difference

Métis history in the making
Local society recognized by Métis Nation
By Barb Rees
Until you know who you are, you can't
live to your full potential. For years I
didn't know much about my father's Indian
roots. When he died, I was 12 and all contact
with his family was severed. A talk with
my mother 10 years ago helped me find his
last living sibling and many cousins.
It was then I discovered I was Métis.
I didn't look Métis — I felt like a fraud.
It took a long time for me to say, “I am
Métis.” Then I'd get the look or remark,
“You can't be, are you sure?”
Receiving the Métis Nation of BC citizenship
card and becoming part of the
Miki'siw community in Courtenay helped.
In 2009, my husband and I went to the
Métis Crossing celebrations in Alberta
where I felt accepted by Métis whose skin
colour ranged the whole gamut.
In August 2010, Debbie Dan, Ken Shannon
and I went to a Miki'siw potluck where we
discussed forming a local Métis community.
We formed Powell River Métis Society
in February of this year and at the Métis
Nation of BC General Assembly, the chartering
of the community was finalized.
Our generation has a responsibility to
ensure no person of Métis descent spends
their life not knowing who they are. Métis
means, “A person who self-identifies
as Métis, is distinct from other Aboriginal
peoples, is of Historic Métis Nation ancestry,
and is accepted by the Métis Nation”
(www.mnbc.ca).
Susan Young de Biagi found her Métis
heritage later in life. “As an historian, I had
done a great deal of research about the settlement
of the French in Nova Scotia. Many of
the young men who came to the area in the
1600s married Mi’kmaw women. I found a
reference to my family name (LeJeune) as
living in a Métis community. I suspected
there might be some First Nations connections
in my background. My family origins
took on greater importance when I was writing
my novel, Cibou. The narrator, Mouse,
is a young woman of Mi’kmaw-French descent.
I felt slightly uncomfortable writing in
the voice of a young First Nations woman,
but that voice was just too strong to ignore.
One day my sister asked whether I had applied
for membership in the Sou’West Nova
Métis Council. I applied and received recognition
as a person of aboriginal descent. It
was one of the most exciting times in my
life, to realize that Mouse’s story was, in
many ways, my own.”
President Russell Brewer has always
known his history. “My roots go back to
the traditional Métis settlements of the Red
River Valley in Manitoba. My Métis heritage
includes the families of Louis Riel, the first
Métis families of Manitoba, and the farm
where Louis Riel asked federal surveyors to
stop carving up Métis settlements without
their permission. My children are of mixed
heritage so it's very important to celebrate
that multicultural background.”
Powell River Métis will celebrate their
charter at 2 pm April 2 at the French Club.
Guests from other Métis communities,
along with the Sliammon people will enjoy
cultural entertainment, food and fun.
Join the celebration. Contact Barb at 604
485-2732 or Russell at 604 414-8310.
presents the First Annual Powell River
Influential Woman of the Year
Awards Luncheon • Wednesday, April 20
at the Tree Frog Bistro
Join us as we honour local women in business and
present awards to an Influential Woman from the
business sector and one from the non-profit sector.
Guest speaker Sandra McDowell is a successful and
respected Powell River business woman who will
share some of her ideas for women in business.
Imagine your dream
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Each vacation is a once in a lifetime experience with a wonderful balance
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These tours sell out almost a year in advance
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4721 Joyce Avenue
(2nd floor, Credit Union Building) BC Regis. #31746
Powell River Living • april 2011 • 39