Dudley George, an Aazhoodena (Kettle and Stony Point) First Nations man, was shot and killed by an Ontario Provincial Police officer during a peaceful protest over an outstanding land claim in Ipperwash Provincial Park September 1995.

What is the Ipperwash Inquiry?

The Ipperwash Inquiry was established by the Government of Ontario under Public Inquiries Act. Its mandate was to inquire and report on events surrounding the death of Dudley George, who was shot by an Ontario Provincial Police officer in 1995 during a protest by First Nations representatives at Ipperwash Provincial Park and later died. The Inquiry was also mandated to make recommendations that would avoid violence in similar circumstances in the future, relating to improving relationships between the Ontario Government and Aboriginal peoples. The Ipperwash hearings began in July 2004 and ended in August 2006. The Ipperwash Inquiry Report and its recommendations were released on May 31st, 2007. A complete copy of the report, along with all related documents from the Inquiry is available at, www.ipperwashinquiry.com

What is being done about the Ipperwash Inquiry Report?

The Ontario Government has established an Ipperwash Response Team (IRT) to review the report and its recommendations and work with relevant Ministries and its Aboriginal partners in order to implement the report’s recommendations. The MNO has met several times with members of the IRT and the Ontario Government has committed that the Métis Nation will be full engaged and a part of the implementation of the Ipperwash Inquiry Report.

In addition, the Ontario Government has already acted on some of the key recommendations in the Ipperwash Inquiry Report. For example, in the summer of 2007, Premier McGuinty created a stand-alone Ministry for Aboriginal Affairs (MAA), and, in the fall of 2007, the Premier appointed the Honourable Michael Bryant the first Minister for MAA dedicated to act as a full-time advocate of Aboriginal peoples in the Ontario Government. The MNO, which had long called for a Minister solely dedicated to Aboriginal issues, is fully supportive of these preliminary developments.

Currently, the MNO is consulting with the Ontario Métis community in order to develop the Métis Nation’s analysis, perspectives, priorities and suggestions with respect to the implementation of the Ipperwash Inquiry Report and its recommendations. As well, other Aboriginal groups across Ontario are consulting with their respective constituencies in order to identify priorities for the collaborative implementation of the Ipperwash Inquiry Report and its recommendations with the Ontario Governmment. It is expected the reports from these consultation will be finalized in the next few month.

How can I participate in the MNO’s consultations?

There are several ways Métis citizens can participated in the MNO’s consultations:

1. You can complete a questionnaire. The MNO has developed a short questionnaire that can be completed by Métis citizens and submitted to the MNO. These questionnaires are available through your local Community Council or the MNO Head Office.
2. You can participate in a phone interview. The MNO will be conducting interviews with Métis citizens and leaders at the local, regional and provincial levels. If you are interested in participating in an interview, please contact Paul Heighington at the MNO Head Office.
3. You can contact your MNO Regional Councillor of a member of the Provincial Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario (PCMNO). If you have specific priorities or issues you would like to see addressed in the implementation of the Ipperwash Inquiry Report you should contact your MNO Regional Councillor or a member of the PCMNO. The PCMNO will be meeting on the Ipperwash Inquiry Report and your suggestions can be brought forward at that time.

What happens next?

The MNO anticipates it will finalize its response to the Ipperwash Inquiry Report and its recommendations sometime in March 2008. At that time, the MNO’s response will be circulated to the PCMNO, MNO Community Councils and posted on the website. The MNO will also be providing a copy to the Ontario Government and will begin meeting with IRT in order to move forward on the collaborative implementation of the Ipperwash Inquiry Report with the Ontario Government.

How can I stay updated on what is happening?

The MNO will continue to provide updates to Métis citizens through the Métis Voyageur.

CONTACT:
Katelin Peltier
Acting Manager of Communications
Work: 613-798-1488 Ext. 108
Cell: 613-859-7130