WELCOME

Welcome to the Michif Metis Museum Website.  Because this is a FREE site, we are limited to what will be published here.  More will be added as we are able and learn how to work with this new site.  Check with our BLOG page for ongoing information - thank you.


New website address:   MichifMetisMuseum - https://michifmetismuseum.webs.com/


Phone Number: 250-676-0096


email: [email protected]


The Metis are one of the Indigenous Peoples recognized by the Canadian Constitution:


Who are the Métis people?
People of mixed First Nations and European ancestry who identify themselves as Métis people and are accepted as
such by a Métis community and or its leadership.  They are distinct from First Nations, Inuit or non-Aboriginal peoples.  The Métis history and culture draws on diverse ancestral origins such as Ojibway and Cree, Scottish, Irish, French. (Government of Alberta definition)

Métis are people who self-identify as Métis and are not registered under the Indian Act (Government of Manitoba definition)

Article 10 of the Métis Nation Saskatchewan Constitution defines "Métis" as: 'Métis' means an Aboriginal (Indigenous) person who self-identifies as Métis, who is distinct from Indian and Inuit & is a
descendant of those Métis who received or were entitled to receive land grants and / or Scrip under the provision of the Manitoba Act, 1870 or the Dominion Lands Act, as enacted from time to time.  A person of Aboriginal descent who is accepted by the Métis Nation and / or Métis Community.

( Amended Dec. 13 / 97 )

We are a proud nation who's history and traditions date back to the early 1600's. Our culture is a rich and vigorous one. We invite you to share and learn about our people here on our site. This page is dedicated to preserving our culture and our proud heritage.

The location, at present, for the Michif Métis Museum is:
337 Bernard Rd. Vavenby BC.  Phone - 250-676-0096

Please Note: that we do not have a building as of yet, in the North Thompson area, and may be moving the museum back to the Lower Mainland in coordination with the BC Metis Federation through a signed MOU agreement, made on October 05th, 2019.

The Michif Historical & Cultural Preservation Society is a non-profit society and is registered with the Registrar of Companies in Victoria, BC

The purposes of the Society are:

-  To record and document the history of Métis people;
-  To preserve the unique cultural identity of the Métis people;
-  To record and preserve the unique language of Métis people;
-  To educate Métis people as to their traditions and distinct cultural identity;
-  To educate the public at large as to the important historical role that the Métis  people have played in the development of Canada as a Nation;
-  To promote and preserve the advancement and preservation of Métis
Literature, Music and Dances;
-  To establish and operate a museum for the purposes of educating the public
about the unique history, culture, language, music, dance, traditions and identity of the Métis people.


We have a small membership at the moment and if you wish an application, please contact us.

The Michif Historical & Cultural Preservation Society will be able to provide a Receipt in the near future for the Purposes of Income Tax, if the donation meets the minimum requirements as defined by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.

For more information, please contact: Dale R. Haggerty (Curator) or Dale B. Haggerty (Secretary/Treasurer)
Phone: 1-250-676-0096 or email us at: [email protected]


We've been doing a few things with the museum, both up here in Clearwater and Kamloops as well as on the Lower Mainland with our Board member - Elder Derrick Whiteskycloud.




Riel and The Metis


During the summer of 1869, the Canadian government sent John Stoughton Dennis to Red River to survey the land. He was so badly received by the Métis that he started surveying at Oak Point rather than Fort Garry. To add to the Métis' anxiety, the survey was being carried out in accordance with the Ontario style of survey, in squares, instead of the
system of long, narrow lots with river frontage used by the Métis. The new system cut across properties already in existence. Moreover, surveying had begun before the land had been officially transferred to Canada. When Dennis arrived in Fort Garry, opposition broke out. On October 11, 1869, proclaiming that the Canadian government had no right to act without permission, sixteen Métis led by Louis Riel stopped a crew of surveyors on the property of Louis, cousin André Nault. This was a very important incident, first of all, because it was the first act of resistance to the transfer of the Settlement to Canada and secondly, because it established Louis Riel as the champion of the Métis.

In October, William McDougall, who had been appointed Lieutenant Governor of Rupert's Land, set out for Red River to take possession of the North-West Territory for Canada, accompanied by a ready-made government and armed with 300 rifles. When news of this reached the Métis, they decided to organize their resistance. On October 16, Riel was elected secretary of the Métis "National Committee" and John Bruce was elected president. Five days later, the Committee sent a warning to McDougall advising him not to enter the country without special permission from the Committee. To strengthen their position, the Métis erected a barricade where the trail from Pembina crossed the La Salle River, a place McDougall had to pass.

Riel's initiative raised opposition from the conservative wing in the Settlement and those in administrative positions. As a result of pressure exerted by them Riel was summoned to appear before the Council of Assiniboia, chaired by Judge Black. The latter was replacing the ailing out-going Governor Mactavish.

Riel let it be known that he was opposed to McDougall's arrival and invited the English group to join him. He stressed that he remained faithful to the British Crown but that he objected to the unlawful entry into the West of the Canadian government. He believed that the West should have the right to negotiate the terms of its entry into Confederation. On October 30, McDougall, Cameron and Joseph-Alfred Norbert Provencher, the nephew of Bishop Provencher, arrived in Pembina where they read the Committee's note. However, they refused to heed this warning and the next day, Cameron and Provencher proceeded to St. Norbert where they were stopped and conducted back to the American border escorted by 30 Métis. On November 2, McDougall met with the same fate. Riel and the Métis thus succeeded in cutting McDougall off from the group in Winnipeg which favoured Canadian annexation. That same day, the Métis took possession of Fort Garry, thereby establishing their control over the surrounding area. However, their power was quite precarious as they could only rely on the support of the French Catholic population. Riel was aware that he would need the backing of all elements in the Settlement to negotiate with the Canadian government. A series of meetings was held to endeavour to foster this support, but without the hoped-for success. Several people objected to the way McDougall had been treated. However, agreement was reached on the preparation of a list of rights.
For further information on Louis Riel, please  go to the following website from this link:

www.shsb.mb.ca/Riel/emetis.htm