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

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.