On the Red Road of Recovery I Discovered My Métis Heritage: A Journey of Identity and Connection

In my recovery from addiction, I recently found out that I have Métis heritage, and it has been like uncovering a hidden chapter of my life that had been quietly waiting to be read. For someone who knew next to nothing about my mother’s family history, this revelation is both exhilarating and overwhelming. It was as if a whole new world had opened up before me, one filled with rich cultural traditions, stories of resilience, and a deep sense of community.

My journey into understanding what it means to be Métis is just beginning, stemming from a simple conversation with my cousin. She revealed snippets of our family’s past that had been largely forgotten or overshadowed by the complexities of modern life. Learning about my Métis ancestry ignited a sense of curiosity and excitement within me. I want to know everything — the history, the culture, the struggles, and the triumphs of the Métis people. I remember my lessons in school about Louis Riel and the Red River Resistance, and his founding of the province of Manitoba, but it all seemed so distant at the time, especially to someone who grew up in England and moved back to Canada as a youth. However, I also feel a bit lost, uncertain of how to connect with this newly discovered part of myself.

Working in a place that supports Indigenous people has been instrumental in helping me bridge this gap. The organization I work for is dedicated to helping Indigenous communities heal from addiction, something I know about quite well. Being surrounded by colleagues who are passionate about their Indigenous identities and committed to making a difference provides me with a unique opportunity to learn and grow.

At times, I struggle with feelings of disconnection and impostor syndrome. I question whether I had the right to claim this heritage after years of ignorance. But my colleagues including a coworker Lisa, who recently celebrated her own journey to becoming a Métis citizen, and the community were incredibly supportive. They have encouraged me to embrace my Métis identity, learn more about the culture and it’s values, and to see my journey as a process of reconnection rather than a sudden transformation. This journey also prompted me to reflect on my personal identity and the broader social narratives. It challenges me to confront any internalized biases and misconceptions I had about Indigenous peoples. It is both an enlightening, and sometimes uncomfortable, process of unlearning and relearning. Embracing my Métis heritage is becoming a powerful act of self-affirmation and resistance against historical erasure.

It has been a transformative journey, one that I am proud to continue as I honor and celebrate my Métis roots. I’m thankful for my recovery today, and thankful for both Together We Can, and their All My Relations program.

“All my relations,” means all. When someone makes this statement it’s meant as recognition of the principles of harmony, unity and equality. It’s a way of saying that you recognize your place in the universe and that you recognize the place of others and of other things in the realm of the real and the living. In that it is a powerful evocation of truth. When you say those words you mean everything that you are kin to. Not just those people who look like you, talk like you, act like you, sing, dance, celebrate, worship or pray like you.

Everyone. You also mean everything that relies on air, water, sunlight and the power of the Earth and the universe itself for sustenance and perpetuation. It’s recognition of the fact that we are all one body moving through time and space together. To say these words is to offer a doorway to that understanding to those who hear you. It’s to proclaim in one sentence that this experience of living is a process of coming together and that it was always meant to be.

Ultimately, discovering my Métis ancestry has reshaped my understanding of who I am. It has enriched my life with a deeper sense of belonging and purpose. Working in a place that supports Indigenous people has not only helped me connect with my past but also inspires me to contribute to the ongoing story of the Métis Nation.

All My Relations is a 60–90 day live-in alcohol addiction & drug addiction treatment program that incorporates Indigenous culture, traditions, and ceremonies to address substance use disorders with Indigenous men. It is a program proudly offered by Together We Can to help Indigenous men heal from addiction and reconnect with their  culture.

On the Red Road of Recovery I Discovered My Métis Heritage: A Journey of Identity and Connection was originally published in Together We Can on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.