Draft:The Order of Le Griffon
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Last edited by Bearcat (talk | contribs) 3 days ago. (Update) |
| Formation | August 2024 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Upper Great Lakes Métis community |
| Type | Knightly Order |
| Purpose | Cultural preservation and recognition of Métis heritage |
Region served | Upper Great Lakes |
Official language | English, Michif, French |
| Website | https://uppergreatlakesmetis.com/ |
The Order of Le Griffon is a contemporary knightly order established in August 2024 by members of the Upper Great Lakes Métis community in Canada. The Order is named in honor of Le Griffon, a 17th-century French vessel recognized as the first European-style sailing ship to explore the upper Great Lakes. The Order was created to support cultural revitalization and promote the historical continuity of the Métis presence in the Great Lakes region.
History and purpose
[edit]Le Griffon was commissioned in 1679 by French explorer and fur trader René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, marking the beginning of sustained French navigation and trade in the upper lakes. The ship's historical significance resonates with the Métis experience, which emerged through the cultural convergence of European and Indigenous peoples during the fur trade era.
The Order of Le Griffon was founded in 2024 to recognize and uphold the cultural heritage of the Métis peoples in the Upper Great Lakes. It functions as a ceremonial fellowship whose members commit to preserving Métis identity, land-based traditions, and the intergenerational continuity of Métis communities across Ontario, Michigan, and surrounding territories.
Legal recognition and cultural affirmation
[edit]The legal landscape for Métis rights in Canada has evolved significantly in the 21st century. The *Powley* decision (2003) affirmed constitutional protections for Métis under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, while the *Daniels v Canada* ruling (2016) clarified the federal government’s responsibility toward Métis and non-status Indians. Additionally, Canada's formal adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2021 further recognized the Métis as a distinct Indigenous people with inherent jurisdiction, cultural rights, and governance capacities under international law.
Symbolism and activities
[edit]The name of the Order reflects not only its maritime inspiration but also the symbolic role of *Le Griffon* as a cultural vessel linking early exploration, fur trade, and Métis ethnogenesis. While primarily ceremonial in nature, the Order engages in public education, cultural preservation, and intercommunity dialogue. It emphasizes the importance of oral tradition, kinship ties, and spiritual resilience within Métis identity.
Members
[edit]As of 2025, the Order of Le Griffon includes the following members:
Members
[edit]As of 2025, the Order of Le Griffon includes the following inducted members:
- James Coture – inducted on June 21, 2024
- Abraham Kilian – inducted on June 28, 2024[1][2]
- Daniël Prevost – inducted on September 28, 2024
See also
[edit]- Le Griffon
- Métis in Canada
- René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle
- Upper Great Lakes
- R v Powley
- Daniels v Canada
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Orders of knighthood
References
[edit]- ^ "Kilian Academy comes to the end of an era". Saugeen Times. July 30, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ In proceedings before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Family and Children’s Services of Nipissing and Parry Sound v. A.P., M.P., and Métis Nipissing Families Inc., the court referenced Abraham Kilian with the title "Sir". (Case pending; sub judice).
External links
[edit]