In a momentous meeting centered on Reconciliation and relationship-building, Indigenous leadership, including Métis National Council (MNC) President Cassidy Caron, journeyed to Buckingham Palace in the UK for an intimate audience with His Majesty King Charles III on May 4, 2023. The historic Crown-Indigenous meeting is being hailed by leaders as “the first of its kind” and occurs just days before the Monarch’s official Coronation on May 6, 2023.
The audience with His Majesty also included Governor General, Mary Simon, Assembly of First Nations National Chief, RoseAnne Archibald, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President, Natan Obed. Attending delegates were pleased with the Crown’s commitment to strengthening nation-to-nation relationships and discussed key priorities including the environment and climate change, entrepreneurship, repatriating cultural artifacts, housing, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQ+ people.
“To be able to sit down as First Nations, Métis and Inuit and share with him who we are and what our priorities are as a people, and identify the ways that we can work together into the future, is really important to us,” said President Caron.
As the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and its sister Métis governments continue the path towards self-government, opportunities to develop and strengthen nation-to-nation relationships with Canada and allies around the world are key. The MNO applauds all those involved in this historic meeting and looks forward to welcoming both a new reign and a new era of Reconciliation.