The most common situation in which a person without Aboriginal ancestry has a justifiable claim to identifying him/herself as a Metis is through marriage. Where one parent --and by definition, all of the resulting children of that marriage -- would be Metis, it would be unconscionable to exclude the non-Aboriginal partner. Many Metis communities and most Metis organizations make some arrangement in their membership rules for non-Aboriginal spouses and/or parents to be included as a member. As a member of a Metis family or organization, such a person would be at least technically eligible for any rights or benefits that apply to that family or organization.
The second circumstance occurs in a situation where you (or an ancestor) was adopted by a Metis family. By adoption, you have a claim to identifying yourself as Metis. In itself, this would not necessarily result in eligibility for any right or benefit. On the other hand, should your adoptive parents be eligible for such benefits, there is no good reason you should be excluded from that benefit. This situation is most likely to develop in a claims area where the community identifies claims beneficiaries by family name and long-term residence.
The third situation is rare, but by no means impossible. A Metis community or organization could, by virtue of your long term residence or value to that community, recognize you as a member of their Metis community or organization. By virtue of that recognition, you would, technically, become a Metis in your own right. In this circumstance a community could validate your eligibility to receive your share of any right or benefit which accrues to that community. A community in a northern land claim is one possible example. To become an "honourary Metis" by virtue of recognition of a Metis community or organization would, indeed, be a considerable honour. It is unlikely that anyone could deliberately seek such as honour, but stranger things have happened.
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