Religion has always been an integral part of the Métis people. Although the Church has always influenced the Métis and there were many Métis people who exclusively followed the European tradition of Church; some Métis only the followed First Nations spiritualism. The remaining Métis blended the Catholicism/Protestant traditions with the Native spiritualities.
Due to the widespread Christianity, the Métis regularly attended the church and celebrated the Christian festivals like Easter and Christmas.
They were rooted in the veneration of the Virgin and also took pilgrimages to St. Laurent de Grandin. Many Métis marriages also took place in Church and the dead were buried in Protestant or Catholic cemeteries. Many times, the priest accompanied the Métis people to their annual buffalo hunting trips. Along with Christianity some Métis also followed the First Nations belief in sprits. Their festivals and special ceremonies like sweat lodge, sacred pipe, medicine wheel and long house ceremonies were adopted and celebrated by these Métis. Most of them practiced these traditions secretly as the Church had banned the traditional ceremonies.
Festivals and some important days are also celebrated by the Métis. Late summer festivities ‘Heritage Days’ or ‘Back to Batoche’ was a three day festival celebrated in mid July since 1880s. The festival was celebrated to honor the Métis who fought for Batoche. Even today the festival is held annually, in Saskatchewan, amidst great enthusiasm where the Métis gather together to dance, celebrate and renew traditions. Masses were held all day long on November 16th, in the memory of the Métis leader, Louis Riel. In year, 2007, the Manitoba government had declared a holiday on the third Monday of February to commemorate the leader.
Today, there are many Métis who have shunned the church after being imposed with European religion and customs for hundreds of years. Many people are returning back to their roots and have started practicing their traditional spirituality; while there are others who still religiously follow Christianity. Métis, today practice all religion forms, from the traditional Christianity to the New Age beliefs. They amalgamate these religions and follow them in their own unique way.
