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Genealogies The basis for the registry is family history. Métis people across the homeland have for various reasons lost touch with family members because of social services interventions, adoption and displacement. Within the Métis community there has always been and continues to be reliance on the oral tradition. Due to the displacement of a lifestyle that was dependant on oral traditions, and a loss of the elders who promoted these traditions, there has been a loss of Métis family history. Furthermore, the written record of Canada did not value the history of Métis peoples. Hudson's Bay Company and church records maintain records and anecdotal information about Métis individuals who were associated with these organizations. However, historical records of the lives of those Métis people not associated with these arganizations are virtually non existant . The Hudson's Bay Company records, church record and other historical documants do, however provide glimpses to our past and the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan is seeking to make available and accessible whatever can be found. Family genealogies are important to our identities as Métis people but are important for other purposes as well, such as the reclaimation of the inherent rights of Métis people. Métis rights are affirmed within the Constitution of Canada, as the Constitution recognizes the Métis as one of the three Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Through the Métis rights test cases, the existing Aboriginal rights to hunt, fish and trap and gather are being upheld by the courts. Metis Aboriginal rights are collective rights, and in order to exercise these rights individuals must be part of the community or collective that is the Métis community. As a reslut, family genealogies play a vital role in assuring that all Métis citizens are able to exercise the rights to which they are entitled. As discussions of registry for the purposes of recognizing entitlement continue, the differentiation of the Métis from Indian, Inuit and non-Aboriginal peoples is primary. The Métis Nation supports the development of genealogies and family histories. Some useful websites for your genealogical research are as follows:
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