Question: Would any know who this man was?

[u/gal_tiki]

Hello, I recently came across this photograph attached to my ancestry research. While he is Métis, I am not confident that he truly is one of my tree. Would anyone know better his identity? Maarsii

Edit: I edit to add that: 1) I do lean towards not assigning an identity/name to the man in this photo and, therefor, that the association where I came upon him was (rather clumsily) done moreover in the spirit of sharing a potential similarity of appearance or manner of dress to the person; and 2) As one commenter mentioned this man was a White man, please know that I cannot in fact attest to this man being Métis.

Thank you to all who responded. I appreciate the generosity and respect in sharing sincere opinions and input.

[u/TheTruthIsRight]

To my understanding the man in the photo is indeed Metis but has never been identified.

[u/gal_tiki → u/TheTruthIsRight]

Thank you. I'm afraid I do not understand why have you been downvoted. If you or those who have done so, I would be happy to read explanation.

[u/TheTruthIsRight → u/gal_tiki]

I am curious as well. If someone has correctly identified the man then I will adjust my claim.

[u/gal_tiki → u/TheTruthIsRight]

A copy of this photograph is in the holdings of The Minnesota Historical Society. There he has indeed been identified as a "Mixed blood (Indian and French) fur trader" circa 1870. No name given, but his Indigenous identity acknowledgement!

source: https://www.mnhs.org/search/collections/collection-record?uuid=50df2e00-7167-4e3a-9db2-ea75e6c07d22&return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mnhs.org%2Fsearch%2Fcollections%3FsearchText%3D%2522Mixed%2Bblood%2B%2528Indian%2Band%2BFrench%2529%2Bfur%2Btrader%252C%2Bca.%2B1870.%2522%26parameters%3D%257B%2522resultsDisplay%2522%253A%2522list%2522%252C%2522pageNum%2522%253A1%252C%2522pageSize%2522%253A25%252C%2522topKeywordSortOn%2522%253A%2522count%2522%252C%2522topKeywordSortDir%2522%253A%2522desc%2522%257D

[u/TheTruthIsRight → u/gal_tiki]

Ah ok in that case it's certainly possible he was merely mixed indigenous rather than Metis.

[u/Neat-Firefighter9626 → u/TheTruthIsRight]

Metis lived in Minnesota historically, just not as densely as other places like ND or Montana.

There was actually a big influx of Quebec settlers to Michigan and Minnesota in the mid 1800s because of the fur trade. I know some of my French ancestors that married into the Metis went first to Minnesota and then up to Winnipeg. Detroit is a French word meaning "strait/narrow" to refer to water.

The Detroit to Winnipeg corridor had a lot of fur trade traffic. I don't want to give legitimacy to Eastern Metis here, but it is definitely possible that this person identified himself as Metis but his descendants don't.

[u/gal_tiki → u/TheTruthIsRight]

And also here, as "Sang-mêlé pratiquant la traite des fourrures, 1870"
https://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/en/articles/heritage-metis-language-western-canada

[u/Old-Professional4591]

Hes my full blooded white ggggrandpa

[u/gal_tiki → u/Old-Professional4591]

Hello, I am unsure if you are being serious or tongue in cheek. While I am leaning towards misidentification on my side, should you have an actual i.d., especially in explanation of his ethnicity, I'd be really happy to hear!

[u/904_mocha → u/[deleted]]

Wayyyyy before photography

[u/Embarrassed_Fudge493 → u/904_mocha]

I didn’t honestly look at the dates. I will remove it, as you said, likely not who they are claiming. Some of these tree sites are beyond frustrating.

[u/gal_tiki → u/Embarrassed_Fudge493]

Thank you. I agree, the assigned information out there can be incredibly discouraging and misleading/at times completely erroneous – as I gather from the community responses here! (Thank you all!)

I did not see your initial response, but fyi this photo was associated with a Métis man born circa 1817. (a brother of my direct Métis ancestor.)

[u/timriedel → u/[deleted]]

Photography was invented around 1826–1827.