Enquête | METIS : TO BE OR NOT TO BE

Original airdate : January 20, 2021
The number of people in Quebec who identity as Métis quadrupled from 2001 to 2016. At that pace, 15 years from now, there will be more Métis people than First Nations people in the province.
Métis identity is often claimed on the basis of an Indigenous ancestor dating back to the 17th century. Some members of First Nations believe that many people who make such claims are identity thieves, opportunistically trying to secure land rights at the expense of people who are officially recognized as Indigenous by governments.
As of today, there are over 40 Métis associations in Quebec.
Are the Métis of Quebec survivors of Canadian colonialism who are trying to rediscover their roots, or are they usurpers trying to reap some of the benefits that come with Indigenous identity? Even Ottawa cannot answer this question.
Journalist : Jean-Marc Belzile
Researcher : Chantal Cauchy
Producer : Denis Roberge
Editors : Martin Poiré, Bernard Lapointe
Translation : Albert Daigen