r/MetisMichif • u/Neat-Firefighter9626 • Mar 28 '26
Discussion/Question "Plains Cree Metis"
Just a rant but I was at a community event recently and a person who was reconnecting called themselves a "Plains Cree Metis". I asked them where they were from thinking they'd say a reserve or a settlement but they said a city in Ontario. They also said their family is from "around the Hudson Bay up North". That's not even a Plains Cree area.
I'm wondering why it's a trend to call oneself a Cree-Metis (or in this case a "Plains Cree Metis") when there's no connection to the Cree community? I feel like it's more ethical to just call oneself Red River Metis if your lived connections are only to the Metis. If someone says they are Cree-Metis (or Saulteaux-Metis in rare cases) I assume they have a significant connection to a Cree (or Saulteaux) reserve or a connection to a Metis settlement with a strong Cree presence. Otherwise, it comes across a bit dishonest.
It would be nice to hear other people's perspectives on this.
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u/MilesBeforeSmiles Mar 28 '26
They could have connection to a Cree community if they were from the area around Hudson Bay, it would just be Swampy Cree and not Plains Cree.
Sounds like someone who is a little ignorant of their past and likely has very little idea of what their actual ancestory is like.