Canada’s
North-West at the beginning of the 19th century was a region exploited solely for its wealth in furs; the merchants
who profited from it had no interest in having any settlers. But
the fur trade voyageurs in their unions with the native women
had children; in 1806, the North-West Company had 1200 men in
the field. Sixty years later, there was a mixed blood population
of 15,0001. The aboriginal population is estimated to
have been around
55,000 people.
A goodly number of the voyageurs who stayed on in the North-West
were bonded men, but those who did do not renew their contracts
called themselves "free men". These men were not always easy to
control and the fur trade companies agreed that the presence of
catholic clergy might have a mitigating effect on their
independent character. The religious orders who accept to come
seek to evangelise and bring all of these people to
Christianity; they are imbued with zeal. They will also provide
all manner of social services, including health care and
education. We will look at four Métis communities, of which
three are well established before the arrival of the
missionaries.
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