New Year’s has long been an important day of celebration in many Métis communities. For some, the date was marked with happy visiting among friends and relatives. For others, New Year’s was a time to let loose.
For those of the latter inclination, the need for a lively New Year’s party was further heightened after the 1821 merger of the Hudson’s Bay Company and North West Company when HBC Governor George Simpson imposed new rules to curtail Métis workers’ love of parties and balls:
“George Simpson was evidently quick to learn; the new governor was much less enthusiastic about the fur traders' love of entertainment, believing that it interrupted post discipline and routine. Part of the strict new regime that was introduced after the union of the two companies in 1821 was the curtailing of the men's passion for dancing; now balls would only be allowed in the Christmas holiday season.”
One such holiday party that has gone down in history was the HBC’s Moose Factory post’s New Year’s Day dance of 1859.
Amid the revelry, an altercation between “about ten Breeds” of Moose Factory and Norwegian labourers at the Hudson’s Bay Company post broke out. The fight caused such mayhem that the Chief Factor at Moose Factory was still reporting on its aftermath on January 4th:
“Very little work was done today at the Factory, I was occupied nearly the whole day in adjusting the difficulties between the Norwegians and Half Breeds.”
Following the New Year’s fight, many Norwegians ended their contracts and returned home, refusing to work at Moose Factory any longer.
The 1859 Moose Factory Fight Night at the HBC post’s New Year’s Day dance was truly one for the ages, living on today within the Métis community’s collective memory.