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Métis in Shaunavon
Early history and economy.

The presence of Métis in the area around Shaunavon starts in the late 1870s, when discrimination in Manitoba forced them to move to the area near Willow Bunch and Wood Mountain. By 1885, a census identified 48 French-Métis around the Swift Current area. However, most Métis were of nomadic nature, and an exact number is hard to determine. Métis population was also enriched by the presence of people from Europeans in the areas of Swift Current and Maple Creek: according to the same 1885 census, there were a total of 93 and 123 Europeans in those areas, respectively.

One of the main reasons that kept the Métis in areas near current day Shaunavon was the presence of buffalo. Hunting represented a considerable activity for the group, both economically and for their regular life. The trail used by the Métis from Wood Mountain to the Cypress Hills (in which Shaunavon is located) represented one of the most important routes for bison hunting, and it also represented the quick spread of the group to the west in the 1860s and 1870s. However, it is also known that the Métis in the area carried out other activities: until the connection to Saskatoon via railway, the freighting of goods from Swift Current to Battleford using red river carts represented an important source of living, even though the earnings for the freighters started as low as three cents per pound.

Cultural and social issues.

Métis faced several social issues in the area near Shaunavon. Not only did they face economic difficulties as a result of the newborn federal government’s preferences for settlers, but they also had to face racism from these settlers, which made the economic crisis an even worse scenario to handle for the group.

Métis culture was attacked by these newcomers, who saw the group’s gatherings as meetings for plotting attacks against them. Such suspicions led to investigations by the North-West Mounted Police, who determined that Métis gathering responded to celebrations and traditional events. However, already in the 1900s, racist issues continued in the form of insult and attacks against Métis in schools in areas such as Lac Pelletier or Ponteix. Catholicism was an important part of Métis culture in this area; however it is recorded that some families would keep the traditions carried out by their First Nations ancestors. Catholic ceremonies were most frequently ministered by Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Two important priests for the Métis in the area were Fathers Joseph Lestand and Jules Decorby, who ministered around the Cypress Hills and Eastend. Such was the importance of the priests that chapels were built quickly in towns as soon as it was known that they would be visited by a priest.

Contribution in rebellions.

With the rise of rebellions between First Nations and Métis against the Canadian government, people that fled Red River gained importance and supported the rebels. In the area of Shaunavon and nearby, there was an important support to Sitting Bull and the Sioux, where they found refuge after the victory at Little Big Horn. In this area, the Sioux found Jean Louis Légaré, who had been in the area as a trader, and who later became a very important mediator between them and the Canadian and American governments during the negotiations in 1876 and 1877.

Movement to the United States.

Given that the border between the United States and Canada was unclear and unprotected until 1873 and 1874, Saskatchewan Métis travelled between the province and the territory that comprises the state of Montana. During the1920s, the government of the United States recognized the origin of a number of their Métis to be “half breeds, half Canadian and Cree”. These half breeds, started in immigrants Antoine Azure and Antoined Glaude, were Chippewa and Pembina descendants.

Further readings