Before the British and United States imposed the international border following the War of 1812, which displaced portions of the Upper Great Lakes Métis Community to Penetanguishene, many Métis families lived, travelled, and worked throughout the Upper Great Lakes’ many islands.
Michilimackinac, or Mackinac Island, was once such island that served as "an eighteenth century nexus for the Great Lakes fur trade" where many Métis families emerged with a distinct Métis collective identity in the Upper Great Lakes. Among the prominent Métis families associated with Michilimackinac were the Langlades, Cadottes, and Nolins, who thrived as traders, interpreters, and militia members.
During the summer, Mackinac Island was a hub of activity, with hundreds of Métis, Odawa, Ojibwa, and other Great Lakes peoples gathering to trade and negotiate political agreements. In contrast, the island’s winter months saw its residents—many of them Métis—settle in and prepare for the harsh weather.
The Métis people’s deep knowledge of the land and water surrounding Mackinac Island enabled them to adapt and prepare effectively for winter, reinforcing their presence and connection to the island and contributing to their distinct collective identity in the Upper Great Lakes.
As Jacqueline Peterson describes the Métis community in Many Roads to Red River, "The expansive engine of the fur trade, coupled with the French Métis system of wintering out… made such a development certain."
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