Métis in Canada : past to present
education consultant
Robert J McDonald
updated: March 22 2025

ABOUT
Tansi,
Since 2012, I have shared my Métis knowledge and background in a presentation which I have named, "Métis in Canada: past to present".
My Métis family roots go back to Fort Pelly, Saskatchewan and the Duck Bay/Camperville region in central Manitoba. I am told, my grandfather had one of the largest trap lines in Manitoba to raise a family of seven. My European roots stem from Scotland. My great-great grandfather and his brother came to Canada from Stornoway aboard a Hudson Bay fur trading boat and they each married First Nation women creating mixed off-spring.
My family roots on my grandmothers side includes St Pierre Parenteau, a member of Louis Riel's provisional government and advisor to Riel during the Battle of Batoche in 1885.
I have presented my 'Métis in Canada: past to present' education seminars to thousands of federal public servants within the Government of Canada and grade 6 to 12 students, teachers and administrators, cultural groups, industry, corporate and various levels of government.
Also, I am working closely with the Upper Canada School District, Ottawa Catholic School Division, the Catholic School District of Eastern Ontario, and the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board as both an education presenter and member of the Indigenous Advisory Council.
During my presentations, besides exploring Métis history, culture, court challenges and the current political state of
affairs, I also share my art, poetry, videos and personal family history to make for an informative, enjoyable, and
interactive discussion.
It is an honour to have an opportunity to talk about my Métis roots, the history of the Métis Nation, and support of our
Métis leaders.
This is my way of giving back, and paying tribute to our ancestors who have helped to blaze the trail, some of whom
made the ultimate sacrifice to get us to where we are today, standing tall as Proud Métis.
Miigwech,
Rob
Meet the team
Robert J McDonald
Sr. Métis Consultant

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Sr. Comms Advisor at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs for 11 years
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Past Director of Public and Media Relations at Métis National Council for 3 years
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Past Manager of Communications at Native Women's Asso. of Canada for 2 years
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CTV anchor/reporter for 18 years
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Multi-award winning video producer and published poet

Sylvie Laforest
Executive Manager
Yuri Oreskiewicz
Métis Video Producer


YourEye Video Productions was established in 1995 and was the first Métis/Indigenous video production company in Canada to own and utilize new technology to edit broadcast quality video digitally (VTASC) on a computer.
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