ONTARIO MÉTIS FACTS

During the 1905 Treaty 9 expedition, Métis head guide Jimmy Swain helped lead treaty commissioners through northern Ontario and western James Bay regions. Born in northwestern Ontario, Swain spent much of his life living and working in the expedition’s regions, developing the knowledge needed to lead others through the difficult country. On a trip where every item was packed with intention, Swain brought his fiddle. The instrument was fragile and personal, and while it may n

Jimmy Swain was a Métis guide on the 1905 Treaty 9 expedition, serving as head guide for treaty commissioners travelling through northern Ontario and western James Bay regions. His leadership went beyond navigation and physical endurance. Swain recognized that true leadership also involved uplifting those around him and fostering a sense of community during times of exhausting labour. Born in northwestern Ontario, Swain lived, worked, and married in the Abitibi Inland and wes

Most people are aware of the Sault Ste. Marie Métis Community’s deep and rich history. But did you know that it also has deep historical and contemporary connections throughout the Métis Nation Homeland? For example, Elzéar Goulet was second in command of the Métis militia under Louis Riel’s Provisional Government. He became a martyr of the Red River Resistance. He also had connections to the Sault Ste. Marie Métis Community in the Upper Great Lakes. Goulet’s Métis grandmothe