Métis across the Homeland are connected through shared culture, including material items such as clothing. A common piece of winter clothing worn by many Métis from Ontario-westward was the capote.
The capote is a thigh-length coat with full-length sleeves which could come with or without a hood or cape. Early capotes were made with Hudson’s Bay Company Point Blankets, often identified by the colourful stripes around the blanket. These blankets were fashioned into coats for Métis men to wear during the frigid winter months.
By 1825, for example, the Moose Factory account book noted 900 “capots” in various sizes and styles. The most popular capote colour for Métis was blue. However, a significant trade was made with white capotes, which were popular for their usefulness as camouflage during winter hunting.
The white capotes blended in with the snow, which proved useful during the snowy winters while Métis overwinterers, like those at Moose Factory, went on their hunts to provide sustenance for the families.
Many Métis wear capotes in various styles today to showcase pride in their Métis heritage.
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