Background Summary

James Fortier, the owner of Turtle Island Productions®, was born in 1962 in Nipigon, Ontario, Canada. James moved to the United States with his family shortly after his father passed away in 1963. James is French Canadian on his mother's side and Metis'/Ojibway on his father's side. He grew up near Chicago, IL and moved to Northern California at age 19 to complete his college education. James attended San Francisco State University, completing course work for a BA in Broadcast Communications Arts. In 1986 he began his career as a Lighting Director and Cameraman.

Married with one son, James has made a commitment to pass down the Ojibway heritage of his father to his children. With a large Metis'/Ojibway family in Ontario, Canada; including 12 Aunts and Uncles, several Great Aunts, Great Uncles and first cousins; and many Ojibway second cousins- James has strong familial ties to his Metis'/Ojibway heritage and culture.

James' paternal grandmother, Doris Michano Fortier (Ojibway/Turtle Dodiem-Clan), was born on the Ojibway Long Lac- Marten Falls Reserve to Robert and Agnes Finlayson Michano (Ojibway). Agnes Michano was the daughter of Nicol Finlayson (Oji-Cree/Metis' from Pic River) and Jane (Anango) Soulier Finlayson (Ojibway-from Garden River Reserve/Sault Ste. Marie). Nicol Finlayson's parents were John Finlayson (Metis'/Oji-Cree from Long Lac) and Angelique Geshagesic (Morning Star) Finlayson (Oji-Cree from Rat Portage, now Kenora, Ontario). John Finlayson's father was Nicol Finlayson (the elder), a Scot from Loch Alsh Rosshire, Scotland. John's mother was an unidentified Native woman from the Red River Settlement-probably Ojibway or Oji-Cree.

Doris Michano's father was Robert Michano (Ojibway/Turtle Dodiem-Clan/Pic River First Nation). Robert Michano's father was Louis Michano, also spelled Meshango (Ojibway/Pic River), and his mother was Angelique Desmoulin (Ojibway/Mobert First Nation).

The Michano family at Pic River goes way back and is very large. Today, the Ojibway Pic River First Nation Chief is Roy Michano, a distant relative of Robert Michano. Another large Ojibway family which figures prominently in the Michano family by marriage is the Desmoulin family of Mobert First Nation. Click here for more information about the Metis' people.

 

In loving memory of "Nokomis."

Doris Margaret Michano Fortier (circa 1932)

"Beloved daughter, mother, grandmother, wife, sister, friend"

Nov. 27, 1916 - Feb. 28, 1964

The Michano Family

A small part of the Michano and Desmoulin family at Pic River First Nation. The five women here are my second cousins. Two of whom, Sharon and Carol (third and fourth from the left) have married into the Desmoulin family. If you are from the Michano family of Pic River and Heron Bay, contact me immediately by clicking on the turtle below.

More Coming Soon

For more family history, including our connection with the Hudson's Bay Fur Co., the Metis and the Ojibway First Nation, select one of the following family lines below for more details and photos, or click on the Genealogy link for the Finlayson/Michano/Fortier family tree.

 

 

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