Post by Moon Seeker on Jun 10, 2009 16:49:50 GMT -5
Close to Home: American Indian group to join La Kermesse
JULIANA L'HEUREUX / LES FRANCO AMERICAINS
June 10, 2009
La Kermesse will host the Metis Eastern Tribal Indian Society of Maine during the annual Franco-American festival June 25-28 in Biddeford.
Priscille Gagnon, president of La Kermesse, said the Metis band (or tribe) will demonstrate cultural events throughout the festival with traditional storytelling and crafts on St. Louis Field.
Bob Silver Eagle Brawn, 65, of Dayton is the grand chief of METIS. The group's membership consists of 240 people from New England, including Maine, and from New Brunswick. Members share North American Indian ancestry mixed with non-native genealogies.
In other words, French-Canadians who have proof of North American Indian ancestry can apply to become members of METIS, said Brawn.
Brawn and his wife, Faith Little Dove, organized the Dayton-based band in 2003 after they had been members of the New Brunswick group.
"We saw how fast the New Brunswick group was growing, so I knew we could easily organize in Maine," said Brawn. METIS is the band's acronym, but also the noun describing the special mixed-genealogy heritage of the members.
Brawn is Metis on both sides of his family. In fact, his eighth-great-grandfather was Chief Iyanno of the Wampanoag tribe, native to eastern Massachusetts. Brawn says his Wampanoag Indian ancestor was among those who met the Pilgrims in 1620 when they arrived at Plymouth, Mass.
His father's side includes Mic Mac Indian ancestry native to the Canadian Maritimes. He is French-Canadian through his grandmother, whose name was Doucette. Brawn's father was English.
"My family's tradition told me about my Native American heritage. I actually discovered it for myself while researching genealogy Web sites," he said.
Brawn's wife is also Metis. "Little Dove's father was both Wampanoag and Narragansett Indian, native to Rhode Island. Her mother was Mic Mac," said Brawn.
A famous Metis leader was Louis Riel (1844-1885). He was a political activist who led the Red River Rebellion. As a result, Riel became the founder of the Canadian province of Manitoba and is considered the leader of the Metis people of Canada. At one point in his career, Riel spent time in New England recruiting French-Canadians to settle in Manitoba.
No annual dues are required to belong to METIS, but proof of Indian ancestry is essential. An oral tradition of Indian ancestry can be considered for people who may be accepted as associate members.
Nonetheless, the Metis are not exclusive to people with French-Canadian and American Indian ancestry. Any non-native who demonstrates Indian ancestry can be considered Metis, says Brawn.
Gagnon says La Kermesse officials invited the Metis band to this year's festival after attending one of the group's meetings at the Yellow Feather Cultural Center in Dayton, a York County town adjacent to Biddeford.
"METIS will conduct a pow-wow on St. Louis Field. They will demonstrate tribal dancing in beautiful and colorful native dress," said Gagnon.
Additionally, the band will celebrate its sixth annual pow-wow in Dayton on June 13 and 14 at the Yellow Feather Cultural Center, the week before attending La Kermesse.
METIS collaborates with other tribes like the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot nations, said Brawn. In fact, the tribes trade among themselves and work side by side as vendors in various cultural events.
Check the METIS Web site, www.metisofmaine.org, for more information.
"We look forward to participating in La Kermesse," said Brawn.
Juliana L'Heureux can be contacted at:
Juliana@MaineWriter.com
Copyright 2009 by The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. All rights reserved.
pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=261227&ac=PHnws
JULIANA L'HEUREUX / LES FRANCO AMERICAINS
June 10, 2009
La Kermesse will host the Metis Eastern Tribal Indian Society of Maine during the annual Franco-American festival June 25-28 in Biddeford.
Priscille Gagnon, president of La Kermesse, said the Metis band (or tribe) will demonstrate cultural events throughout the festival with traditional storytelling and crafts on St. Louis Field.
Bob Silver Eagle Brawn, 65, of Dayton is the grand chief of METIS. The group's membership consists of 240 people from New England, including Maine, and from New Brunswick. Members share North American Indian ancestry mixed with non-native genealogies.
In other words, French-Canadians who have proof of North American Indian ancestry can apply to become members of METIS, said Brawn.
Brawn and his wife, Faith Little Dove, organized the Dayton-based band in 2003 after they had been members of the New Brunswick group.
"We saw how fast the New Brunswick group was growing, so I knew we could easily organize in Maine," said Brawn. METIS is the band's acronym, but also the noun describing the special mixed-genealogy heritage of the members.
Brawn is Metis on both sides of his family. In fact, his eighth-great-grandfather was Chief Iyanno of the Wampanoag tribe, native to eastern Massachusetts. Brawn says his Wampanoag Indian ancestor was among those who met the Pilgrims in 1620 when they arrived at Plymouth, Mass.
His father's side includes Mic Mac Indian ancestry native to the Canadian Maritimes. He is French-Canadian through his grandmother, whose name was Doucette. Brawn's father was English.
"My family's tradition told me about my Native American heritage. I actually discovered it for myself while researching genealogy Web sites," he said.
Brawn's wife is also Metis. "Little Dove's father was both Wampanoag and Narragansett Indian, native to Rhode Island. Her mother was Mic Mac," said Brawn.
A famous Metis leader was Louis Riel (1844-1885). He was a political activist who led the Red River Rebellion. As a result, Riel became the founder of the Canadian province of Manitoba and is considered the leader of the Metis people of Canada. At one point in his career, Riel spent time in New England recruiting French-Canadians to settle in Manitoba.
No annual dues are required to belong to METIS, but proof of Indian ancestry is essential. An oral tradition of Indian ancestry can be considered for people who may be accepted as associate members.
Nonetheless, the Metis are not exclusive to people with French-Canadian and American Indian ancestry. Any non-native who demonstrates Indian ancestry can be considered Metis, says Brawn.
Gagnon says La Kermesse officials invited the Metis band to this year's festival after attending one of the group's meetings at the Yellow Feather Cultural Center in Dayton, a York County town adjacent to Biddeford.
"METIS will conduct a pow-wow on St. Louis Field. They will demonstrate tribal dancing in beautiful and colorful native dress," said Gagnon.
Additionally, the band will celebrate its sixth annual pow-wow in Dayton on June 13 and 14 at the Yellow Feather Cultural Center, the week before attending La Kermesse.
METIS collaborates with other tribes like the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot nations, said Brawn. In fact, the tribes trade among themselves and work side by side as vendors in various cultural events.
Check the METIS Web site, www.metisofmaine.org, for more information.
"We look forward to participating in La Kermesse," said Brawn.
Juliana L'Heureux can be contacted at:
Juliana@MaineWriter.com
Copyright 2009 by The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. All rights reserved.
pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=261227&ac=PHnws