The Métis Nation of Ontario: Twenty Years of Achievement

The Métis Nation of Ontario: Twenty Years of Achievement is a new documentary film produced to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the MNO. It features interviews with the people involved in the formation of the MNO including founding President Tony Belcourt, Louise Goulding, Senator Reta Gordon and Jean Teillet as well as rare footage of some of the individuals who played crucial roles in the early MNO including Steve Powley and Marion Larkman.

[@freakyflow]

After 43 years of not knowing..I met my birth mother and found out I'm Metis a proud moment and after watching this i'm amazed of my people and the work they have done Thank you for the video I have still a lot to learn

[@ninaearth4292]

Thank you for this. My grandmother had to pretend to be white for most of her life and the shame it caused ruined my family. I’m determined to reconcile the past and live as Métis for my ancestors who were forced to hide.

[@susanbig3706]

It brought tears to my eyes to read your comment my grandmother and grandfather both lived in hiding from being Métis it was not until after their death that we discovered who we really are it’s now become my life‘s work to live the proper way

[@user-ll9wh4jt2k]

Thankyou for these presentations. I am from Australia. My grandmother told me her family were Voyageurs. I traced them on DNA to Quebec,Ontario and Mackinac island, including two Ojibwe chiefs and some managers of the fur company who were based there until 1811. They married the daughters of Chief Paul Ance ( Hayes) and his relatives Chief Renee Bourassa, the Proulx,Vaudry and Robidou families. I have some Red River and Montana Metis families too. After 1812 the voyageurs moved to St Louis Missouri where the fur trade was re established, then to Taos puebla New Mexico and north eastern Mexico and Louisiana. The furs were traded to China then to Europe. My great grandfather who was born in 1846 sailed around the world on sailing ships before settling in Australia in the 1880s. We grew up speaking French and my grandmother told me about the Indian Acts of Canada and USA and warned me not to tell my mother. She shared some very old stories from her native ancestors.

[@mr.kyleyoung]

This is a great video, thank you to MNO, Elders and our ancestors for everything you have done so that we may finally be visible, once again! I grew up with my grandfather being a proud Metis and telling me stories and ways-of-life and as a young kid, I never really thought much of it until I recently started to dig into my family heritage and begin the journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance. I am still learning and want to continue to learn out the Metis culture and I look forward to the growth I hope to have from it.

[@angelacadieux1972]

My Dad was Wilfred Desjardins. His mom was Lucy Labatt, his father was Typhille Desjardins. My mom's is Marlene Cadieux. Her mom was Dolores Pyne her father was Cicil William Cadieux Burgie. Very big family. Ancestors from Drummond Island. I am a registered Metis Nation of Ontario citizen ❤️

[@davidhollenshead4892]

This was chilling to watch. As an American with Native bones & teeth, but with a European complexion, here I am just the other. I have never seen so many people that look like my mom and I...

[@grannylion9438]

Brings back wonderful memories for me...........

[@darleneemerson667]

I am trying to learn more about my Metis Roots

[@DreamSeeker28]

I am metis Langlois allard dandurand

[@davidortega357]

The mestizo and metis come from. The seed of native american dna and white dna we come in all colors dark brown to lite skinned some of us pass for indian some of us pass as white

[@madhatter9569]

That's true but I'm not sure if the Spaniards would even be considered white in Canada. I know the U.S doesn't consider them white.

[@matthewmann8969]

And some could be in the middle yeah

[@brianfrederickson2080]

The foundation of Métis …if an Indian woman had children with a white man the children were Métis. If a Indian man had children they are Indian …if a Indian had children with a white women..the kids are still Indian.. the women lost their Indian status….under Indian Act. Indian society was original matriarchal … First Nations don’t want Métis to have same rights as them. .. Metis should be dealing with Federal government not provincial governments..to demand the same rights as First Nations….land, resources, housing, healthcare, education on and off reserve benefits including tax exemptions

[@grundgesetzart.1463]

I look more native than most of these people, and I'm German/Bulgarian (mixed), so not even from the New World. What is this about, making up new "cultures"???