Watch this story about being humble:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfsGU4L7iTw 

Explore this website:

https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us/interland

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/dakota                           https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree (Ininiwak)  https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/anishinaabe                   https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/metis

The Dakota (Sioux) people lived in western Ontario and eastern Manitoba a long time ago, before 1200 AD. They also lived in western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan before 900 AD. After the War of 1812, the Dakota moved closer to their land in the United States, but they kept some land in the north. In 2014, the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in Manitoba became the first group of Indigenous people on the Plains to govern themselves. 

 

Dakota Peoples: Land and Languages

A long time ago, the Dakota (Sioux) people lived in western Ontario and eastern Manitoba before 1200 AD, and in western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan before 900 AD. Later, they moved to places by the Red, Mississippi, and Rainy rivers. A man named Pierre Radisson met them in 1659. By this time, the Dakota people spoke a language called Siouan and had split into three groups:

• The Dakota (Santee Sioux) lived along the Mississippi River. They grew crops, lived in villages, picked wild rice, and hunted buffalo. After getting horses in the 1700s, they moved to new lands near the Yellowstone River, the Platte River, and the Qu'Appelle River.
• The Nakota (Yanktonai Sioux) lived between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. They spoke a language like the Assiniboine and Stoney in Canada. In winter, they stayed by the Mississippi, and in summer, they hunted on the plains.
• The Lakota (Teton Sioux) lived farthest west, near the Missouri River. They moved around a lot and depended on the buffalo for almost everything.

The Dakota and Lakota people spoke different versions of the Sioux language on the prairies. Even though they had some differences, all three groups were united and called themselves Dakota, Nakota, or Lakota, meaning “the allies,” or friends.

Colonial History

During the War of 1812, the Dakota people promised to help Britain. In return, Britain promised to help them forever. But Britain broke this promise in 1814, when the Treaty of Ghent was signed. Britain left its Indigenous allies behind to make peace. After this, the Dakota moved closer to their lands in the United States, but they still kept some of their land in Canada.

When the United States grew westward, the Dakota lost control of their land. In 1862, after a fight called the Minnesota Uprising, the US military forced some Dakota people to move into Canada. They settled on reserve lands in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. A few Lakota, including a leader named Sitting Bull, came to southern Saskatchewan after the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876.  The Dakota people were treated like political refugees by the Canadian government. Unlike other Indigenous groups on the Plains, they were not part of treaty agreements. The government expected them to make their own way in Canada.

The Dakota became farmers, growing special crops. They also worked with wood, raised cattle, and did small jobs using natural resources. Many Dakota people still do these kinds of work today.

The Métis are people who have both European and Indigenous parents. They are one of the three main Indigenous groups in Canada. The word "Métis" can mean different things. It can describe people with mixed heritage all over Canada, or it can mean the Métis Nation, which started mostly in Western Canada. The Métis Nation became important in the 1800s, especially around the Red River Settlement.

 

Even though the Métis were treated unfairly by the Canadian government after 1885, they are now recognized as an Indigenous group with special rights in Canada’s Constitution. The Métis National Council represents the Métis Nation and says Métis are people with ancestors from the Métis Nation and are different from other Indigenous groups. They live in the Prairie provinces and parts of Ontario, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and the northern United States. They have their own culture, language (called Michif), and history.

 

Sometimes, when "métis" is written with a small "m," it means any community of people with European and Indigenous ancestors, especially those in Ontario and Quebec. It also describes families and communities from the fur trade in the 18th and 19th centuries.

 

Today, the meaning of Métis includes people with both French- and English-speaking backgrounds. Canada's laws about Métis rights are still being worked out, but in 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada said that the federal government has responsibility for Métis people and Non-Status Indians. This means Métis issues must be dealt with by the government.

 

The Métis have a special culture that mixes European and Indigenous traditions. They speak a language called Michif, which combines French and Indigenous words. The Métis are known for their colorful sashes, which are long, woven belts they wear around their waists. Music and dancing are very important in Métis culture, especially fiddle music and the Red River Jig, a fun, fast dance.

 

The Métis are also great storytellers, sharing their history and lessons through stories. They love to make beadwork, creating beautiful designs on clothes and bags. Hunting and fishing have always been a big part of Métis life. The Métis are proud of their history and work hard to keep their traditions alive.