Métis Settlements

Métis Settlements located across the northern part of Alberta are comprised of the Paddle Prairie, Peavine, Gift Lake, East Prairie, Buffalo Lake, Kikino, Elizabeth and Fishing Lake settlements. These eight settlements form a constitutionally protected MÉTIS land base in Canada. They comprise 505 102 ha, much of it covered by forest, pasture and farmland.

History

The Métis FIRST NATIONS are the descendants of European fur traders and Aboriginal women who emerged as a distinct group on the Prairies towards the early part of the 19th century. Following the NORTHWEST REBELLION of 1885, many Métis moved to the north and west. After a period of political activism among landless Métis in Alberta during the Depression, the provincial government passed the Métis Population Betterment Act in 1938. Lands were set aside for Métis Settlement Associations, though four of the settlements (Touchwood, Marlboro, Cold Lake and Wolf Lake) were later rescinded by order of the Alberta government. A distinct Métis culture combining Aboriginal and Euro-Canadian values and modes of expression is practised in the Métis settlements. For example, jigging, a favourite form of dance, mixes the reels of Scotland and France with the chicken dance of the Cree. A distinct Métis language called MICHIF (combining Cree, French and English words) is still spoken. Most residents of Métis settlements retain Aboriginal spiritual beliefs and customs.

Education
Education in most of the settlements is provided by the Northland School Division of the province's Department of Education. The settlements emphasize the need to make their children's schools responsive to the cultural values and history of the Métis people.

Economy

Employment in the settlements is generated by commercial fishing, logging, farming, ranching and energy projects. As they did in the past the Métis people continue to emphasize the economic development of their land. A mixed economy combines traditional economic activities and new industrial and commercial ventures.

Métis Betterment Acts

The later 1955 and 1970 Métis Betterment Acts provided for Settlement Associations for each of the eight communities and laid the foundation for SELF-GOVERNMENT. In each settlement, councils of five members were elected by settlement members (as they are now) to deal with matters affecting the settlements. In 1975 the Alberta Federation of Métis Settlement Associations was officially established to act as the political voice of the settlements and to pursue such goals as land security, local self-government and long-term economic self-reliance.

Métis Settlement Act
In 1985 the Alberta government passed what was known as Motion18, a resolution committing the province to transfer title of the settlements to the Métis people and to provide constitutional protection of the lands by means of an amendment to the Alberta Act. This paved the way for the historic 1989 Alberta Settlements Accord, which passed into legislation with the 1990 Métis Settlement Act. Replacing the previous Métis Betterment Acts, the Métis Settlements Act provides for the legal transfer of land title to the Métis people, local municipal and traditional style self-government, and establishes eight settlement corporations and the Métis Settlements General Council as legal entities.

The new Act establishes the Métis Settlements Appeals Tribunal, which provides a dispute resolution mechanism dealing with membership, land use and resource matters on settlements. Also part of the Act is the Subsurface Resources Co-Management Agreement, an agreement whereby the settlements and the province jointly manage oil, gas and other subsurface resources on the settlements. Significantly, the constitution of Alberta was amended in 1990 to recognize and protect the Métis settlements and interest in their land and resources.

Author RENÉ R. GADACZ

Links to Other Sites
Canadian Aboriginal Writing and Arts Challenge
The website for the Canadian Aboriginal Writing and Arts Challenge, which features Canada's largest essay writing competition for Aboriginal youth (ages 14-29) and a companion program for those who prefer to work through painting, drawing and photography. See their guidelines, teacher resources, profiles of winners, and more. From the Historica-Dominion Institute.

Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples
The website for the "Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples." Click on the links for feature articles about Canada's many multicultural communities, access to their extensive digital archives collection, learning modules, and much more. From "Multicultural Canada."

Métis Nation In Canada
This website about the Métis Nation focuses on the vital role of Métis women in the fur trade. A Fur Institute of Canada website.

Carlton Trail - First Western Highway
Check out the colourful history of the Carlton Trail, the first highway west of Winnipeg. A Manitoba Historical Society website.

Louis Riel
A biography of Louis Riel from the “Canadian Confederation” website. Includes photographs and other archival resources. From Library and Archives Canada.

Manitoba Historical Society
An extensive online resource devoted to the history of Manitoba. Features biographies of noteworthy residents, articles from the journal “Manitoba History,” and much more.

Métis
A brief overview of the sometimes turbulent history of the Métis community in Western Canada. Part of “The Kids’ Site of Canadian Settlement” from Library and Archives Canada.

Métis National Council
Since 1983, the Métis National Council has represented the Métis Nation in Canada (MNC). Their extensive website provides information about social, economic, legal, and cultural issues of importance to Métis communities across Canada. Also includes notes about Métis history and various online articles about related topics.

Métis
This site is devoted to the history and culture of the Métis people. From the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

Red River Cartes de Visite
View a collection of vintage photos of Louis Riel and the Red River settlement. From the University of Manitoba Libraries website.