What language do the Metis speak?

Answer 1

According to the Montana writer Peter Bowen, whose character Gabriel duPré is a Métis, they speak a dialect of Canadian French he calls Coyote French. It is true that one of the original historical languages spoken by the Métis was French. It wasn't so-called 'standard' French (as described in dictionaries and grammar books) but more the popular, idiomatic oral French as spoken by the early traders and canoers from the St Lawrence Valley (now Québec). This type of French eventually evolved, due to influence by the local Amerindian languages the Metis also spoke (in the West, mostly Cree and Ojibwe, but also Assiniboine, Dene, etc.), and to the lack of contact with their eastern cousins, into a unique dialect of Canadian French. If in Montana, this French dialect is (was?) called 'Coyote French', elsewhere, it's usually called Michif French (Michif being the local French pronunciation of the term 'métis' (from an older form 'métif'). It is still spoken by a number of francophone Métis in the Prairie provinces of Canada. The new Smithsonian Institute Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. has a section devoted to the Michif French-speaking community of St. Laurent, Manitoba. At the exhibit, one can listen to and watch a video entirely in Michif French. Another language that was spoken by the Métis was a very unique mixed language which linguists call MICHIF. It is a mixture of Michif French and Plains Cree (the western dialect of Cree, an Algonquian language). In Michif, all the nouns are from French, all the verbs are from Cree. Other grammatical categories are from either or even from both. Today, less than 100 speakers of Michif are still alive, mostly living in the Prairie provinces or in North Dakota. It is quite possible that there are still Michif speakers in Montana, although that has not been definitely proven, as no empirical research has been done on the matter.

Another typical Métis language that has now disappeared is Bungee. This was a mixture of English, Scottish (Orcadian) Gaelic and Ojibway. It was mostly spoken by destitute Métis in Manitoba. It probably died out in the early part of the 20th century.

Many Métis, especially in Northern Saskatchewan and Northern Alberta speak Cree. They also speak Ojibway (the local dialect called Saulteaux) in Northern Manitoba. In the Territories, Métis still speak Michif French and a variety of Dene languages such as Chipewyan, Slavey, Dogrib, etc.

Nowadays, the vast majority of Métis, both in Canada and in the USA, speak English as their everyday language.

Answer 2

The Métis people in Canada primarily speak English and French, but some also speak Michif, which is a unique mixed language combining French and Cree. Additionally, many Métis individuals may also speak other Indigenous languages depending on their heritage and background.

Answer 3

According to my research each nation has their own language.