Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Blurt.media Radio - Voyageurs 1828
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Blurt.media Radio - Voyageurs 1828
The Migration of Voyageurs From Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828
In 1828, approximately 75 Métis voyageur families and the British garrison migrated from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene, Ontario, following the island's cession to the U.S. after the War of 1812. Led by figures like William Solomon, they relocated to avoid American rule, facing a harsh journey and rebuilding their community on Georgian Bay.
Key Aspects of the 1828 Migration:
Context: The British transferred the military post from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene, compelling the allied Métis families—many of French-Canadian descent—to move.
The Journey: The move involved traversing Georgian Bay in bateaux (flat-bottomed boats). A significant 1828 voyage included the brig Wellington, while another vessel, the Hackett, was lost in a November storm.
Key Families: Prominent families involved in the migration included the Solomons, Labattes, Laramees, and Langlades.
Resettlement: The families settled in Tiny Township, Simcoe County, with some locating in Fesserton and Coldwater. They were later granted land as compensation for their loyalty and losses.
Legacy: The event is extensively documented by A.C. Osborne, based on accounts from survivors who settled in the area.
A.C. Osborne's "Migration of Voyageurs from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828" chronicles a defining event in the history of the Upper Great Lakes Métis Community, capturing its stories, struggles, and resilience.
Following the cession of Drummond Island by the British Crown to the United States after the War of 1812, the many Métis families who called the Island home were forced to relocate—with a large number going to Penetanguishene on the southwestern shore of Georgian Bay.
Published in 1901, Osborne, “endeavoured to gather this story from the lips of the few survivors who migrated at the time… [who] settled principally near Penetanguishene, in the township of Tiny, Simcoe County.”
Through brief vignettes and first-hand narratives by Métis community members who had experienced the relocation from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene—including members of the Métis Solomon, Labatte, Larammee, and Langlade families—Osborne’s meticulously compiled research chronicles the many challenges that the Métis faced during their relocation, including harsh weather, difficult terrain, and the emotional toll of leaving their homes.
Osborne's account ultimately showcases the strength and adaptability of the Upper Great Lakes Métis. As the lands and waters they called home were divided by colonial borders, they maintained their ways of life in Penetanguishene, preserving their cultural practices, identity, and community bonds for future generations.
Source: https://www.ontariometisfacts.com/post/drummond-island-to-penetang#:~:text=May%252021%252C%25202025-,A.C.,the%2520Upper%2520Great%2520Lakes%2520Métis.
View all episodes
By OGMediaThe Migration of Voyageurs From Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828
In 1828, approximately 75 Métis voyageur families and the British garrison migrated from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene, Ontario, following the island's cession to the U.S. after the War of 1812. Led by figures like William Solomon, they relocated to avoid American rule, facing a harsh journey and rebuilding their community on Georgian Bay.
Key Aspects of the 1828 Migration:
Context: The British transferred the military post from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene, compelling the allied Métis families—many of French-Canadian descent—to move.
The Journey: The move involved traversing Georgian Bay in bateaux (flat-bottomed boats). A significant 1828 voyage included the brig Wellington, while another vessel, the Hackett, was lost in a November storm.
Key Families: Prominent families involved in the migration included the Solomons, Labattes, Laramees, and Langlades.
Resettlement: The families settled in Tiny Township, Simcoe County, with some locating in Fesserton and Coldwater. They were later granted land as compensation for their loyalty and losses.
Legacy: The event is extensively documented by A.C. Osborne, based on accounts from survivors who settled in the area.
A.C. Osborne's "Migration of Voyageurs from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828" chronicles a defining event in the history of the Upper Great Lakes Métis Community, capturing its stories, struggles, and resilience.
Following the cession of Drummond Island by the British Crown to the United States after the War of 1812, the many Métis families who called the Island home were forced to relocate—with a large number going to Penetanguishene on the southwestern shore of Georgian Bay.
Published in 1901, Osborne, “endeavoured to gather this story from the lips of the few survivors who migrated at the time… [who] settled principally near Penetanguishene, in the township of Tiny, Simcoe County.”
Through brief vignettes and first-hand narratives by Métis community members who had experienced the relocation from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene—including members of the Métis Solomon, Labatte, Larammee, and Langlade families—Osborne’s meticulously compiled research chronicles the many challenges that the Métis faced during their relocation, including harsh weather, difficult terrain, and the emotional toll of leaving their homes.
Osborne's account ultimately showcases the strength and adaptability of the Upper Great Lakes Métis. As the lands and waters they called home were divided by colonial borders, they maintained their ways of life in Penetanguishene, preserving their cultural practices, identity, and community bonds for future generations.
Source: https://www.ontariometisfacts.com/post/drummond-island-to-penetang#:~:text=May%252021%252C%25202025-,A.C.,the%2520Upper%2520Great%2520Lakes%2520Métis.