Members of the Metis community comprised of people of mixed Indigenous and European origin in Canada. The Metis community originated extensively in Western parts of Canada, and eventually emerged among the political forces that were witnessed in the nineteenth century. Historians have been able to observe that the Metis community mostly radiated from the settlement of the Red River. While this community faced political marginalization from the Canadian government from 1885, various groups have since managed to recognize this community as Aboriginal people whose rights are enshrined in the Canadian Constitution ( Metis History: An Overview, 2019 ). 1 In this respect, this paper seeks to analyze the various forms of leadership that were available among the members of the Metis community from 1870 to the 1940s.
Analysis of the various Forms of Leadership
The focus of multiple kinds of leadership that were experienced among the Metis community between 1870 and 1940s involved social, military and political personalities such as Cuthbert Grant, among others Gabriel Dumont. Adaptation to change persistently and continued resistance comprised a different form of leadership among the members of the Metis community that involved the consolidation of settlement and the adaptation of an economy that was driven by agricultural market ( Metis History: An Overview, 2019 ) 2 . In this regard, there was a separation of the Catholic clergy from the Metis community as well as the second Riel Rebellion. Historians and researchers have managed to establish that the various forms of leadership within the Metis community were characterized by different aspects such as the role played by women in shaping the critical developments and achievements. Despite there being sentiments that attempt to point to the fact that the legality of leadership among the members of the Metis community appeared to ended with Riel following the 1885 defeat and subsequent fragmentation ( Unit 3-Leadership and the Metis People, 2019 ). 3 However, the emergence of a new form of leadership followed the confirmation of the hegemony of the settler society with the defeat of Norquay.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The other form of leadership in this particular society involved the collaboration of true leaders who worked towards the establishment of a direction that entailed protests as well as cooperation with the regime of the day. The effectiveness of the form of leadership within Metis community that involved councilorss was mostly dependent on the fact that they played a significant role in the management of the people's affairs from a broader perspective ( Unit 3-Leadership and the Metis People, 2019 ) 4 . Besides, the form of leadership had leaders who were actively involved in the maintenance of order as well as stopping interference of the members of the Metis community by foreign groups. In this form of leadership, representatives of the government were taken from different areas across the Society to present the problems and concerns of their people to the council.
Given the various forms of leadership that they experienced, the Metis community seemed to be more comfortable with the turn of events that was happening in society around 1885. Leaders in this community were always on the forefront trying to guide them towards living and operating according to laws and mechanisms of social control that were practiced by the previous generations. Other forms of leadership among people in this particular community were substantially dependent on the decisions and actions of their elders because the ethnocentric histories associated to them were taught to students in a manner that failed to present them as flattering. Later on, the leaders of the Metis community decided to adopt a form of leadership that involved the organization of their followers into small groups that were essentially considered as being at the periphery society in Canada. The Metis community leaderships operating between 1870 and 1940s primarily focused on ensuring that their customs, language, and culture were practiced and maintained ( Unit 3-Leadership and the Metis People, 2019 ). 5
The acquisition of a sense of collective or group identity by the Metis Community was largely influenced by a form of leadership that was often driven by economic, social, and political reasons. There was a functional grouping of various families owing to the way of life and the inspiration that received from the leaders. In this respect, the leadership of the Metis community placed a significant level of emphasis on the development trading ventures that were operational along lakes and rivers situated in the northwest region ( Metis History: An Overview, 2019 ). 6 By 1940s, the leadership of the Metis community had long considered themselves as a collection of individuals with distinct features from the Canadian people as well as the First Nations who were dominant political and military forces in the western region. It is noteworthy that different forms of leadership that were common among the Metis community were significantly responsible for the community’s political actions and the determination of the identities of its members.
Considering an increasing level of influence from foreign groups, the form of leadership within the Metis community changed in the sense that it began to focus on preventing the establishment of foreign cultures that were primarily perceived as being more exploitative. During this time, the leadership acted in a manner that placed more emphasis on addressing the plight of the members of the community as well as sensitizing them to fight for their rights ( Metis History: An Overview, 2019 ). 7 Critically, this form of leadership may have had its shortcomings such as discouragement of collaboration with others, s but the general feeling is that the members of the Metis community extensively benefited from it. Besides, it presented the leadership with the opportunity to have a better understanding of some of the deep-rooted challenges that were facing their members to the extent of hindering social, economic, and political development in their region ( Metis History: An Overview, 2019 ). 8
Conclusion
In summing up, it is worth acknowledging that the Metis community underwent a significant transformation during the several forms of leadership that it experienced from 1870 to 1940. Primarily, the establishment of these forms of leadership was characterized by different aspects such as the role played by various personalities in the shaping of their critical developments and achievements. It has been established that the leadership in this community involved figures that dedicated their efforts to the fulfillment of laws and mechanisms of social control that were practiced by the previous generations.
References
Metis History: An Overview. (2019). [Class Handout].
Unit 3-Leadership and the Metis People. (2019). [Class Handout].
1 Metis History: An Overview. (2019). [Class Handout], .
2 Metis History: An Overview. (2019). [Class Handout].
3 Unit 3-Leadership and the Metis People. (2019). [Class Handout].
4 Unit 3-Leadership and the Metis People. (2019). [Class Handout].
5 Unit 3-Leadership and the Metis People. (2019). [Class Handout].
6 Metis History: An Overview. (2019). [Class Handout].
7 Metis History: An Overview. (2019). [Class Handout].
8 Metis History: An Overview. (2019). [Class Handout].
