Canadian Metis Identity: A Pattern of Evolution

The Metis occupy a marginal place in contemporary Canadian society: in spite of their mixed ancestry they have not had access to the main course of sociocultural development followed by White and Indian groups. This paper first outlines the significant phases of Metis history and describes their emergence into the modern Euro-Canadian world. Then a rural Metis community is given as an example of the economic and cultural transition between traditional and modern lifestyles which is currently being effected. Finally the study focuses on the difficulties met by contemporary Metis in trying to preserve a distinct identity and on their ability to merge the two different traditions from which their culture got its substance. Both a historical and an ethnographic approach have been adopted, and wherever possible quotations are drawn from the works of Metis authors (Campbell, Cardinal, Daniels, Erasmus, Sealey and Lussier).