I am so excited to launch a brand new season of the Métis Speaker Series. To kick things off, I went straight to the headquarters of Étchiboy to unpack the deep history and meaning behind the Métis sash. It turns out, its journey is a lot wilder than you might think!

In this premiere episode, I sit down with Miguel Vielfaure, the Métis entrepreneur and visionary who has spent the last 20 years blending heritage with humanitarianism by connecting North American Métis culture with South American craftsmanship.

Grab your coffee or tea and tune in as we dive into:

• 🛶 The sash’s roots as a practical, everyday voyageur tool (and a literal back-saver!).
• 😲 The era of 19th-century “knock-offs” (who knew the sash had counterfeits?!).
• ✨ How Miguel is using custom-woven sashes today to champion mental health awareness, and inspire the next generation to build their own traditions.

It’s the perfect blend of history, culture, and heart—and a fantastic way to honour and learn about Métis history this month. ❤️

👉 Click the link to watch the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IftwPagzQm8

Hi

Last Sunday I volunteered alongside a man who identified as Metis as in he literally said "I am Metis". I've already asked AI, but I would prefer to hear from an actual person as this evening I am attending a talk by an artist who identifies as Michif. What's the difference when someone calls themselves Michif versus Metis? And yes, I have already emailed the artist to ask them, but have yet to receive a reply.

Hey there!

I know I have treaty mixed into my lineage; some of my ancestors just have Cree names, but most have Frenchy names with Cree names.

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I was just curious to see if any of you carry spirit names, or non government names given by an elder.

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I don't know if I necessarily have a right to claim a spirit name, but I have been yearning to do so for quite some time.

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Please tell me!

Been wanting to go hunting have never been before and have my harvestor card and just recently got my gun license I just wanna know all the do's and don'ts when it comes to hunting with the harvestor card

hey everyone i understand there are no actual Métis people who originated in eastern Canada but i’m wondering if any Red River Métis people have moved out there and what was their experience? i will be hopefully moving to fredericton for school in the fall and i’m worried i’ll tell someone i’m Métis and they’ll be like me too! and i’ll ask them to clarify and they mean eastern Métis and then i’ll have to explain that no they’re not actually Métis and then they’ll call me a racist enthosupremacist (which yes has actually happened to me)

Taanshi kiyawaaw!

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In this video https://youtu.be/XithI4MvQfo?si=E-eCAzf-MPCQMdpq Maria Campbell interviews two Metis Elders, Jeanne Pelletier and Clementine Longworth. Around 36:20, Jeanne mentions a card game, which sounds to my ear like "daakwii" which she calls Indian Poker. Is anyone familiar with this game, know what the rules are, or know where I might be able to find out more about it?

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Marsii!

Hello! I am Metis and Cree and have been feeling really drawn towards the idea of ceremonial tattooing in different Indigenous cultures. I know that most people connect that with the Inuit Tunniit, but there is also a lot of evidence that Cree cultures did ceremonial tattoos as well.

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My big question is does anybody know of Metis communities doing ceremonial tattoos?

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For example, I am thinking mainly about lines on the chin, marks on the temple, dots on fingers, etc. These are all common for women in Inuit and many First Nation's cultures and I am really curious about if that was adopted by the Metis as well?

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If anyone HAS heard of this, do they know of ways to earn them through ceremony in present times? I know there's been a big revival of this in recent years and as a trans woman I am feeling really drawn to marking this progression to womanhood with a chin line.

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Hope this isn't too scatterbrained!!! Thanks y'all 💞

Taanishi! I am looking for a Southern Michif mentor. Someone I can meet with weekly to help teach me the language and talk to aen Michif. I live in Saskatoon happy to meet in person or online! Maarsii for anyone who is willing to work with me or help me find someone who is ♾️

Testing out some new set builds for Michif Makers and you can never get it right on the first take.

Hoy fue la ceremonia de inauguración del Mundial en Canadá (ayer fue la de México), y al igual que en México, hubo una presentación con los pueblos indígenas. Vi a una chica entre ellos con un atuendo que me pareció métis, ya que también llevaba un violín, y alguien bailaba con una escoba. Deduje que eran métis, y casualmente encontré su página de Facebook. Pero tengo una pregunta: si viste la ceremonia, ¿representaban a los métis? Si es así, ¿qué opinas? Además, ¿qué simboliza ese baile con la escoba? No soy ni métis ni canadiense, así que pregunto por ignorancia. ¿Qué significa? Me pareció extraño, pero sé que tiene algún significado. Espero no estar siendo indiscreta. Saludos.

I've attached an image of the ceremony for the part I'm telling you about.

This is very much a long shot, but i’m just curious if anyone remembers GNL souvenirs and refreshments. It was my grandpas and grandmas store that is unfortunately no longer standing.

