1) in the hopes that  it will reduce the number of times I have to answer the same questions, 

2) to provide information in quick digibytes so you don't have to wade through all my stuff to get direct answers to specific questions, 

3) to provide answers to questions people should be asking, and

4) to encourage people to seek out more information on the issues that interest them.

The trouble is, nothing about Metis issues is simple.  Nothing I -- or anyone else for that matter --  can say will be true for all Metis people in all places at all times.  The history and circumstances of Metis peoples in different parts of North America presents a sometimes bewildering, but always fascinating kaleidoscope of conditions and events which defy simplicity.  For the sake of clarity this FAQ will anchor itself in Canada in 1982 when the term "Metis" was incorporated in the Canadian Constitution.  From that focal point it just might be possible to make some sense out of the Metis universe.

If you don't find the answer to a question you think should be here, email me and I will include it as soon as I can.

To save you the trouble of having to read through all of the answers to get to the question you want, the questions by themselves are contained in the table below.  Just click on the questions that interest you to jump to the answer, or scroll on down if you just want to browse. New questions will be *asterisked* to make them stand out.

For those who would like to pursue more detail than the following answers provide, a set of links  to that information will, where possible, be provided at the end of each question and answer.
 

The Questions
Where does the word "Métis" come from?	What is the definition of Métis?
Who is a Métis?	Who are the Métis?
Aren't "real" Métis just French and Indian ?	Aren't "real" Métis from the prairie provinces?
What percentage of Indian blood is needed to be Métis?	Must every Metis have one Aboriginal and one non-Aboriginal parent?
Are all mixed-blood people Métis?	Are Non-Status Indians Métis?
Are Métis a Tribe?	Aren't Métis just wannabee Indians?
What is the difference between Métis and Indian?	What is the difference between Métis and White?
Don't Métis weaken Indian "Unity"?	Isn't Métis just a romantic idea?
Am I (the reader) a Metis?	Are  you (Martin F. Dunn) a Métis?
How do I prove I am Métis?	How do I find out if I have Métis ancestors?
Must I join a Metis organization to be Métis?	What if there is no Metis organization to join?
Do all Métis organizations have the same   membership criteria?	Do all Métis organization receive government funding?
Is the Confederacy of Métis Peoples a Métis Organization?
What do various Métis peoples have in common?	Do Métis have Aboriginal and Treaty Rights?
Are all Métis people entitled to all Aboriginal and Treaty Rights?	Do Metis have the "right" to tax exemption, free dental care, and post secondary school education?
*What is Scrip?*	*Did all Métis receive Scrip?*
*Does Scrip have value now?*	*What is a Status Métis?*
What is a Métis Status Card?	I have a Métis Status Card.  What rights am I entitled to?
How do I get a Métis card?	Can I use my Métis card for tax exemption or crossing the border ?
Who represents Métis in Canada?	Are There Metis in the U.S.?
Who represents Métis in the U.S.?	How do I get  Métis information from the web?