Manitoba Métis Federation, die nicht an Carneys Hauptprojekttreffen teilnimmt
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-manitoba-metis-federation-carney-major-projects-bill-meeting/
Manitoba Métis Federation, die nicht an Carneys Hauptprojekttreffen teilnimmt
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-manitoba-metis-federation-carney-major-projects-bill-meeting/
4 Kommentare
The conflict between the Manitoba Métis Federation and MNO is one of the stories that doesn’t get enough air time. At its root are very divergent views about what being Métis is. I’m glad it at least gets briefly mentioned in the article (the quote from the MMF about how the MNO are not true Métis). Most people aren’t even aware this is an issue for many Métis. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is under-recognition of the controversy even within some policy folks in the PMO.
I’m fully on the side of the MMF but I feel like they initiated the possibility of this issue by appropriating the word metis as their name. I understand why they did and at the time it made sense so I don’t blame them in any way. It’s just an unfortunate result of that choice.
The 1982 Constitution Act (Section 35) recognized Métis as one of Canada’s three constitutionally protected Indigenous peoples, alongside First Nations and Inuit. The issue is that they never defined who is considered to be Metis.
Supreme Court case *Powley* (2003) created The Powley Test which defines Métis (in legal terms for only constitutional rights) as:
>A person who self-identifies as Métis, has an ancestral connection to a historic Métis community, and is accepted by a modern Métis community.
Trudeau really fucked up when he signed the Self-Government Recognition Agreement with the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) in 2019. The MNO does not apply the Powley Test to their members and have added thousands of people who simply claim to be the descendant of a mixed ancestry person or groups that never existed until decades after the 1982 Constitution Act. This is the very definition of cultural appropriation.
I’ve had no clue about any of this, so I’m a reflection of how ignorant most Canadians are about intricate Indigenous issues.
Thanks for raising the topic as I don’t recall hearing of any Métis concerns. Another piece of Canadian history I need to learn about.
Since the Métis are recognized in the constitution and have treaty rights not participating in the major projects meetings is a deliberate tactic. The major projects are clearly being fast tracked and if Métis choose not to participate but then start protesting when the construction equipment shows up they won’t have any real recourse as the time for planning and compromises will be done. All the discussion agreements will show no participation or objections raised. I know I’m really oversimplifying the issues but the first rule of negotiating is you need your views represented or they won’t be heard and acted on.
I don’t think anyone will be interested in tolerating a sustained protest as has happened before. These projects are possibly existential to the future of Canada and need to be completed as quickly as possible. The Métis may want to hire some better negotiations and legal advice. Times have changed.