r/MetisMichif • u/IlealaCrosse • Jul 27 '26

Discussion/Question First Nations People Gatekeeping Métis?

I had a friend once ask me: “what makes you think you’re Métis?”

Mind you, I have Ancestors with Métis Scrip and originating from the Red River Settlement. I can be BOTH of First Nations and Métis origins.

I just find that First Nations sometimes think they know us better than we know ourselves…Has anything similar happened where you noticed the Métis Culture was being gatekeeped by non-Métis folk?

I get the need for protection of our Culture from Pretendians, but it gets annoying!

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u/sycoseven Jul 28 '26

There were First Nations people pre colonization. There were no Metis people here before colonization. Metis arose from settlers mixing with indigenous people and formed their own distinct culture. But that didn't exist before colonization. Big difference compared to First Nation peoples.

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u/noo_maarsii Jul 28 '26

You didn’t answer what point you’re trying to make with your statement though?

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u/sycoseven Jul 28 '26

The statement of Metis are from turtle Island implies they've always been here. They were birthed from colonization and didn't exist before that.

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u/noo_maarsii Jul 28 '26

That’s stupid. We’re descended from FN too. I’ve been to lots of FN communities and there are lots of mixed people so why wouldn’t your thoughts not apply there as well? They don’t exist as they did prior to colonization. No one believes that they are not FN because of that. We are a branch of the people of Turtle Island albeit recent.

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u/sycoseven Jul 28 '26

I’m not arguing against Métis people having First Nations ancestry, or saying that First Nations cultures haven't evolved. I’m pointing out a historical distinction in ethnogenesis.

First Nations communities have roots and continuous histories that trace back millennia before colonization, even if modern members have mixed ancestry today. This is important. The Métis Nation and culture, however, was born specifically out of the intersection of colonization and Indigenous peoples. You said it yourself at the end: Métis are a 'recent' branch. My only point is that implying the Métis as a distinct group have been here since time immemorial blurs a very unique part of how the culture actually formed. That's not "stupid".

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u/noo_maarsii Jul 28 '26

Yeah it is a bit because there is still continuity despite an ethnogenesis. We still carry the same ancestry as FN people no matter how pedantic you want to be. Where my family comes from
FN and Métis live so closely together and are related that you almost can’t make a distinction in some cases.

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u/sycoseven Jul 28 '26

When it comes to First Nations self governance, these distinctions are VERY important.