The bison played a huge role in Métis culture and society. ” Buffalo hunting provided the Métis with a livelihood, and helped sustain their way of life” (Canada’s First People,point 2). It was also an important social gathering. It gave an opportunity for extended families to see each other once or twice a year and get caught up.
Every year in the summer and the beginning of autumn, there would be two organized bison hunts. The hunt is larger in the summer and smaller in the autumn. It was a tradition for all men, women and children to participate in it. However, it was very dangerous. Many people died or got severely injured falling off their horses or being trampled. Women and children drove cart called the Red River, which were pulled by oxen and horses to transport the bison meat.According to Vantage Point(2012) “Bison meat helped the Métis in the fur trade.”
The Métis did not waist the bison they hunted. Instead they would use up most of the bison and they would have many household and personal items made from bison hides, hair, horn and bones. The bison horn would be made into cups and spoons. While the ” the intestines were processed into extremely strong cords that could be used to stitch together clothing and tipi covering, or to make bow strings and bindings for spears and arrows.” (Cranny, Javis, Moles, and Seney, 2009, p. 198). The bison was also important to the Métis since the economy of Métis relied on the Bison Hunt event, which provided meat and hides for Pemmican Trading.
The hunt brought the community together and produced a strong sense in pride and discipline. The Métis did not hunt on Sundays, which shows that they are religious. The Bison hunt played a huge role in the Métis society for it was a source of discipline,religion, pride, and community gathering. The Métis was very seriously about the bison hunt. Laws were enforced that everyone had to follow. “An elected ‘buffalo hunt council’ was in charge of enforcing those rules and organizing the hunt” (First Peoples of Canada, 2013.)The bison hunt played a huge role in the lives of the Métis. It made them who they are and help shape the Métis culture and tradition.
Reference
Canada’s First Peoples. Background: The Métis. Retrieved from http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com
Cranny, M., Jarvis, G., Moles, G., Seney B. (2009). Horizons: Canada’s Emerging Identity. 2nd Ed. Don Mills, Ontario: Pearson Education Canada
Vantage Point (2012). Métis Bison Hunt. Retrieved from http://vantagepoints.ca/stories/metis-bison-hunts/
Socials Studies 10 