Soup Kitchen or Kitchen Table?

A Relational Approach to Understanding the Use of “Métis” in Labrador

Abstract

Debates over uses of the word “Métis” have led to increasing conflicts between communities who have identified as Métis. This essay explores how an Indigenous literary studies approach can bring nuance to these debates. I seek to deepen understanding of the term “Labrador Métis” by listening to stories from the Inuit community that has used that term and, in so doing, to bridge conflicts around it. First, I share oral stories of how NunatuKavut Inuit worked with the Métis towards the recognition of Métis rights. Then, I critique scholarly work on this community that has insufficiently attended to Indigenous stories, arguing that such work contributes to a narrative of Indigenous deficiency and perpetuates colonial research practices. Finally, I examine the influence of non-relational scholarship on politicized divisions between Indigenous peoples within and beyond Labrador.