In the late 1860s, as Canada expanded westward, the Métis people of the Red River Settlement faced a threat to their land, culture, and very identity. What followed was one of the most pivotal acts of resistance in Canadian history—led by a young and brilliant Métis leader named Louis Riel.

The Métis are one of the three constitutionally recognized Indigenous peoples in Canada, alongside First Nations and Inuit. But unlike common assumptions, Métis identity isn’t just about mixed ancestry — it’s about being part of a distinct nation, with its own culture, language, kinship networks, and political history.