Lyr. Add: LA MÉTISSE - SONG OF THE MÉTIS MAIDEN
(Words by Louis Riel, music composer unknown)

Song of the Métis Maiden
(trans. L. Verrault)

I am a maid of the small Métis nation,
And with great pride this heritage I share;
I know that God when He shaped His creation
Made every race with equal love and care.
Though the Métis are not many in number,
Great is the destiny which they command;
Proud of the hate that the world heaps upon them,
Yet they have played a great role in this land.

Chorus:
Oh! if some day perchance I should be courted
Gladly I'd love without shame or demand
A soldier brave from our little detachment
So proudly led by our chief-in-command.
Gladly I'd love a soldier brave
So proudly led by our chief-in-command.
Gladly I'd love a soldier brave
So proudly led by our chief-in-command.

When on that night, the seventh of December,
They captured Schultz and his troop all in one,
The fading sun, like a guardian angel,
Hung in the sky until the task was done.
Then morning came on the eighth of December,
One never saw a day so bright and fair;
And the Métis in their moment of triumph
Fell to their knees in a heart-warming prayer.

Have I not seen, I, a timid young maiden,
The Métis troops in the Fort and the town,
Eight hundred strong in defence of their country,
Risen as one with no thought of renoun?
Oh! wondrous sight to behold our proud soldiers,
Sons of the plain where man is free to roam,
With their heads bowed in a most humble gesture
Praying for help to save their land and homes.

Then a fine priest, a brave and saintly pastor,
For Ottawa set out one morning bright
At every turn he met with disaster
But he had God aiding him in his fight.
Six months of toil had given us a Province
Happily wrought of his faith and his dreams;
While McDougall who envisioned a kingdom
Had to forgo all his devilish schemes.

LA MÉTISSE

Je suis Métisse et je orgueilleuse
D'appartenir à cette nation;
Je sais que Dieu de Sa main généreuse
Fait chaque peuple avec attention.
Les Métis sont un petit peuple encore
Mais vous pouvez déjà voir leurs destins;
Être haïs comme ils sont les honore,
Ils sont déjà rempli de grands desseins.

Refrain:
Ah! si jamais je devais être aimée,
Je choisirais pour mon fidéle amant
Un des soldats de la petite armée
Que commandait notre fier adjutant.
Je choisirais un des soldats       )bis
Que commandait notre fier adjutant. )

Quand ils ont pris Schultz avec sa phalange,
Le sept décembre au soir, il fit bien beau;
Notre soleil couchant, beau comme un ange
Veillant sur nous, retira son flambeau
Seulement quand Schultz eut rendu les armes.
Le lendemain fut splendide pour nous:
Le huit décembre, entouré de ses charmes,
Vit les Métis triompher à genoux.

N'ai-je pas vu, moi qui suis jeune fille,
Le Fort Garry plein de soldats métis?
Huit cents Méis dans le fort et la ville,
Je les ai vus défendre le pays
Avec autant d'amour que de vaillance.
Que c'était beau de voir ces hommes fiers,
Courbant le front, prier la Providence
De leur aider à garder leurs foyers.

Un saint pasteur, un prêtre inébranlable
Partit un jour du côté d'Ottawa;
On l'entoura d'un bruit épouvantable
Mais pour passer le Bon Dieu l'appuya.
Il s'en revint avec notre Province
Heureusement faite en six mois de temps,
Et McDougall, un moment notre prince
Resta confus de tous ses mauvais plans.

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"This song is in the Joseph Dubuc Papers, Provincial Archives of Manitoba; both words and music hand-done.
"The verses were composed by Louis Riel, President of the Provisional Government which he formed at Red River late in 1869. The content of the song gives the only clue as to its date, which was probably early in 1870, after Riel had captured the party of Portage marchers, with the Métis in possession of Upper Fort Garry.
With music, pp. 51-55, M. A. MacLeod, 1960, "Songs of Old Manitoba," Ryerson Press.

The Métis were crushed at Batoche, the superior Ottawa forces with Gatling guns ended the dream of a Métis nation or Province.
In the western part of their range, they have received lands in Alberta, but most lost the 'river lots' apportioned by Hudson's Bay, if not at the time, later to emigrants from Europe. I will have to read some history; I know of their settlements in Saskatchewan, but not of their extent and title. A few small settlements remain in Manitoba. Some actions may still be before the courts. Some left for the U. S., esp. Minnesota where there were colonies; there are a few in most of the other border states.