Tony Belcourt facts for kids

Anthony Belcourt, also known as Tony Belcourt, was born on May 11, 1943. He is a very important Métis leader and activist in Canada. He worked hard to protect the rights of Métis people.

Tony Belcourt was the first president of the Native Council of Canada from 1971 to 1974. He is also famous for being the first president of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO), which he helped start in 1993. He played a key role in the important Powley Case in 2003, which was a big win for Métis rights.

Tony Belcourt's Life and Work

Early Life and Leadership

Tony Belcourt was born in a Métis community called Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta. For over 40 years, he has been a leader. He has helped Métis people and other Indigenous groups across Canada. His work has also positively influenced Indigenous peoples around the world.

In 1969, Tony Belcourt became the vice-president of the Métis Association of Alberta. In 1970, he helped create the Native Council of Canada (NCC). He then served as its first president from 1971 to 1974.

Helping Indigenous Communities

As president of the Native Council of Canada, Tony Belcourt achieved a lot. He convinced the Canadian government to give money to Métis and Non-Status Indigenous groups. Before this, only Status Indians received this funding. This helped many Métis and Non-Status groups grow and have a stronger voice across Canada.

In 1973, Tony Belcourt also worked with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. He helped create the "Rural and Native Housing Program." This program aimed to build 50,000 new homes in five years. He also helped get $1 million for emergency repairs to improve housing for Métis and Non-Status peoples.

During his time as NCC President, Tony Belcourt was the executive producer of a film called "Moccasin Flats." This film won an award and was shown on CTV's Canada Day programming.

Working with Media and Government

In the mid-1970s, Tony Belcourt started a research company. He also began working as a writer, producer, and director for films, videos, and radio. From 1977 to 1981, he was the Communications Director at the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.

After that, he started his own company, Wolfwalker Communications. This company produced many documentary programs for Indigenous audiences.

Protecting Aboriginal Rights

In 1981, Canada was changing its Constitution. Tony Belcourt advised the Native Council of Canada and the Inuit Committee on National Issues during these talks. When a section about Aboriginal matters was removed from the proposed Constitution, he helped lead a large group called the "Aboriginal Rights Coalition."

This group included leaders from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. They worked together to get the Aboriginal rights clause put back into the Constitution. Their efforts were successful, and Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, now protects Aboriginal rights.

Promoting Indigenous Business

In 1985, Tony Belcourt chaired the Native Business Summit. This was a huge event that took up almost the entire Metro Toronto Convention Centre. It was the first event of its kind and greatly increased the visibility of Native businesses in Canada and worldwide.

The Summit included five conferences, a trade show, an art gallery, and Indigenous entertainment. About 2,000 people from nine countries attended. Princess Anne and Elder Rufus Goodstriker opened the ceremonies. The conferences led to $81 million worth of trade for Native businesses in just one week.

Founding the Métis Nation of Ontario

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Tony Belcourt advised Yvon Dumont, who was then president of the Métis National Council. They worked to get the Canadian government to recognize Métis rights.

In 1992, Tony Belcourt was given the special task by Joe Clark to help draft a resolution for the House of Commons. This resolution finally recognized Louis Riel and his important contributions to Canada.

In 1993, Tony Belcourt was very important in forming the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO). He served as its founding president from 1994 until he retired from Métis politics in 2008. He was re-elected several times during his time as president.

Growth of the Métis Nation of Ontario

Under Tony Belcourt's leadership, the MNO grew a lot. They developed important ways for Métis people to govern themselves. This included:

• The Métis Nation Registry.
• The MNO Electoral Code, which allowed for province-wide elections.
• Elected councils for Métis women, youth, and veterans.
• The MNO Harvesting Policy and its Captains of the Hunt.
• The MNO Development Corporation.
• The Métis Nation of Ontario Cultural Commission.

The MNO also created special funds for Métis students. They set up bursaries and scholarships at 32 universities and colleges in Ontario. These funds now total over $4.4 million, making the MNO one of the largest private providers of scholarships in Ontario. The MNO also helps Métis people with programs for jobs, training, health, housing, and economic development.

The Powley Case

Tony Belcourt was deeply involved in many efforts to get Métis rights recognized. One of the most important was the landmark Powley case. This case was about the Métis right to hunt. On September 19, 2003, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Métis people have a constitutionally protected Aboriginal right to harvest. This was a huge victory for Métis rights and a lasting legacy for the Métis Nation of Ontario.

International Work

Tony Belcourt's work also extended to national and international levels. He was a member of the Métis National Council's board of governors. For many years, he served as the MNC's minister responsible for international affairs. In this role, he represented the Métis Nation at United Nations meetings and negotiations. He worked on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Geneva and New York. He also represented the Métis Nation at other UN conferences around the world.

He also represented the Métis Nation within the Organization of American States (OAS). There, he discussed the Americas' Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This work helped him build strong connections with other Indigenous peoples in Central and South America. He promoted partnerships between the Métis Nation and Indigenous peoples in other parts of the Americas. He also helped develop an Indigenous policy for the Inter-American Development Bank.

The MNO has also developed a special agreement with the Aymara Nation, whose territory is in South America. Over the past ten years, Tony Belcourt has also built a strong relationship with the Q’eqchi Maya people in Guatemala.

These international relationships have led to discussions about trade and projects involving Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). In 2007, Tony Belcourt was elected president of the new Indigenous Commission for Communications Technologies in the Americas (ICCTA). This Commission, made up of Indigenous representatives from 17 countries, works to use technology to help Indigenous peoples recover their cultures and improve their well-being.

Awards and Recognition

Tony Belcourt has received many honors for his work. He was a member of the Governing Council for Trent University's Ph.D. program in Native Studies. He supported the Diana Fowler LeBlanc Aboriginal Social Work Scholarship. He was also Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Advisory Council at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU) and joined its board of governors in 2012.

In January 2006, he received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award from Indspire for his public service. In 2010, Lakehead University gave him an Honorary Doctorate in Laws. In 2013, the Governor General of Canada appointed him as an Officer of the Order of Canada, which is a very high honor.

Tony Belcourt was also president of the Métis Nation of Ontario Development Corporation (MNODC). This company is fully owned by the MNO. He also chaired the Métis Nation of Ontario Cultural Commission, which works to preserve and promote Métis history, values, and arts.

Family Life

Tony Belcourt is the father of three children: Christi Belcourt, who is a Métis painter; Suzanne Belcourt, a graphic designer; and Shane Belcourt, a filmmaker.