MÉTIS HERITAGE SOURCE OF PERSONAL PRIDE

Former MP Jim Hart writes recognizing nation’s status an important first step.

Most Canadians know where their family came from and have a pretty good understanding of their heritage and family history.

As Canada is a young country (as far as the nations of the world are concerned) citizens of Canada represent a mosaic of the world’s cultures.

I grew up thinking my family was of Irish-Scottish descent. I was only half-correct. It wasn’t until my sister passed away in 2013 that my full ancestry was revealed to me.

A cousin approached me at the funeral saying she had interesting news about our family tree. She also had documents to confirm what she was about to reveal.

I had grown up knowing that my grandfather died in a car-train crash in Edmonton. He was 27 and left my grandmother with two little girls: my aunt Marlene and my mother Gloria, who was just seven months old when her father was killed.

I was told the accident was his fault because he had a drinking problem. He would get drunk and drive his car home. The horrifying story was he would often race the train to the crossing in his car. Except for that fateful evening, he had always beaten the train.

That is all I knew about grandfather Harry Killips, who died that day along with his dog, who always travelled in the front seat with Harry. Thank goodness no one else was injured.

My grandmother soon remarried and her last name changed from Killips to MacFadzen. When my mother married, her marriage certificate showed her maiden name as Killips and when I was born in 1955 she listed her heritage as French on hospital documents. This was a surprise to me.

My mother never spoke of any French connection nor her birth father’s ancestry or family. I didn’t uncover my ancestry until my late 50s at my sister’s funeral.

That day at the funeral, my cousin told me I am Métis; I learned that my grandfather Harry Killips was of Cree descent. His grandmother, Lucie Bellerose née L’Hirondelle, married Octave Bellerose in 1873 and settled in St. Albert.

Octave was a trapper, hunter, fisher, logger, interpreter and guide. In the troubled times of 1855, he joined the St. Albert Mounted Riflemen and was a lieutenant who patrolled the area of Saddle Lake.

He spent many years as a freighter before settling as a farmer in St. Albert. He and the family spoke French, Cree and English. St. Albert Historical Society documents reveal the entire family spoke all three languages using the most descriptive words of each language to enrich their storytelling.

His wife Lucie would make bannock for her husband when he was freighting, as bannock remained edible for the duration of his long trips. Bannock was the mainstay of a freighter’s meal and would be thawed when dipped into elk stew over the campfire. His wife never wore leather store-bought shoes; Lucie always wore moccasins, which she made herself.

As a young couple, they would accompany the buffalo-hunting parties from Lac Ste. Anne and St. Albert to the hunting grounds once and sometimes twice a year.

During these expeditions they would also take an active role in the annual general meeting of the Métis people. The couple had three children; Marguerite born in 1873, Pierre born in 1875 and my great-grandmother Nancy Bellerose, born in 1877.

Nancy married Tom Killips, an Irish immigrant, and they lived in Edmonton and had six children. My grandfather Harry was born in 1907 and was killed Nov. 29, 1934.

I was raised in Edmonton and recall school field trips to Fort Edmonton. I had no idea as I walked around that the Fort Edmonton site is located on my ancestors’ homestead.

Octave Bellerose was instrumental in organizing and building a school and establishing the Bellerose Roman Catholic Public School District in 1885. The Catholic school was a log building, measuring 20 by 22 feet, that opened in 1886 and was named the Bellerose School. It now stands on the historic Fort Edmonton site.

When my Métis grandfather died, the record of my ancestry died with him. My grandmother nor mother never introduced us to Harry’s brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles or extended family who are linked by blood to me. No effort was ever made — even though the family continues to live in the St. Albert area. Nothing was ever spoken to me or my siblings about our rich family history as Métis.

When my mother married, she wed a preacher’s son in Edmonton.

My grandfather, the Rev. Doctor Thomas Hart, rose in the church hierarchy and became the Superintendent of Missions for the United Church of Canada. His role in the ill-conceived and reprehensible residential school system is unknown to me. I do know that Canada’s indigenous population was considered a mission field by United Church leaders when he held office in the 1950s and 1960s.

As a former Member of Parliament (1993-2000), I had the opportunity to work on many issues related to disputes between the federal government and indigenous peoples. I attended road blockades and participated in healing circles, assisted local bands in my constituency with issues of the day and tried to bring people and all levels of government together to resolve concerns.

Since tracking and plotting over five generations of my ancestry, I am proud that I now know I am a Métis citizen and to carry my Métis citizenship card. At 60, I am like a child discovering I am hungry to learn about a culture lost to me.

I also watch with great interest as negotiations commence between the government of Canada and the Métis Nation. This interest is sparked by the recent Supreme Court decision that gave Métis people equality with other indigenous peoples in Canada.

It is unknown to me why my Métis heritage was kept a secret from me for almost 60 years. I cannot help but feel that the European side of my family felt ashamed of our culture and hid this heritage.

On the parliamentary website, there is a section listing indigenous representatives. Very few have been elected to office. That fact is shameful. I am now listed as one of 19 Métis who served in the House of Commons.

I am proud of my heritage and will do my part to assist my newly discovered community move forward as the positive contributions of Métis peoples becomes part of the government’s daily discussions. Addressing the injustices of the past may not be possible, but the recognition of Métis people as indigenous Canadians is a first and welcome step.

It is unknown to me why my Métis heritage was kept a secret ... for almost 60 years. I cannot help but feel that the European side of my family felt ashamed of our culture and hid this heritage.

Jim Hart served as a Member of Parliament from British Columbia from 1993 to 2000.