My Métis Ancestry
This is the story of where I come from, woven from memory, land, and blood.
In acknowledgment to the lineage I carry, the matriarchs who shaped me, and the ancestors who walked before me. It is a tribute to their survival, leadership, and love.
My maternal lineage is through Henrietta (Nettie) Smith, Mary Cardinal, James Smith, and ultimately to James Curtis Bird, a Hudson’s Bay Company Chief Factor and Acting Governor of Rupert’s Land. He formed a union with Mary Oomenahomisk, a Cree matriarch born near Lake Winnipeg. Together, they built a legacy of kinship, culture, and resilience that lives on in every generation of our family.
Where Mary Came From
James Curtis Bird met Mary Oomenahomisk in the late 1700s or early 1800s in what is now southern Manitoba, specifically the Red River District, a major fur trade hub during the time of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Mary Oomenahomisk was a Cree woman, born around 1777, likely in the area surrounding Lake Winnipeg or Red River. The Cree were central to fur trade relationships across Rupert’s Land, and women like Mary played critical roles as:
Cultural liaisons between Indigenous communities and European traders
Mothers of the first Métis generations
Knowledge Keepers and providers for fur trade households
She and Bird entered into a “country marriage” according to Cree and fur trade customs, forming a union rooted in mutual survival, cooperation, and family.
Children of James & Mary Bird
Historical sources confirm that James Curtis Bird and Mary Oomenahomisk had at least 14 children
These births spanned major fur trade posts in what is now Saskatchewan and Manitoba, reflecting the family’s movement with HBC assignments. These children went on to establish influential Métis lineages across western Canada.
Through their children and grandchildren, most notably James Smith, and through him Henrietta (Nettie) Smith this line of history stretches forward through every woman in my family tree.
Lizotte Family Legacy
The Lizotte legacy begins with Michel Lizotte I, born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, in 1819. A French-Canadian voyageur, he moved westward through the fur trade routes into the Fort Vermilion region. He married Sophie Tourangeau (b. 1834), a woman of mixed French and Indigenous heritage. Together, they were one of the first families to settle in Fort Vermilion, carrying forward Métis culture in the Fort Vermilion region through homesteading, trapping, and community-building
Children of Michel Lizotte I and Sophie Tourangeau:
Michel Lizotte II
Rose Lizotte
Louis Lizotte
Julie Lizotte
Joseph Lizotte
Their children, especially Michel Lizotte II and Michel Lizotte III, became deeply integrated in northern Alberta’s Métis communities. Through marriages with women like Maggie Lambert, their descendants, including my great grandfather John Lizotte, built the land, trapped, raised families, and preserved culture during times of both change and hardship.
Ancestor Spotlights:
James Curtis Bird (c. 1773–1856) https://www.redriverancestry.ca/BIRD-JAMES-CURTIS-1773.php
Born in England, James Curtis Bird arrived in Rupert’s Land in 1788 as a young writer and apprentice clerk with the Hudson’s Bay Company. Over nearly 60 years of service, he rose to become Chief Factor and eventually Acting Governor of Rupert’s Land. Bird was instrumental in establishing fur trade operations across the Prairies and served as registrar for the Red River Settlement. His legacy includes not only political and economic influence, but also cultural, through his union with Mary Oomenahomisk, a Cree woman whose lineage gave rise to generations of Métis families. Their partnership reflected a vital bridge between European and Indigenous worlds at a time of profound transformation. Bird’s Hill, Manitoba, remains a testament to his enduring presence in Canadian history.
Mary Oomenahomisk (c. 1777–1820)
A Cree matriarch born near Lake Winnipeg, Mary carried deep land-based knowledge, spiritual strength, and cultural teachings. Her union with Bird is one of the foundational relationships that birthed the Métis Nation. Together, they raised at least 14 children across the prairies. She represents the quiet strength of Indigenous women whose partnerships gave rise to new nations, identities, and legacies. She is the heart of my matrilineal line.
Curtis James Bird (c. 1837–1901)
Youngest son of James Curtis Bird. He was educated in England, became a physician, and served as coroner and Speaker of the Manitoba Legislature. A respected Métis leader, he helped draft the Métis List of Rights in 1870 and was part of the political movement for Indigenous and Métis self-determination.
Sophie Tourangeau (c. 1834)
Likely of mixed French and Indigenous ancestry, Sophie was the matriarch of a family that helped shape the cultural fabric of Fort Vermilion. Her marriage to Michel Lizotte I brought together two rich traditions—voyageur and Indigenous. Together, they raised a generation that carried Métis identity through both language and land.
Michel Lizotte I (b. October 16,1819 Trois-Rivières Quebec) https://www.redriverancestry.ca/LIZOTTE-MICHEL-1818.php
Born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Michel was a voyageur who entered the fur trade and journeyed west. He married Sophie Tourangeau and settled in Fort Vermilion. Their descendants carried on both Indigenous and French traditions, becoming key figures in Métis history.
Michel Lizotte II (b. January 16, 1858, Fort Vermillion, Alberta)
Son of Michel I and Sophie Tourangeau. A fur trader and Métis land steward in northern Alberta, he helped maintain cultural continuity through the fur trade economy and homesteading life.
Michel Lizotte III (c. 1886)
Married Maggie Lambert. Managed one of the largest farms in North Vermilion. Freighted goods by dog team and raised 11 children. His household was a center of Métis resilience and land-based life.
Margaret (Maggie) Lambert (c.1889)
Married Michel Lizotte III. A mother of 11 children and caretaker of a thriving Métis household. Known for her gardens, butter-making, and strong traditions. She passed away during the Spanish flu epidemic and is remembered for her strength and devotion to her family and community.
John Lizotte (b.November 9th, 1906– June 1st, 1982, Fort Vermillion)
Son of Michel III and Maggie. A trapper, freighter who married Henrietta (Nettie) Smith. He worked the land and lived with quiet pride in his heritage. Their marriage united two strong Métis bloodlines—Smith and Lizotte.
Henrietta (Nettie) Smith (b. May 2nd, 1902– January 1968 Fort Vermillion, Alberta)
Daughter of James Smith and Mary Cardinal. Born in Battle River, Alberta, Nettie married John Lizotte in 1927. She raised a large family, sang beautifully, tended gardens, and passed on beadwork and cultural strength. She is remembered as the emotional center of her family.
Colleen Walters (Lizotte) (b. May 30th
Daughter of Nettie and John Lizotte. She married Ronald Walters and is my grandmother.
Diane Walters (b May 24th. Daughter of Colleen and Ron Walters. She married James Dancey and is my mother.
Ancestral Movement Map:
From England to Red River, and from Red River to Fort Chipewyan, Fort Vermilion, our family’s journey spanned trade routes, rivers, and fur posts.
Languages of my Ancestors:
Our family roots stretch through Cree, French, Michif, and English. These languages were spoken at hearths, on traplines, and in trading posts.
Teachings Passed On:
· Gardening, harvesting, beadwork & crafting from Nettie and Maggie
· Medicinal knowledge and seasonal teachings from Mary and Sophie
· Political leadership and negotiation from James and Curtis Bird
· Land stewardship & traditional skills from The Lizotte’s
· Spiritual and emotional strength from every matriarch who held a family together through grief, joy, war, and displacement
Connect with me:
Do you see your family name here? Do you share the Lizotte, Smith, Bird, Lambert or Cardinal line? Let’s connect stories. Reach out and share your memories. Together, we strengthen the living archive of the Métis Nation.
If you see any dates or information that isn’t correct, please let me know.
