Josée Bergeron is a freelance writer and owner of Backwoods Mama, a website that helps families feel more at home in nature. She lives in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley with her five children.
Josée Bergeron didn’t grow up with a strong sense of Indigenous identity. When she began exploring it as an adult, she realized forging a sense of identity is complicated when the politics of who is Indigenous are so fraught.Josée Bergeron didn’t grow up with a strong sense of Indigenous identity. When she began exploring it as an adult, she realized forging a sense of identity is complicated when the politics of who is Indigenous are so fraught.
"We are Métis," my father told me often, but that's where the connection to our identity ended, or so I believed. That didn't stop other children from their jeering. My father remembers one time in elementary school when another child called him "Espèce de Michif," meaning he looked or acted Métis. His dark hair, eyes and sun-kissed skin made him stand out from other children.
Although I knew that I was Red River Métis based on my lineage, the shame I associated with being Métis, compounded with the shame of the loss of culture and language, had me peering across a chasm.So when I tore open the envelope and cradled the contents — my Métis ID Card and a welcome letter from the B.C. Métis Federation — in my hands, I was surprised. Delighted by the affirming news, I tucked the card into my wallet, preparing for the journey ahead.
As the year unfolded, I slowly became more comfortable and confident in my identity as a Métis. I spoke more openly about it with others, on my blog and social media platforms and with my children. I started to search for meaningful ways to incorporate Métis culture into family life. I read books to my children written by Métis authors. I started wearing items made by Métis artisans. I started to connect with my local Métis community.
I could have let this setback send me adrift. Instead, I trusted my roots. Like a young willow tree along the banks of the Red River, I held on knowing that I am on a journey of discovery and self-acceptance — one that I am excited to be on for myself, my children and the Métis Nation. I know where my family comes from.