Citizens and community leadership of the former Thessalon and Bruce Mines/St. Joseph Metis Community Councils came together last week under one united Community Council, bringing added strength to the formerly segmented group.

Citizens from across the area, and others in attendance passed a motion by consensus to unite under one MNO Community Council.

“This action will strengthen the voice of MNO Citizens in the area and will provide strong local governance,” said Métis Nation of Ontario President, Tony Belcourt. “Community Councils form an important link in MNO Governance.”

“With a strong voice at the community level, communities can identify and set their own priorities while working to improve the social conditions of their Citizens, as well as ensuring Métis Rights are being respected and dealt with,” said Gary Lipinski, Métis Nation of Ontario Chair.

Community members received updates from Gary Lipinski, MNO Chair and France Picotte, MNO Co-Chair on current initiatives relating to health and language, Métis rights cases, community acceptance, the recent Captain of the Hunt meeting, along with an explanation of the Charter process and various other related topics.

“This new untied community council will better serve the citizens of the North Shore through a larger volunteer base and enable us to pool our resources to secure programs and services for the Metis citizens in our area,” said Art Bennet, newly appointed Interim President of the new community council.

The Métis Nation of Ontario was founded in 1993 to represent the Métis citizens of Ontario at the Provincial and National levels. The Métis are a distinct Aboriginal people with a unique culture, language and heritage, and with an ancestral Homeland that centers around Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, parts of the Northwest Territories, as well as the northwestern United States. The Métis played an instrumental role in the shaping of Canada and work tirelessly to share their culture, music, traditions and knowledge of the environment with their fellow Canadians. Today, the Métis live, work, raise their families and pay taxes in communities all across Canada.

CONTACT:
Chelsey Quirk
Communications Assistant
Work: 613-798-1488 Ext. 104
Cell: 613-299-6085