The Metis
why did the metis stop the settlers at the border
Who are the metis?
The Métis are an indigenous people of north america. They developed as the mixed-race descendants of unions between, generally, First nation women and French or British men, but over time there were more intermarriages within the group. The term historically described all mixed-race people of First Nations and other ancestry. Within generations, particularly in central and western Canada, but also in the Eastern parts of Canada, distinct Metis culture developed. Since the late 20th century, the Métis people have been recognized by the government of Canada as one of the offical Aboriginal people, with formal recognition equal to that given to the Iniut and First Nation peoples.
There Culture
The religious beliefs of the Métis people were a combination of two worlds, like most aspects of their culture. Their spirituality was influenced by both their mothers’ Native heritage and their fathers’ more European beliefs. Music and dance were important parts of Métis culture. They were famous for their fiddle music and dancing. Music played an important role in the lifestyle of the Métis people. They held many community events that involved music and dancing. The fiddle was the most common instrument used by the Métis. Other instruments included the concertina, harmonica, hand drum, mouth harp, and finger instruments
How the Metis would survive
- The lifestyle of the Métis revolved around the Plains buffalo.However, when the skilled Métis hunters were not on a buffalo hunt, they spent time hunting other animals for food. They hunted:
- Pronghorn antelope
- Moose
- Elk
- Mule deer
- Prairie bush rabbit
- Wild birds - prairie chicken, sage grouse, duck, geese