us.
We have done just that over the last 20 years. Through negotiations and rigorous processes (not just a single paid consultant), the facts of our unique history have finally begun to be told. In August 2017, based on evidence and independent research, Ontario formally recognized seven historic Métis communities, including ours. These are not “new” communities.
Our rights, though historically denied, continue to exist as constitutionally protected rights today. These rights coexist with First Nation rights. While some parts of our Métis families may be registered as “Indians” today, these individual actions have not snuffed out our Métis community. We have met with Matachewan First Nation previously. The chief and others know who we are, but are choosing denial over dialogue. True reconciliation is a two-way street. Our Métis community is not going anywhere, and our door is always open for dialogue.
Jacques Picotte is the elected PCMNO Regional Councillor for the Abitibi Inland Métis Community.
This article was originally published in The Toronto Star.