Although this is not a question, I wanted to post in hopes to assist those searching for Native (First Peoples, Indigenous) ancestors- specifically Metis.
In researching the Metis peoples, one only need pour over endless microfiche, or look to history books, to see a small amount of things which have happened in past decades (residential schools, the forcing of scrip, etc.). For myself, I had great difficulty in researching my ancestors because of the way in which information was (traditionally) given (via the colonial system).
I started (about 20 years ago) with microfiche. I must say that I appreciate the many people who have taken the time (and still are) to transcribe (or try to) the millions of documents. It is truly remarkable what has been accomplished!
Looking at my ancestral line I kept coming across information (scrip files) that made no sense to me. I would see an ancestor listed as "Cree", "Nakota", or "Assiniboine", or (heartbreakingly) just "Indian"... Mainly women, but there were some males (who signed scrip) that were listed as first peoples (but then, suddenly, "Metis"- via those documents).
The question I bumped into, over and over, was "How is it that someone can be Native (of a certain tribe) and then (by signing a document) they are 'magically' (in this case) "Metis" (meaning that the person is now, in the Govt. words, a "Half breed").?". This especially bothered me when I would see two relatives (spouses- AND their children) suddenly go from being indigenous (Cree, Hohe Nakota, Assiniboine) to being "Half breeds"....
Here is the 'educational' part of this post.....
Back then (at the time of 'scrips') it was shameful to be "Indian", and there were many (colonial) institutions trying to erase the peoples. Many of those peoples were forced into schools and institutions to "Get the indian out of them' (research those historical accounts from the institutions). The thought is not only heartbreaking, but it is disgusting. The colonialists were not literate in the many languages of the first peoples, and yet they viewed the first peoples as illiterate... Ironic.
There were many names (of first peoples; their real names) lost because of the anglicizing of names (they forced native peoples to adopt "new names"; anglicized- as well as forcing them to no longer be "indian"). And so we see (colonial) records that show an inaccurate representation of the ancestors; from loss of names to loss of identity.
I am still grappling with how to work on the profiles of my ancestors, and the many "Metis" ancestors of other family lines- noting that a lot were not 'mixed blood', nor were they (truly) 'half breed'. I am also working on my mixed ancestors (seeing no shame in either side). And, I need to point out that not 'all' colonialists were involved in such shameful injustices (there were some settlers who assisted native peoples).
If one is researching the Metis (or first peoples), and digging through historical documents, or files, you will come across the many strange things (which I have). You will read accounts (usually from colonizers) which says things such as "The Native people were eager to establish strong relationships with their European allies and trading partners, so they offered wives to the traders."... Learn what that really means. It is the "Trade of women". There were also other accounts where 'wives' were "taken" by colonizers... That does not paint a picture of a couple falling in love, and, indeed, it was not likely the case.
There are also records where colonial men (in prominent positions) were documented as having many children, through many (native) women.. Though they document those people as a side note (due to the manner in which many of those children were conceived). One only need read the historical documents to educate themselves. I do ask that people change the language around these events so that the shame is not further perpetrated (on the descendants).
So.. To wrap up a fairly lengthy post ( which needed to be addressed), when searching one's ancestors- please keep in mind the things which I have discussed. I would like to see a new project (Indigenous Unnamed Women) start. I suspect there may be a few people who (in working the loads of microfiche, and history books) have come across the many unnamed women in their own family lines.. and I think it would be respectful to no longer have those strong women as "Unnamed Indian woman", but rather- Their true names (true spellings), because those women are not "Unnamed Indian woman", they have a name.
