From ‘New Breed’ magazine, December 1988
Medric McDougall is no stranger to the Saskatchewan Metis movement, he has been involved since the 1930’s and remains so today. At 85 years of age, Medric is very active in his community and in Metis issues. His involvement with the Metis Society of Saskatchewan spans over 50 years. He was one of the early organizers of the early Metis organization in the 1930’s and has been involved ever since. He is also active in community concerns including the credit union, housing, service clubs and others.
Medric is in excellent health, likely because he is physically active and keeps himself busy. It could also be from his healthy and positive attitude towards life. He enjoys sharing his thoughts and stories and speaks his mind freely. He enjoys teasing and his eyes twinkle as he does so. He enjoys a good laugh and has a sense of humour that he shares freely.
Medric was born on December 29, 1903. He is the grandson of Maxime Lepine, who was one of Riel’s right hand men in the Battle of Batoche. Medric’s parents were Virginie Lepine and Alexandre McDougall. Medric married Marie Anne Nolin in 1938. She is the daughter of Charlie and Lucy Nolin and was born on January 29, 1911.
Medric has been involved in the Metis Society of Saskatchewan since its earliest days and he remains a supporter today. Over the years he has been involved in both the provincial body and in local or area concerns. Medric began his involvement in the 1930s when he worked to organize the Metis communities of Batoche, St. Laurent and St. Louis. There were many different families involved and in those days, Medric says there weren’t any Indian people around except for those residing on nearby Indian reserves.
Of his early organizing days, Medric says “We organized to face the government better. We had to be heard as our people were facing very difficult times. The conditions of the Metis were very bad and there was no work for our people. We wanted the economic conditions to improve for our people.”
The Depression was a particularly difficult time. Medric recalls living on $15 a month which had to meet the needs of his family of five. He said it was hard as there was no work and he supplemented his family’s food supply by hunting.
“I broke the law by shooting the odd jumper out of season. But I had no choice — we had to hunt for our food,” recalled Medric.
The Metis Society was active in the area until the war broke out. At this time, many young men enlisted in the army and this provided a form of economic support. The society became less active during the war years.
There were also other community initiatives that Medric was involved in. One of these was the credit union — he served on their board for 25 years. He also felt a commitment to help in other areas where changes were needed.
“I felt I could help to improve the conditions and I wanted to see things change for our people. I felt I could help others. We needed help and I felt we could get it through organizing. There is power in votes and if the Metis were organized, we could accomplish more.”
“In our times (1930’s) we volunteered — there was no money and we weren’t paid and we got along better. We weren’t involved for the money or for power for ourselves. We were involved to better the conditions of our people. Sometimes money becomes more important than people and this is bad,” Medric explained.
Medric supported the separation of the Metis and supported the reformation of the Metis Society of Saskatchewan in the recent referendum. He did so because he felt Metis issues and concerns were not being addressed by the former Association of Metis and Non-Status Indians of Saskatchewan (AMNSIS)
He feels that it was necessary to separate although the organization would have been stronger if the Non-Status Indians had remained a part of the group.
“We needed to work together not fight one another but that’s what was happening. It’s too bad that we didn’t work together instead of having to separate. But we needed an organization to represent the Metis concerns, not only those of Non-Status Indians,” said Medric.
Medric is critical of the infighting and power struggles that have taken place within the Metis movement. He feels this takes away from the purpose and does not allow for anything to be accomplished.
“In the past five years, the government is just laughing at us. We are fighting here and there and against one another. And we are letting the government off the hook by doing so. I think the government probably enjoyed all the fighting that took place. If we keep this up, we allow them to keep laughing at us.”
“We really need to work together. But in the old organization (AMNSIS) we didn’t work together enough, we were fighting. But that’s what we did and it’s too bad — we could have accomplished more by working together” explained Medric
Medric feels it it necessary to change the current organization to better reflect the concerns of people and to ensure leadership are not involved for the money or power.
“I will continue to speak up for my people. We are going to have to organize differently — there can’t be the hunger for power. We are going to have to elect leaders who aren’t going to start a war. If we don’t organize differently, we may as well just say to hell with it.”
“We have to arrange for our leaders to solve our own problems and not just listen to government or act for themselves. We have to organize for people, not power. If we fight against one another, we won’t get anywhere. That was true in the past and it’s true today.”
“In my thinking, we have a lot of issues to deal with it and we should have our leaders doing this on behalf of our people” said Medric.
In the past, Medric recalls efforts and energy going into power struggles, fighting, and getting rid of certain leaders. He recalls how Howard Adams was treated.
“Howard was educated and he had a lot to offer our people. He could speak up to the government. He did a lot for our Metis people but instead the others got rid of him.”
“Howard is my nephew but he is also a very intelligent man who wanted to do things for our people.”
“There were others who were taken out of their positions by the leadership. That was wrong. We should be able to have everyone involved and not try to get rid of people who want to help us” said Medric.
