DRAFT Interviewing Family Members for Métis Family Research Talking with family members is one of the most important steps in Métis family research. This guide provides a structured set of questions to help you gather family stories, clarify kinship connections, and learn about traditions, community ties, and migrations. Use this guide during interviews with Elders and relatives, taking notes or recording conversations with permission. 1. Basic Family Information * What is your full name and date/place of birth? * Did your parents name you after anyone? Do you have any nicknames? * What were your parents' full names, and when/where were they born? * Did your mother have any siblings, and do you know their names? * Did your father have any siblings, and do you know their names? * Do you know your grandparents' full names and where they lived? * Do you know any of their siblings names? * What do you know about your great-grandparents? * How many siblings did you have, and what are their names? * What do you remember most about your parents or grandparents? * When did you know or find out that you were Métis? * Did your family always identify as Métis, or did they use other terms? * Are you aware of any terms or phrases used to identify Métis people in other languages (e.g., Cree, Saulteaux, Michif)? * What Métis or Indigenous community did your family belong to? * Do you know of any 'dit' names or name variations used in your family? * Were there any family members adopted (formally or informally) into the family? * Were there any family members who changed their names or went by aliases? * Did your family have any special roles or responsibilities in the community (e.g., midwife, fiddler, leader)? * Are there any family members who served in the military or participated in major historical events? 2. Family Stories and Traditions * Are there any family stories about where we came from? * Do you know any stories about our Métis ancestors? * What languages were spoken in your home growing up? * Did your family participate in community gatherings, dances, or fiddle music? * Were there any traditions around food or seasonal activities? * Do you know of any family members who were involved in buffalo hunting or the fur trade? * What are some of your favourite family memories or celebrations? * Did your family celebrate traditional Métis holidays or events (e.g., New Year’s, Shaking Hand Day, Le Jour du Roi)? * What types of music, songs, or dances were popular in your family or community? * Are there any stories about Métis resistance, activism, or involvement in community organizations? * Did your family have any special crafts, skills, or trades (e.g., beadwork, sash weaving, jigging, trapping)? * Are there any heirlooms or special objects passed down in the family? * What recipes or foods are important to your family’s Métis identity? * How did your family mark important life events—births, weddings, funerals? * Are there stories about hardship, resilience, or migration in your family? 3. Community and Migration * Where did your family live when you were a child? * Did your family move frequently, and if so, why? * What communities did your parents and grandparents belong to? * Do you know when or why our family left Red River, Batoche, or other Métis settlements (if applicable)? * Are there places our family visited for seasonal work, trapping, or trading? * Did your family ever live on a road allowance, homestead, or in a settlement outside of town? * What were the reasons for moving—work, land, marriage, community changes? * Did your family maintain connections with relatives in other communities or provinces? * Were there annual gatherings, festivals, or religious events your family attended? * How did your family travel between communities (e.g., Red River cart, canoe, train, car)? * Are there specific landmarks, rivers, or places that are important in your family’s history? * Did your family ever return to visit ancestral lands or attend reunions? * Have you heard stories about how Métis families were treated by government authorities, churches, or settlers? 4. Family Roles and Daily Life * What kind of work did your parents do? * What kind of work did your mother do? Was she employed outside the home? * What kinds of jobs or roles did your grandparents and great-grandparents have? * Who were the main caregivers in your family? * What chores or responsibilities did children have growing up? * Did your family grow or hunt their own food? * What was a typical day like for you as a child? * How did your family spend evenings or weekends? * Did your family attend church or participate in religious ceremonies? * Were there any special family rules or sayings? * Did your family have a garden, livestock, or trapline? * How did your family handle hard times or illness? * What role did extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents) play in your upbringing? * Who were the most influential people in your life growing up? * Are there any stories about family members helping others in the community? * What kind of work did your parents and grandparents do? * Who were the midwives or healers in the family? * Were there any trappers, guides, or voyageurs in the family? * Did the family have a farm, trapline, or business? * What was daily life like growing up in your household? * What chores or responsibilities did children have in your family? * Who was responsible for cooking, hunting, or gathering food? * Did anyone in the family make traditional crafts, clothing, or