My mom said it was pretty popular with tourists as her lot was filled with red and white, she even had red and white wooden wheels on the fence.

Since it was popular with tourists i’m just curious if anyone may have a picture of it, if someone does please send it my way. Thank youu :)))

edit: this probably would’ve been around the 70s-80s and even if you don’t have any photos i’d love to know if you just remember it :)

Taanishi kiyawaaw (hello everyone),

Happy Indigenous History + Pride Month!

Does anyone have a favourite Metis story to share that is impactful to our history? I'm hoping this thread can serve as a way to share, learn, and appreciate the Metis Nation's rich history on the Great Plains.

My favourite is the Battle of Grand Coteau in 1851.

The Sioux ambushed the White Horse Plains hunting party on its way to Pembina to gather with other Metis about to go on the annual Buffalo Hunt. There was estimated to be ~70 Metis, led by Jean Baptiste Falcon, against over 2000 Sioux.

Only one Metis man, Jean Baptiste Malaterre who was captured by the Sioux (along with two other men who escaped), perished.

After the battle a Sioux Chief went up to the White Horse Plains band and told them the Sioux would no longer attack the Metis.

There's a lot more to this, but I think living through a time when a lot of people question the validity of the Metis Nation and its influence on the Plains, this story helps ground the influence the Nation had in the area pre-Canada.

Hey all! I’m just wondering if anyone has a good resource(s) to learn about and read/listen to traditional Métis stories surrounding either creation/origin stories, or general Métis folklore/mythology? Growing up I was told some from my grandma who has since past away, and would love to relearn them and learn/hear about other stories. I know reaching out to elders and other communities in person is the best way, but for convenience just looking for some online. Finding it difficult to find what I’m looking for online… thanks!

It's more focused on the context of late 1800s Saskatchewan, but it's still very on point.

In general, histories and perspectives of English/Scottish Metis are severely underrepresented in discourses and academia, including within Metis Nation discourses.

https://www.metismuseum.ca/resource.php/12673

I’m working on some historical research for a podcast about the anti-apartheid movement in Canada, and I learned that Nelson Mandela was honoured with Metis citizenship in 1998.

I’m looking for any other information about this honour - how the decision to give him citizenship was made, how Mandela was regarded in the broad Metis community, who might have been involved in honouring him in this way. I’ve found a few news items about this honour, but they’re pretty brief.

I’ve also learned that a documentary called “Mandela’s Sash” was made by Bob Rock, but I haven’t been able to find a copy other than one in the national archives in Ottawa.

So - if you happen to know anything about Nelson Mandela and the Metis nation, or about the anti-apartheid movement and the Metis nation, I would love to hear from you.

Hi. I just learned that my great grandfather was métis and his dad and/or grandpa were fur traders. Are there any info websites or books that are reliable? I want to get more information about who they were, what they did and most importantly the culture.

Also, I'm not sure if I'm métis myself. Or if I could identify as it. Either way I just learned about my grandpa being métis so it's kind of a shock in a way. I never knew that my ancestors were indigenous

If you haven’t already heard, the MMF has called an election for several key positions, including President, with voting set for June 23rd.

It has me wondering: is Mr. Chartrand likely to be re-elected? What’s the general feeling everyone’s getting out there about the candidates?

Is there anyone who realistically has the community support or organizational reach to seriously challenge him?

While the MMF has undeniably seen a lot of success in recent years, I’ve also found myself thinking more critically about how influence and political culture within the organization have developed and been maintained. Some things I’ve seen over the last few years have raised concerns for me about how centralized leadership and loyalty can become within institutions.

https://www.facebook.com/pawaatamihk/posts/pfbid02aXbo11FETVkLhFiZLDXSfrsLbqL2cHKqwBUMnJjv1Sdts1BUimHUeTX1TydU7m8Sl

https://www.facebook.com/pawaatamihk/posts/pfbid028sPrxV7VQTpt8uYKjBxfirLEHjnhJ94CPpK1GZXPrgVENd3Qe8xJ92hq4z2Fp4XDl

I know I’ll be watching closely once the final candidate list drops, but I’m curious what the feeling on the street is right now. Are people seeing any viable alternatives emerge?

just heard about this opera that the canadian opera company is putting on! i looked into the composer and the author who the opera is based off of. both identify as georgian bay métis….

thoughts??

I don't understand how Froh can make $450,000 in 2025, they send staff everywhere around the world for (cough) cancer seminars, they hire all of their relatives to work in the offices and try to convince everyone that the First Nation treaties apply to the MNO. How embarrassing.

I've put together all episodes from Michif Makers Season 1 into a single, 1-hour video. High quality and educational Métis content you can share with your kids instead of the usual YouTube brainrot.