Northern Roots: In Search of Métis Genealogy
I
f your family history research takes you toward the northern border of the United States and into Canada, there is a chance you will enter unfamiliar territories of research to discover the stories of ancestors who culturally identified themselves as belonging to a group called the Métis. One source claims “Métis” comes from the Latin word “miscere,” which means to mix. Some define the Metis people as those which share Native American and Indo-European ancestry, yet have cultural traditions distinct from either group. It is impossible to strictly define the Métis, as the definition varies depending on the geographical location and is completely elusive in some areas. For our purposes here, we seek not to define the Métis, but to understand how to research our ancestors if our paths lead in this direction.
Thankfully, there are several sources which can help you uncover information about your Métis ancestors. From libraries and databases to government resources and museums, the following locations should provide you with a beginning point for your research.
Our first stop on this journey of discovery will be to the Toronto Public Library . A search on their website reveals 45 results for “Métis genealogy.” Many of these results include books which are categorized as “Reference Only,” meaning you will have to make a trip to the library to peruse these books or find copies elsewhere via places such as Worldcat and Google books. This search gives you book titles which may have some keywords you have been seeking. You can remember these resource books are here and return to them later.
The University of Alberta has a Métis National Council Historical Online Database which allows you to search by family name, date, or location, or simply browse their archival documents by year, by type, or alphabetically. This site also gives a historical overview of archival documents related to the Métis people. The historical overview section would be a great place to get your bearings in this area of genealogical research and help you understand what kinds of information you might expect to find. The Ontario Métis Family Records Center offers a lot of useful information as well, and can help you obtain a Certificate of Aboriginal Status should you prove your Métis connection.
The Glenbow Archives are physically located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They claim to have an excellent collection of resources to aid those whose ancestors came from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, as well as some parts of British Columbia, Ontario, and the Northwest Territories, provided they lived there prior to 1900. The Glenbow Archives webpage offers further details, as well as database and contact information.
There is AVITUS, which is a directory of Canadian Genealogical Resources put together by Library and Archives Canada. AVITUS contains descriptions and locations of Canada’s genealogical resources, which you then must seek out to access the contents.
For those who identify as Acadian Metis, the provincial archives and sites such as Nova Scotia Genealogy will be useful. Facebook has some great rescores as well, such as the Acadian-Metis Genealogy Group.
If you need a little help with your Metis genealogy, we have a Metis expert on our staff, so just give us a shout out via our contact page.
Happy Researching,
Randal
