Métis in Canada : past to present
education consultant
Robert J McDonald
updated: June 8, 2025
Reconciliation begins with Education
The end of the 2024-25 school year is approaching!
Below you can choose an education session adapted to meet your needs including
new topics and focused discussions.
Grades 4-12 and post-secondary, government, industry,
cultural groups and new immigrants to Canada etc.
What's best for you?
virtual, in-class sessions,
or perhaps a talking circle.
Session 1a
(catered to grades 4-6)
Métis history, culture & celebrations:
Turtle Island
Who are the Métis
The Fur Trade
Métis definition
Red RIver Metis
Personal family history
Scottish roots
Great Grandfather - Fort Pelly
Grandfather on the trap-line
Métis culture
Infinity flag
Louis Riel's sash
The Order of the Sash
Red River Cart
the Flower Bead People
Fiddle & Jigging
Métis celebrations
Metis food
Kokum Betty
Ambassadors
Back to Batoche Days
Qs & As
Session 1b
Métis history, culture & celebrations:
Louis Riel & Gabriel Dumont
Proud to be Métis
Métis definition
Brief Métis history
Red RIver Metis
Men & Women
stories and legends
identity and relationships
Voyageurs & Carlton trail
Personal family history
Scottish roots
Great Grandfather - Fort Pelly
Family connection to
Louis Riel's provisional government, Battle of Batoche, and Trial of Louis Riel and the Métis
Grandfather on the trap-line
Métis culture
Infinity flag
the Flower Bead People
Fiddle & Jigging
Sash and the Voyageurs
Red River Cart
Métis celebrations
Ambassadors
Back to Batoche Days
Show & tell
Qs & As
Session 2
Current Political State of Affairs
Brief Métis Historical recap
Scrip - the Greatest Land Swindle in Canadian History
Métis go underground - the Forgotten People
Road Allowance - Residential school
Métis continue struggle for Recognition
Métis constitutional battle 1982
Métis National Council 1983
Métis governing bodies
New era for MNC
Red River Métis
Powley test
MMF vs Canada
Daniels vs Canada
Emerging and Outstanding issues
MMF modern treaty
Bill c-53
Indigenous Identity Theft
Métis membership
Scrip and land claims
Residential day schools
Harvesters rights
UNDRIP
Métis entrepreneurial spirit
Qs & As
Session 3
Métis as Nation Builders
Who are the Métis
Ruperts land
Jay Treaty - trading routes
governance
policing
Louisiana purchase - Louis and Clark expedition
Battle of 1812
Franklin expedition
Métis in the U.S.
Sac-Fox Half-breeds
Red River settlement
Cuthbert Grant & the Pemmican Act
Louis Riel and his Provisional Government
Fenian Brotherhood - Irish movement
Manitoba Act - U.S. impact
Red River Resistance
Riel in Exile
Northwest Rebellion
New era - new relationship
UNDRIP
Reconciliation
Qs & As
Focused discussion
Residential Schools
History of the schools
Goal of the Residential School System
Day Schools
Impact on the Road Allowance
Dad's experience
Kamloops Residential School
Federal Actions
Denialism
Tk'emlups and Catholic doctrin
NDTR - September 30th
Survivors Flag Raising
Reconciliation - renaming
Qs & As
Focused discussion
Indigenous Identity
Who are the Métis
Red River Métis
Effective Control
Red River Resistance
Northwest Rebellion
Impact of scrip
Metis Governing Bodies
Identity theft
Impacts and outcomes
Next steps
Qs & As