Metis Case Study

SAWCHUK NEGOTIATING AN IDENTITY
(1) Discuss 2 significant conflicts between different groups of Metis. One significant conflict between the different groups of Metis was the splitting of a long-standing political union between the Metis and the non-status Indians. In the 1960s and 1970s, there was a broad definition for who was considered Metis. They were defined as someone with mixed white and Indian ancestry and therefore non-status Indians were able to join. However, in 1984, it was changed so that to be considered Metis, you must declare yourself as so and provide historical or legal proof to compliment your claim. Therefore, non-status Indians were removed from discussion altogether. A second conflict began in the 1990s when the idea of a separate group of Metis that were composed strictly of Red River Metis was beginning to form. Their argument was that they were the true Metis and the only ones that could use the name. As time went by, the definition of Metis narrowed and conflicts continued grew.
(2) Discuss the 2 competing trends (the ‘accordion effect’) in defining Metis. Two competing trends that deal with the identity of Metis today are that of moving towards a more narrow definition of

Since Asians have features that give them a sort of racial identity, many of the women choose to alter these features. For example, it is very common for Asian women to get surgery on their eye lids to remove the appearance of having small or narrow eyes. Another example would be altering their nose to alter the stereotype people hold of Asians having flat noses. Most women who were interviewed stated that the primary reason for getting plastic surgery was that it was a way for them to look like a less stereotypical Asian, and therefore, look the best they could. Therefore, it could be said that in altering their image, they also hope to alter their social status as women of racial