“I Can Stand Tall and be a Métis Person and Just be Proud of it”: Pathways to a Flourishing Métis Identity

The Métis are one of three recognized Indigenous groups in Canada and are defined by their mixed First Nations and European ancestry. In this grounded theory study, sixteen (n=16) Métis participants in Bawating[1], Ontario, Canada were interviewed to share their experiences as Métis people. Participants described common themes of being disconnected from their Métis identity in childhood, which contributed to a sense of loss and confusion. Following their experiences of having languishing identities, participants shared their complex and life-long journeys towards a flourishing identity. This journey involved learning and sharing cultural knowledge with others, connecting to the land, and engaging in traditional practices. The ultimate integration of these findings was an overwhelming and hard-earned sense of pride in being Métis. [1] Bawating, meaning rapids in Ojibway, is the original Indigenous name of Sault Ste. Marie, a city of 72,000 people located in Northern Ontario, Canada