Pawaatamihk Answering the Call for Métis-Specific Scholarship

Over the past two decades, Métis scholars have called for a more Métis-centred scholarship.In 2024, we are positioned at Pawaatamihk: Journal for Métis to encourage and lift up Métis-centre scholarship.Due to the increase of Métis thinkers in the academy and in the community, we see an increase in Métis-specific knowledge production.However, it is essential to remember our not-too-distant past within the publishing world to ensure forward movement toward the vision many have expressed in their scholarship in recent years. How Did We Get Here?Isaac (2016) called for a "greater understanding of Métis distinct issues" (p.26) in his report on Métis reconciliation.Métis rights extend beyond land claims to inclusive scholarship.Historically, Canada has "downplayed Métis indigeneity or only recognized Métis rights and title to extinguish them" (Gaudry, 2018, p. 1).Madden (2015) asserts that Métis have been excluded from Crown consultations on their rights and denied access to programming despite including Métis in section 35 of the constitution, which recognizes Métis as Aboriginal people.Métis exclusion is a form of discrimination, and the lack of our inclusion in research and publications was historically due to the assumption that we fit nicely under the Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) umbrella (Forsythe, 2022).