Medric believes education is one of the most important issues facing Metis people today. He feels this will help to better the conditions of people.
“I think education is one important way in which we can help. We need to have our people educated the same way rich people are educated. Years ago, not many of our people were educated and we needed this. Our own people who get educated can help us,” said Medric.
Medric is not pleased with the current system which he feels needs to be changed.
“In this system we’re in, things aren’t right. We can’t all be rich and it takes a lot of poor people to make one person rich. I don’t agree with the system — I am basically a socialist-minded person. I believe everyone should have an equal chance and under the system we have, it’s all based on power.”
“It’s called ‘milking the system’, if you better yourself, to hell with the rest. This is wrong. We need to have a system where everyone is equal and where it doesn’t take so many poor people who remain poor just to keep someone else rich” stated Medric.
Medric has also taken the time to be active in other areas such as housing. He feels provincial initiatives in the past were important and this type of work is necessary today.
He also feels that some things have not been successful and he would like to see more work done in certain areas. The Batoche Site is one area that concerns him.
“Louis Riel should never have been hung. He wasn’t a warrior — he was more of a negotiator. He was a representative of the Metis Nation. And 100 years later, in Batoche when we gathered for the commemoration, I expected a better celebration. Instead we had AMNSIS reports.”
“And we don’t have the land for which our people fought. The Metis should have stood up to Parks Canada — I was disappointed,” Medric says of the current Batoche Site.
He feels people should not be restricted to sites such as the graveyard. Ideally, the Metis people would own the site and the land which were the original homelands of the Metis Nation.
In terms of this long years of involvement, he sees it as a necessary action on his part. “I’ve always stood up for my people. People do look down on our people, you know. I will speak up for the Metis people because I feel I can help in some ways.”
Medric’s days of involvement in the Metis movement and his community remain important to him. He says he is attending the upcoming Annual Assembly and he might speak up on some things
In the meantime, he is busy helping the community of St. Louis build a community centre. This will include a bowling alley, activities for youth and elders and generally a place where the people can gather for social and recreational purposes. The community is fundraising to complete the centre. Most days, he can be found either working there or perhaps in some other capacity such as volunteering time to supervise Fine Option workers.
Medric has been acknowledged by many different groups for his long years of service to his people and to his community. The greatest recognition for his efforts came in 1985 when he was awarded the “Order of Canada”. He went to Ottawa for the ceremony and received the order from Governor General Jeanne Sauve.
When asked why he received such an award, Medric said “I think it was because I am a proud citizen — I have always supported the French language and Metis people. I also have supported my community by getting involved in different things and I have always been a socialist-minded person who believes in helping my community.”
Other awards have included “Founding Member of the St. Louis Credit Union — 25 Years of Service”, “Natonum Community College service”, “Metis Local No. 7 — Women’s Group”, “the St. Louis Lion’s Club” and “the Kinistino NDP Constituency”.
Medric and Marie Anne are enjoying their later years — it is obvious by their close and caring relationship. After 50 years of marriage, they are happy, enjoy laughter and life, and are content with their large family.
Recently, Medric and Marie Anne celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were married on November 14, 1938. They have seven children including Valita, Doris, Marina, Verna, Marie, Alec and Greg. They also have 30 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Medric says “At our anniversary, we enjoyed ourselves with our family. We get along well and as usual, we have a good time together.”
Medric’s life has been rewarding. His wife, Marie Anne, is just as active as her husband. He teased that “she can be quite bossy at times”.
Medric said “I am happy with my life. I have never been rich in money but I have had a good life and have my family. I wouldn’t change a thing. I don’t have power and riches but I am satisfied. I am more than satisfied — I have a good family and I am happy. I wouldn’t change my way of life — I don’t need money, I have my family.”
EDITOR’S NOTE
The opportunity to interview Medric was a most enjoyable experience. He started the interview with some concerns about New Breed! But he also shared a lot and spoke of the need to improve the Metis movement. He is obviously committed to Metis people and wants to see changes for the better. Marie Anne is an equally delightful person and they are a happy and contented couple who have raised a family and shared a lot in their many years of marriage. New Breed commends Medric for his years of service to our people and congratulates both Marie Anne and Medric upon their recent 50th anniversary. Although he jokes about his advanced years and how many he may have left, it is obvious Medric will be around for many more years — his attitude and his spirit are very much alive.
Also
An Appeal for Justice, by Louis Riel (1885)
We Do Take Exception to This Term “Rebellion”, by Malcolm Norris (1962)
The Need for a Revolutionary Struggle, by Howard Adams (1972)
The Truth About the Anicinabe Park Occupation, by Linda Finlayson (1974)
Maria Campbell’s speech to the Native Peoples Caravan in Toronto (1974)
Cultural Genocide, Intentionally Planned, by Rose Bishop (1975)
We need to return to the principles of Wahkotowin, by Maria Campbell (2007)
McDougall follows in father’s footsteps to receive Order of Gabriel Dumont (2022)