Signatories and witnesses of the Agreement on Advancing
Reconciliation with the Northwestern Ontario Métis
Community. Front row, left to right): Jason Madden, MNO
President Margaret Froh, PCMNO Region 1 Councilor
Theresa Stenlund and Minister of Crown Indigenous
Relations and Northern Affairs Dr. Carolyn Bennett. Back
(left to right): MNO Sunset Country Métis Council
President Brady Hupet, MNO Northwest Métis Council
President Ron Robinson, MNO Atikokan and Area Métis
Council President Marlene Davidson, MNO Kenora Métis
Council President Joel Henley and Member of
Parliament for Kenora Robert Nault. Click here to view a
larger version of this picture.
The MNO-Canada Framework Agreement on Advancing Reconciliation with the Métis Community in Northwestern Ontario was also signed in the Centre Block on Parliament Hill. The Northwestern Ontario Métis community was represented by the Region 1 Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) chartered community councils. The goal of the Framework Agreement is to begin to work together toward a shared solution that addresses the unique history and outstanding claims of the Northwestern Métis community.
The Northwestern Ontario Métis community was represented at the signing by Region 1 Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario Councilor Theresa Stenlund and the Presidents of the MNO Sunset Country, Northwest, Kenora and Atikokan and Area Métis Councils. The Government of Canada was represented by Minister of CrownIndigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Dr. Carolyn Bennett.
“Our Métis community has long struggled to have our unique historic and outstanding collective claims recognized by Canada. While there is much more work to be done, our agreement sets out a way forward through which we hope the promises made to our Métis ancestors will finally be addressed and resolved,” said Councilor Stenlund.
Under the Agreement, Canada and the Northwestern Ontario Métis Community will commit to engage in negotiations that foster an open exchange of ideas through respectful dialogue and frank discussion. This Agreement will seek to advance reconciliation with a view to settling any outstanding claims of the Northwestern Ontario Métis Community, including any Métis collective claims relating to the Treaty 3 Adhesion of 1875.
“This is an important step toward reconciliation with the Métis Nation of Ontario’s Northwestern Ontario Métis Community. We are moving forward through respectful and co-operative dialogue to strengthen our government-to-government relationship and work together to build a better tomorrow with the Métis people of Northwestern Ontario,” said Minister Bennett.
Through these negotiations, the parties will work to address these outstanding claims and enhance the interests and well-being of Métis Nation of Ontario rights bearing citizens from the Northwestern Ontario Métis Community.
Posted: Dec. 11, 2017