Ka oopikihtamashook’: becoming family

Abstract

Ka oopikihtamashook’ (adoption) describes the way Métis people incorporated related and non-related individuals into their families and community. This practice went beyond genetics and identified value in virtue in order to build relationships and grow the Métis Nation. Underscoring this process was the concept of wahkootowin, a unique Indigenous approach to creating and maintaining relationships. The adoption of orphaned relatives, for instance, allowed adopted parents to pass on Métis culture and beliefs. In addition, 19th century archival records and oral histories indicate that adoption often incorporated children outside the family bloodline. The famous Métis buffalo hunt chiefs, Jean-Baptiste Wilkie and Cuthbert Grant, were both adopted by their Métis communities. Similarly, Gabriel Dumont and his wife Madeleine adopted several children, and the Métis interpreter for Treaty 6 Peter Erasmus adopted a young Peigan boy. This article explores these adoptions more fully and contextualizes them within Ka oopikihtamashook’ and wahkootowin practices.