Métis National Council facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | MNC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1983 |
| Type | Representative of the Northwest Métis people within Canada. |
| Legal status | active |
| Purpose | advocate and public voice, educator and network |
| Headquarters | Canada |
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Region served
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Canada |
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Official language
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English |
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President
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Cassidy Caron |
The Métis National Council (French: Ralliement national des Métis) is a group that speaks for the Métis people in Canada. They represent the Métis Nation both in Canada and around the world. The Council gets its ideas and plans from the elected leaders of the Métis Nation's provincial groups. Their main goal is to help the Métis Nation stay strong and keep its culture alive within Canada.
Contents
History of the Métis Council
The Métis National Council was started in 1983. It was created to help people understand that the Métis are a unique group. They have their own history and culture, different from other Indigenous groups. The Council works to support Métis communities, especially those with ties to the Northwest and Red River, Manitoba areas.
The Council's main job is to speak up for Métis rights to the Canadian government. This became very important after a part of Canada's law, called Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, recognized Indigenous rights. The Métis National Council is the official voice for Métis people in five Canadian provinces. It also represents them on the world stage.
A group called the Board of Governors leads the Council. This board includes the presidents of the provincial Métis organizations and the national president. Yvon Dumont was a former national president. He later became the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. The current president of the Métis National Council is Cassidy Caron.
The Canadian government department that works with Indigenous groups deals with the MNC. In 2017, they signed an agreement called the Canada-Metis Nation Accord. This agreement aims for the government to work with the Métis Nation, through the MNC, on a nation-to-nation basis. This means treating the Métis Nation as a distinct government.
Changes in Métis Groups
In the early 2020s, some Métis communities in northern Alberta separated from the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA). At the same time, the MNA was having disagreements with the Métis National Council (MNC). These two issues led to big changes in how Métis groups are organized in Western Canada.
A main question in these changes is: Who is Métis? Another big question is: Which groups should have the right to speak for the Métis people to the governments?
Disagreements Among Métis Groups
Who is Métis?
One reason for disagreements between provincial Métis groups is how they define who is Métis.
The Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) decided in 2019 that only people with ancestors from the Métis "homeland" can join Métis organizations. This homeland includes Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, parts of British Columbia, the southern Northwest Territories, and parts of the United States.
In September 2021, the MMF left the Métis National Council (MNC). This was because of disagreements about who could be a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO). MMF President David Chartrand said the MMF felt the MNC had "abandoned" them. He also said the MMF would leave if the MNO kept its seat at the table. This was because the MMF believed nearly 80% of MNO's registered members were not true Métis Nation Citizens. The Métis National Council has said they do not accept the idea of new Métis communities in Ontario.
The National Council stopped the membership of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) in 2020. They were worried that 90% of the people who registered with the Ontario group did not meet the citizenship rules. These rules were set by the National Council in 2002. A key rule is needing an ancestor from the Métis homelands, especially the Red River area. The Ontario group gave memberships to people from four areas: Mattawa, Georgian Bay, Killarney, and Temiskaming. They claimed these groups were Métis. However, others argued these areas were mainly home to First Nations people and settlers, without strong cultural ties to recognized Métis communities.
Agreements with the Government
The Métis Nation of Alberta, Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, and Métis Nation of Ontario signed self-government agreements with the Canadian government in 2017 or 2018. The Manitoba Metis Federation and Métis Nation British Columbia did not. These three provincial groups formed a "tri-council." They asked the federal government to work directly with them, not with the MNC. They met with Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennet in January 2020.
Leadership Changes and Meetings
In November 2019, MNC's president, Clément Chartier, said he would do less work. He wanted MMF president David Chartrand to become the "national spokesperson" until a new president was chosen. However, Chartrand was never officially made interim president. Also, no board meeting was held to approve this change.
The general meeting planned for April was cancelled because of COVID-19. So, the leadership situation was not fully sorted out at that time.
Alberta Métis Federation Forms
In 2019, the Fort McKay Métis Community Association decided to leave the Métis Nation of Alberta. This group's members were largely the same as the local Métis Nation of Alberta group in that area. This led other community groups in Alberta to also leave. These groups then joined together in 2021 to form a new group called the Alberta Métis Federation. The Manitoba Metis Federation recognized this new group, even though the Métis Nation of Alberta disagreed.
Current Structure
The Métis National Council is made up of several provincial Métis organizations. The number of these groups has changed over time. They are:
- Métis Nation British Columbia
- Métis Nation of Alberta
- Métis Nation - Saskatchewan
- Métis Nation of Ontario
It is important to know that the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) left the MNC in September 2021.
Within each provincial organization, there are smaller regional councils.
Presidents of the Council
- Yvon Dumont (1988–1993)
- Gerald Morin (1993–2003)
- Audrey Poitras (January 12, 2003 interim President and National spokesperson)
- Clément Chartier (2003–2021)
- Cassidy Caron (2021-)
