Aboriginals have a strong feeling that when the old forms of discrimination found in the former Indian Act were eradicated, this has given way to new ones. Read the article on the Indian Affairs website.

Adapted from: ainc-inac.gc.ca

The Metis Nation in Quebec wishes to develop its governmental autonomy and be recognized as the 12th Aboriginal Nation on Quebec's territory. Read the text by Claude Aubin, a Quebec Metis leader.

Adapted from: othermetis.net

On the Metis Corporation of Quebec and of Eastern Canada website, you will find messages of public interest to the Métis people and concerning official recognition of their existence.

Adapted from: metisduquebec.ca

Madeleine Basile

This Atikamekw from Wemotaci Alain Castonguay's wife and the mother of their 4 children: Samuel, Rémy, Sara and David. Her grandparents from her mother's side raised Madeleine. They live like nomads on the territory. She would see White people sometimes, but without hanging out with them. She met Alain, the love of her life for the next 30 years. She is very involved in her community.

Madeleine and Alain bought a huge land in 1995. There, she organizes sharing circles' meetings.

Alain Castonguay

This Quebecer is Madeleine's husband and the father of their 4 children. He has always been attracted to Indians. One of his aunts from his mother's side married an Abenaki who Alain liked a lot, and his great grandmother from his father's side was Iroquois.

On his land, Madeleine and him laid out 25,000 trees; built a garage, a barn for horses and a hen house; dug a lake for trout; and set up various buildings. Alain like to initiate his 2 younger children to fauna and flora on the territory.

Jean-Pierre Fontaine (Anisheniu)

We could also call Jean-Pierre, the "Magic hands" because he is so skilful! From Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam, but living in Saint-Alphonse-de-Rodriguez, he is a painter, sculptor, songwriter and guitar player. With his French partner Isabelle, he formed a duet in Innu and in French.

They met in a native healing centre. Because of his drug problems, Jean-Pierre had to go on a medical therapy. Since then, he is sober. Art is his salvation. He is a model for the people of Uashat.

Isabelle Courtois (Isa)

Isabelle Courtois studied in natural medicine. She settled in Quebec in 1999 upon the invitation of the Native Healing Centre.

Isabelle found in Innu customs her grandparents' lifestyle in Perche. She paints and makes crafts. They organize awareness sessions among the youth; discuss for example about lifestyle and survival techniques, respect of animal; tell legends and talk about the medicine wheel.