Beyond Stereotypes: The Real Story of Métis Spirituality

Why This Series Exists

This series was born from my own search for belonging and understanding. For most of my adult life, I was trying to figure out what it really means to be Métis, spiritually, culturally, and in everyday life. I didn’t grow up with ceremony, language, or open conversations about our ancestry. Most of my family still has no idea about these teachings or practices. Like many, I started with more questions than answers.

I created this 10-week series to share what I’ve learned, to offer a supportive path for others who feel disconnected or unsure, and to show that there are many ways to walk the Métis path. Whether you’re just starting to explore your roots or looking to deepen your connection, you belong here. We’ll walk together through stories, ceremony, land, spirit, and community, one step at a time.

Let’s Start With a Story

I didn’t learn about my Indigeneity until my twenties. Maybe you can relate. I grew up in a mostly white city. My family didn’t talk much about our ancestry. My mom had a hard childhood, marked by poverty and trauma. She kept our Métis roots quiet. My half-brother, who is Chinese, faced racism and bullying. My parents tried church for a while, but it didn’t quite fit. Where we truly felt at home was outdoors, gardening, fishing, foraging, camping. There was always a sense of something sacred in nature. My mom, baptized Catholic but always searching, taught me that spirituality could be found both in church and under the open sky.

Let’s pause for a moment. Maybe you’ve felt this too, a longing for connection, but not sure where to start.

What I Used to Believe

When I started looking for answers about Métis spirituality, I ran into a lot of myths:

• “Métis are just Catholic.”

• “Real ceremony is for First Nations, not us.”

• “If you didn’t grow up with culture, you’re not Métis enough.”

  
  

Have you ever heard these? Or maybe even believed them, like I did?

What I’ve Learned

Here’s what I’ve learned from reading, listening, and asking questions:

• There isn’t just one way to be Métis or spiritual.

• Métis spirituality is a spectrum. Some families have kept ceremonies like sweat lodge or Sundance for generations. Others are just now returning to them.

• Many Métis are Catholic or Protestant, and church is still important for them.

• Lots of people blend traditions, praying in church and smudging at home, for example.

• For some, being outdoors, gardening, fishing, camping—is the most spiritual practice of all.

  
  

In other words, Métis spirituality is diverse and always changing. There’s no single “right way.”

Why Stereotypes Stick Around

Why do these myths hang on? Here’s what I’ve found:

• Colonialism and residential schools made many families hide or lose access to ceremony.

• Generational trauma led to silence, sometimes as a way to survive.

• Métis communities are so varied that it’s easy for outsiders (and sometimes insiders) to get confused.

  
  

So, what does this mean for us? It means if you feel unsure or disconnected, you’re not alone. Many of us are figuring it out as we go.

What Métis Spirituality Can Look Like

Let’s look at some real examples:

• Attending sweats or feasts

• Praying in church and smudging at home

• Finding peace in the bush, on the water, or in the garden

• Learning from Elders, books, or each other

• Blending teachings from both sides of the family

  
  

Which of these feels familiar to you? What would you add from your own life?

Coming Home

Author Kaitlin B. Curtice writes, “Returning home, whether it’s a physical home or spiritual home, is holy work. It is a sacred journey.” I love this idea. It reminds me that we can always begin again, no matter where we start.

If you’re searching, you’re already on the path.

Let’s Reflect

• Have you ever felt “not enough” because of what you didn’t learn growing up?

• What does spirituality look like for you today?

• Is there a small step you want to take, like learning a story, talking to a relative, or spending time on the land?

  
  

You belong here. Your story matters.

What’s Next

Next week, we’ll talk about what it means to return to ceremony, and how Métis people are reclaiming healing, identity, and belonging.

If you want to read more:

• Chantal Fiola, Returning to Ceremony (on reclaiming Métis spiritual practices)

• Blair Stonechild, The Knowledge Seeker (on Indigenous wisdom and healing)

• Kaitlin B. Curtice, Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God (on spirituality and returning home)

Thank you for walking this path with me.