The settlement called the Red River of The North, is dominated by Metis of French and Ojibwa origin,
During this historic period, the town begins receiving Metis of Cree and Orkney origin, followed by the Scots.
05/29/2010
METIS ...1800-1802
METIS INDEX: ...Return to MAIN Metis INDEX
This century belongs to the Metis of the North West, as they forge a new Nation. This new Nation is neither European in nature, nor aboriginal, yet contained important elements of both. The English considered the Metis to be too generous and more non-conforming than their civilized European relatives. They are like their French, Scottish and English ancestors, in that they wanted to improve their economic, social and political standing. They are like their Indian heritage, being visionary, philosophical, hospitable, generous, adaptive and, most importantly, they tried to live their beliefs. Democracy is the essence of the Indian approach to life; and this carried over to their descendants- the Metis. The Metis are of the Algonquian Nation, being primarily Ojibwa and Cree. The Cree said of their mixed blood children, with a sense of pride: They are their own boss. The Ojibwa said of their mixed blood children: They are as burnt wood, and all agreed they are quick tempered and quick to fight, but quick to forgive and forget. More than anything they loved nature: the buffalo hunt, music and dancing until dawn. Family bonds are very strong, being deeply rooted in their Aboriginal tradition. The Metis language is described as Bungi; being a mix of Ojibwa, French and Gaelic and Michif- a mix of French and Cree.
Clan Garneau is of this Metis stock, as is clan Thomas who arrived at Hudson Bay in 1789. A Monsieur Gaunaux (Garneau), the stray, covered the Sault Ste Marie, La Pointe, Red Lake, Red River, and Pembina Territories in the 1780's and 1790's. There is a real possibility that his father also traded the same territory. One of Louis's grandsons claims his father lived and worked out of Sault Ste Marie, at one time, as a Chief Master for the North West Company. Family tradition also suggests that Louis Gournon ,alias Gornow (Garneau), retired to Bay Mills, Michigan territory in 1921 after the demise of the North West Company. This family tradition surely applies to the Cadotte grand parents rather than the Garneau grand parents. Louis Garneau would eventually settle at Bayfield Wisconsin near the Red Cliff Indian Reserve. Bay Mills is now a Federal Indian Reservation in Chippewa County, with tribal headquarters at Brimley, Michigan; about twenty kilometers west of Sault Ste Marie. Bay Mills proper, in the 1820's, is ten miles south east of Sault Ste Marie on the St. Mary River. The Americans called this area to the Mississippi River, the Western Territories, and the Canadians called it the North West Territories. The Louisiana Territory is to the west of the Mississippi, but many just referred to all the west as Indian Territory, and this more accurately reflected reality at the beginning of this century.