tools (e.g., beadwork, sashes, snowshoes)? * Were there storytellers, musicians, or dancers in the family? * What role did religion or spirituality play in daily life? * How did your family celebrate holidays or special occasions? * Did your family speak more than one language at home? Which ones? * Were there any special foods or recipes that were passed down through the family? * How did your family handle illness, emergencies, or hard times? * Did your family ever host travelers, neighbors, or community members in your home? * What games, sports, or pastimes did children and adults enjoy? * Did family members serve as leaders, teachers, or mentors in the community? * Were there any family rules, sayings, or traditions that stand out in your memory? * How did your family travel to school, church, or market? * Who were your closest friends or neighbors growing up, and did they have Métis roots as well? * Did your family ever experience discrimination or challenges because of being Métis? How did they respond? 5. Important Events and Memories * Do you remember any important family events or gatherings? * Were there weddings, funerals, or baptisms you recall? * Do you remember any stories about the 1885 Resistance, scrip, or relocation of family members? * Did anyone in the family serve in the military or participate in community leadership? * Are there stories about hardships or triumphs your family experienced? * Were there any family reunions, anniversaries, or milestone birthdays that brought the family together? * Do you recall any stories about family members traveling long distances for work, marriage, or to visit relatives? * Were there any natural disasters, epidemics, or significant changes in the community that affected your family? * Did your family participate in Métis festivals, sashing ceremonies, or cultural events? * Are there stories about family members standing up for Métis rights or participating in activism? * Do you remember any stories about land loss, road allowances, or government policies affecting your family? * Were there any family members who moved away and lost touch, or who later reconnected? * Did your family ever receive recognition, awards, or honors for their contributions to the community? * Are there any humorous, surprising, or unusual stories that have been passed down? * What are your most cherished family memories? * Are there stories or information you would like to pass on to future generations? * Is there anything about our family’s history you wish you knew more about? * Are there any questions you wish I had asked, or stories you’d like to add? 6. Photos, Documents, and Artifacts * Do you have any family photographs, letters, or documents (e.g., scrip, land grants, baptismal records)? * Are there family Bibles, prayer books, or keepsakes with names or dates written inside? * Do you know where family records are kept, and who is responsible for them? * Are there any family trees, charts, or written histories already made? * Would you be willing to share copies of family documents or photos for the family history project? * Have you or anyone in the family ever applied for Métis citizenship or registry? * Do you have any family photos you can share? * Are there old letters, diaries, or documents in the family? * Do you know of any scrip papers, land records, or baptism certificates in the family? * Are there family artifacts or heirlooms with stories behind them? * Would you be willing to let me scan or photograph these items for family history? * Are there any family Bibles, prayer books, or religious items with names and dates written inside? * Do you have any Métis sashes, beadwork, or traditional clothing that belonged to ancestors? * Have you seen any family names in published local histories or church records? * Are there any medals, military documents, or certificates of recognition in the family? * Do you know where family documents or keepsakes are stored, and who is responsible for them? * Are there any old maps, land grants, or property records that mention the family? * Have any family stories been written down or recorded in the past? * Do you have any recordings (audio or video) of family members telling stories, singing, or playing music? * Would you be comfortable sharing copies of these items with other family members or for community history projects? 7. Additional Notes Use this space to write down any additional stories or information shared during your interview, including names, dates, corrections, or leads for future research. * Are there other relatives or Elders you recommend I speak with? * Did this conversation spark any memories you’d like to share later? * Are there family mysteries or unanswered questions you hope to solve? * Is there anything about our Métis heritage you wish future generations would remember or honour? * Would you be interested in seeing the family history once it’s compiled, or contributing more stories in the future? * Do you have any advice for future generations about preserving our Métis heritage? * Is there anything else you’d like to add or share that we haven’t covered? * Are there any family members who would be interested in participating in future interviews or sharing their stories? * Do you have any suggestions for how we can best honour and preserve our Métis heritage? * Would you like to receive a copy of the compiled family history when it’s completed? * Is there anything else you’d like to say about our family, our Métis identity, or our history?