Chiac
302. “Chiac,” the Language of the “Métis People in Maritime Canada”: This folder contains a chapter of an anthology of writings concerning the “Métis” Peoples that was published in 2001. This anthology was edited by Lawrence J. Barkwell, Leah Dorion, and Darren R. Préfontaine and was the “Millennium Project” of the “Louis Riel Institute of the Manitoba Metis Federation: Winnipeg, Manitoba” and the “Gabriel Dumont Institute of Métis Studies and Applied Research: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.” The chapter found in this folder is entitled, “Chapter 1: Deconstructing Métis Historiography: Giving Voice to the Métis People” and the authors of this chapter are Ms. Dorion and Mr. Préfontaine.
Before I begin my discussion concerning “Chapter 1: Deconstructing Métis Historiography: Giving Voice to the Métis People,” I will first provide you with a bit of biographical information concerning the above-named people involved in this anthology/Chapter. I will begin by discussing the first named Editor, Lawrence Barkwell. According to an online article found on “The Canadian Encyclopedia” website entitled, “Lawrence Barkwell” (see https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/…/…/lawrence-barkwell), which was written by Mr. Barkwell himself:
“Lawrence Barkwell is the coordinator of Métis heritage and history research at the Louis Riel Institute.”
Unfortunately this is the only relevant information I was able to find concerning Lawrence Barkwell, so this will have to suffice for the purpose of this summary.
I will now provide a bit of biographical information concerning the second Editor/one of the Authors of “Chapter 1: Deconstructing Métis Historiography: Giving Voice to the Métis People,” Leah Dorion. According to an online article found on Ms. Dorion’s website entitled, “Biography” (see https://www.leahdorion.ca/about.html):
“Leah Marie Dorion is an interdisciplinary Metis artist raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. A teacher, painter, filmmaker and published writer, Leah views her Metis heritage as providing her with a unique bridge for knowledge between all people. Leah holds a Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Arts, and Master of Arts degree. She has numerous creative projects to her credit, including academic papers for the Royal Commission of Aboriginal Peoples, books for children, gallery showings of her art works, and numerous video documentaries that showcase Metis culture and history. Leah’s paintings honour the spiritual strength of Aboriginal women and the sacred feminine. Leah believes that women play a key role in passing on vital knowledge for all of humanity which is deeply reflected in her artistic practice. She believes women are the first teachers to the next generation…”
I was unfortunately unable to locate any biographical information concerning the third Editor of this anthology/the second Author of “Chapter 1: Deconstructing Métis Historiography: Giving Voice to the Métis People,” Darren R. Préfontaine. Despite this lack of information concerning Mr. Préfontaine, I believe it appropriate, based on the information that I just discussed concerning Lawrence Barkwell and Leah Dorion, I believe it appropriate to conclude that “Chapter 1: Deconstructing Métis Historiography: Giving Voice to the Métis People” can be considered a very reliable source of information.
Now that I’ve provided you with information concerning one of the Authors of “Chapter 1: Deconstructing Métis Historiography: Giving Voice to the Métis People,” it’s now time to begin our discussion concerning this document.
I’ve chosen to discuss two excerpts from “Chapter 1: Deconstructing Métis Historiography: Giving Voice to the Métis People” in the current summary. The first of these excerpts can be found on page 22 and comes from a subsection of this chapter entitled, “VI Métis Culture and Language.” This excerpt concerns the roots of the term “Métis” and is as follows:
“VI Métis Culture and Language
Métis is a French word that means mixed. In the Canadian context, the word means person of mixed Aboriginal and European heritage who identify themselves as Métis. The word métif or métchif is an old variant of the standard French word, métis. Pentland (1982:11) notes that the earliest record of the archaic French form that he has seen is Mathevet’s Loup dictionary (ca. 1750). In English the word Métis is pronounced “Maytee”, and in French it is pronounced “Maytis,” a form still in use by many Elders.47 In some, but not all locations, the Métis often called their spoken language “Métif” or “Métchif” after themselves…”
This excerpt is important for a couple of reasons. The first of these reasons is that it is stated in the excerpt that “In the Canadian context, the word means person of mixed Aboriginal and European heritage who identify themselves as Métis.” This is important because it demonstrates that up until at least only two years prior (2001) to the “Powley Decision,” the definition of the term “Métis,” even when used by “Western Métis” Academics, was very inclusive.
The second importance of this excerpt is that the Authors assert that “In some, but not all locations, the Métis often called their spoken language “Métif” or “Métchif” after themselves.” The importance of this lies in the fact that it suggests that contrary to popular argument, not all “Métis” people historically spoke the ““Métif” or “Métchif””/”Michif” language.
This last point leads us into the second important excerpt from “Chapter 1: Deconstructing Métis Historiography: Giving Voice to the Métis People” can be found on page 23 and is as follows:
“… There may well have been other antecedents to Michif spoken in Central and Eastern Canada. For example, “Chiac,” the little-known mixed Algonquian-Acadian French language of the Métis people in Maritime Canada bears a remarkable similarity in syntax to Michif, and in Québec some Innu speak a mix of Innu (Montagnais) and French (Bakker 1997: 11)…”
This excerpt is especially important, as the Authors assert that ““Chiac,” the little-known mixed Algonquian-Acadian French language of the Métis people in Maritime Canada bears a remarkable similarity in syntax to Michif.” This statement is especially important because it suggests that there were/are “Métis people in Maritime Canada” of “Acadian” descent.
I must note however, that as we’ve seen in various summaries found in this collection, there were/are multiple dialects/regional variations of the “Acadian-Métis” language, such as “l’Akadjonne,” which is still spoken by many of the present-day descendants of the “Sang-Mêlés” (“Mixed-Bloods”) of Southwest Nova Scotia (see “Folder #169” of “Volume 2” of this collection).
In conclusion, Leah Dorion and Darren R. Préfontaine‘s 2001 article entitled, “Chapter 1: Deconstructing Métis Historiography: Giving Voice to the Métis People,” which was published as part of the “Millennium Project” of the “Louis Riel Institute of the Manitoba Metis Federation: Winnipeg, Manitoba” and the “Gabriel Dumont Institute of Métis Studies and Applied Research: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan” is a very important addition to this collection.
The reason why “Chapter 1: Deconstructing Métis Historiography: Giving Voice to the Métis People” is such an important addition to this collection is because it recognizes that there were/are in fact “Métis people in Maritime Canada” of “Acadian” descent and that it also recognizes that these “Métis people in Maritime Canada” has historically spoken/still speak their own language very similar to the ““Métif” or “Métchif””/”Michif” language of the “Western Métis” Peoples, which historically was/still is properly referred to as “Chiac.”
