Metis

Metis Culture

Metis Symbols

Metis Flag

• Represents the joining of two cultures

Metis Sash

• Metis fashion piece with important function

Death & Funeral Rites

Metis Symbols

• Fiddle Music
• Jigging
• Michif Language

"Tawnshi"

"Keesha Kee Taen"

• Church bell rung to signal death

Southern Communities:

• Coffins made from 1 inch boards
• Black wrap for older people; White for younger
• 4 Pallbearers

Northern Communities:

• Coffin Maker
• Painted white & blue, aboriginal markings

Feasts

• Large Holidays = Plate set with best of everything

Death & Funeral Rites Continued

Northern Lights = souls of dead

Mourning

• Death of spouse = 1.5 years
• Death of sibling = 1 year
• During mourning = no dancing, no music
• Family/Relatives wear black
• Some cut their hair for sacrifice
• Spouse wore black arm band during this time.

Funeral

• 4 day wake, never left alone
• tobacco places beside body
• Pallbearers wear black ribbon on free arm, barried with body
• Do not look back when leaving funeral

Traits

Traditional Metis Lands

References

• This includes all of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, and parts of Ontario, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, North Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota.
• Red River Settlement

• Distinct way of life
• "Metis"
• Louis Riel Day
• February 19, 2018
• Statistics

http://www.metismuseum.ca/media/document.php/11728.Metis%20Death%20Ceremonies.pdf

http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_metis/fp_metis5.html

http://www.metismuseum.ca/media/document.php/00721.Medicines%20and%20Healing.pdf

http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_metis/fp_metis1.html

HISTORY

Use of Medicines

• Took responsibility for their healthcare/ healing
• Roots, leaves, and bark
• Mint leaves
• Chokecherry bark and roots
• Cranberry bark tea
• Sage
• Pine/ spruce needles
• Pine sap

• French/Scottish
• Voyageurs
• Coureurs-des-bois
• Language

• Land surveyors
• Treaty
• Red River Jig

Religious Beliefs & Prayer

• Spirituality
• Churches
• Wendigo/Great Spirit
• Connections