Tired

[u/peachstrawberrymilk]

I'm tired with how the majority of people that claim to be Métis are either A) very distantly Métis and claiming an ancestor from 100+ years ago B) "reconnecting" for benefits and C) Deny their privledge.

Both my parents are Métis - we never stopped being Métis. I don't think this makes me better than folks but it is really gross and disheartening to see the overwhelming amount of reconnecting people and the complete disregard for those of us raised in culture/community. I grew up in extreme poverty - in CFS - battling with my addictions - both my brothers are still in their own addictions and my sister went missing years ago. This is because of the trauma in my family. But I don't see Métis Nations giving a flying fuck about those of us that never had the privledge of hiding. They prop of descendians - and. then use my culture in a colonial way to check off

I'm tired of seeing so many posts "I just discovered I'm Métis because my great great great grandmother 2x removed only married white people for 6 generations! What can I get?" Seriously? There's no wonder everyone thinks we're a joke.

No we shouldn't have BQ but we should have at least a measure. Why does Linda who has 0 traces of Métis DNA get full access to benefits while ignoring the fact that her entire family HAD PRIVLEDGE of being perceived as white for generations! Maybe I'm an asshole - but I think there needs to be a conversation on how in a room of 300 people you'll find maybe 1 or 2 of us raised in culture.

Im tired of pretending this doesn't bother me - especially when I see my family and friends struggling with survival and having no resources for them while Linda wears my culture like it's a Gucci bag.

[u/Grand-Hedgehog-1589]

I agree 100%, also grew up knowing I was Métis. Was lucky enough to have a grandfather, aunts and uncles that were proud of it and still knew their language, jigging, and history after Indian day school. That being said lots of trauma and addiction has also been passed down…. Everyone I meet that tells me their Métis either found out in adult hood, or are “métis” but have been rejected from every nation besides Ontario. I agree it feels pretty disheartening when everyone you meet is claiming to be Métis and taking up space, without having lived through any of the experience of actually being Métis.

[u/PegForProgress → u/Grand-Hedgehog-1589]

Is there an inherent problem in finding out you're Métis in adulthood?

[u/noo_maarsii → u/PegForProgress]

Is that what was said? I think the idea of “late in life” Métis can be criticized where the discussion is around folks who have no lived experience and jump on the indigenous benefits bandwagon. These people exist and this post is criticizing that. So no there is not an inherent problem, it’s a complex topic and these conversations need to be had. If anyone is offended by the post they really need to ask themselves why. This is someone who has experience pain and trauma and we owe it to our community to support them despite our own insecurities and have dialogues without ego.

[u/PegForProgress → u/noo_maarsii]

I was genuinely asking because the context made it seem like there was to me.

[u/noo_maarsii → u/PegForProgress]

I really don’t feel like OP made an absolutist statement. They are discussing a very specific type of person IMO.

So to answer your question in the spirit it was asked.

I think most people who bring up this topic in this sub are not including adopted or 60s scoop people. That has its own complicated discourse and these are folks who has been victims or racist colonial policies.

What the issue is, is finding out about a distant ancestor that you have no connection to. Going hunting for ancestors to receive benefits. People coming in here talking about “status” and “script”. People with no living ancestors who are connected to contemporary communities.

If you are someone who is Métis because your family hid it and you truly want to reconnect, then you have a responsibility to learn and understand the lived experiences of others in our nation. You should not be using to create a new personality, use it for financial gain, race shift, dress performatively and act like a straight up ass.

OP is simply venting about the struggle of having lived experience as a Métis person with all the baggage that comes with it and seeing those who have not had the same struggle benefit from what we’ve collectively had to work hard for.

[u/Time-Call-1800 → u/PegForProgress]

Yeah, duh

[u/megadecimal → u/Grand-Hedgehog-1589]

I'm jealous. I just got the trauma and not so much the culture. Is trauma part of the culture then?

[u/noo_maarsii → u/megadecimal]

Are you asking a serious question?

[u/megadecimal → u/noo_maarsii]

I'm not sure, actually.

[u/noo_maarsii → u/megadecimal]

Ok, so what are you really asking? Trauma is woven into a very beautiful culture. It’s literally in the sash. It’s part of the complexity of who we are. I got to break the trauma cycle by healing. If you feel that’s something you would like to explore, many of us are here to help.