A Metis invasion of Scotland planned

A bond of education links two groups of people who share a common history in the development of Canada

By: Avis Pratt

Scotland is on the verge of an invasion.

This time it's the Aboriginal people of Canada who have turned tables. Okay, maybe it's not so much an invasion as a tripartite partnership that will take Canadian Aboriginal teachings to Scottish soil.

The Saskatchewan Indian Federated College and the Gabriel Dumont Institute are collaborating with Scotland's University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute to set up the new Centre of Canadian First Nations and Metis Studies. It is the first of its kind centre of study in all of Europe.

"The nature of this partnership is to establish a centre of Canadian First Nations and Metis Studies," says Wes Stevenson, the vice president of administration at SIFC, and also the mastermind behind the project.

Stevenson initiated the project because after researching what universities in the United Kingdom had Canadian First Nations and Metis Studies, he found that there were none.

This was disturbing for Stevenson, considering that the Metis Nations of Canada has roots in that area. "Everybody is studying everybody, but nobody is studying Canadian First Nations and Metis people," says Stevenson. "And because of the historical link that we have between the Aboriginal people of Canada and that part of Scotland, I told them about my idea."

He first proposed the idea to Gordon Biggs, the head of European and International Relations at Scotland's Moray College. At that time, the Government of Scotland was just finally materializing its millennium project. Scotland's goal was to establish one university that would unite 15 colleges across the North Highlands and Islands of Scotland, for the year 2007. That university to be known as the University of the North Highlands and Islands, will also be home to the new Centre of Canadian First Nations and Metis Studies.

"That was the perfect time for the proposal of this new centre of study, not just because of the new university, but also because Moray College (now a part UHI Millennium Institute) is known for its international relations. That was a prime factor in getting this project set off.

"We are looking for opportunities to enrich our courses and give students a wider perspective of the world," Biggs said in a Moray College press release.

Biggs and Stevenson got this ball rolling while they were at an international science festival in Estonia last year. A year later, on March 15, 2003, when Moray College hosted another international science festival, the formal signing of the tripartite partnership took place.

Gabriel Dumont, Metis leader

"This is where the public will then become informed...and we're hoping to leverage a fourth partner into this relationship," Stevenson said.

The fourth potential partner is the historic Hudsons Bay Company. HBC has a deep rooted history in both Canada and Scotland.This joint venture would make an ideal opportunity to reconnect the tie that these groups once retained, which will then make this circle complete.

HBC is important in early Canadian history and a root of the Metis Nation of Canada.

In Canada during the fur trade era, the Hudson Bay Company and the North West Company were the two rival fur trading companies.They were mostly made up of the Scottish and French men. A lot of intermarriage occurred across Canada between the fur traders and the First Nations women. Hence, the Metis Nation was born.

There is the historical aspect as to why HBC is the ideal fourth partner, but there is much more than that said Stevenson. "The Hudson Bay Company probably has the most extensive archives in Canada...So, this partnership could lead into things like studies by our students who want to do something at a graduate level in a specific area relative to the fur trade, British colonialism, etc."

Looking at the opportunities that this partnership could offer, the prospects seem positive for all who are associated with each institution, Stevenson added.

The Gabriel Dumont Institute for instance, is a Metis College. Being a part of the tripartite partnership will not only help the school itself, but also its own community. Stevenson says Metis people who have roots in Scotland may see this as a grand opportunity to connect families from each country.

"Our objective is to provide more opportunities for Metis learners and our community and to expand our mandate," said Calvin Racette, executive director of the Gabriel Dumont Institute.

"The details of the centre of First Nations and Metis Studies are still in their very early stages," said Racette. "It's still a historical occurrence in my books. This is because three unique institutions representing three different nations intertwined through history have come together for one common goal," he added.

"Often the First Nations of Canada and the Metis do not collaborate on things and this is something that we have in common that crosses political ideology," said Stevenson, before heading to Scotland for the formal signing of the historic partnership.