Muskrat French

The Muskrat French (French: Francophonie au Michigan; also known as Mushrat French or Detroit River French Canadien) are a cultural group and dialect found primarily in southeastern Michigan along the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair, the western and southern shores of Lake Erie from Monroe County, Michigan to Sandusky, Ohio, and in southwestern Ontario. This unique subculture is characterized by its historical roots in the French Canadian fur trade, its distinctive culinary traditions, and a regional French dialect. The name "Muskrat French" derives from the tradition of eating muskrat, particularly during Lent, a practice tied to a historical Catholic dispensation.