Métis Governments Move Forward on Self-Government Together
Otipemisiwak: A National Conference on Metis Self-Government
Ottawa – March 3, 2020
Métis governments from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario are gathering next week in the National Capital Region on March 9 and 10 for a first-of-its-kind conference on Métis self-government. Collectively, these three Métis governments represent more than 200,000 rights-bearing Métis citizens living across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. The conference builds on the historic signings of the Métis Government Recognition and Self-Government Agreements (MGRSA’s) in June 2019.
The MGRSA’s are the first agreements in Canada to recognize the Métis inherent right of self-government based on Métis rights recognition and implementation. This conference will bring together Métis leaders, citizens, federal government representatives, legal experts, academics, and First Nations representatives who have successfully negotiated modern day treaties and self-government agreements.
Some of the confirmed speakers include: Jason Madden, Métis rights lawyer, Partner, Pape Salter Teillet LLP; Tom Isaac, former Ministerial Special Representative on Métis s. 35 Rights; Carla McGrath, Director General of Negotiations Central, Crown-Indigenous Relations; Bertha Rabesca Zoe, Laws Guardian, Tłı̨chǫ Government; Brian Calliou, Director of Indigenous Leadership and Management, Banff Centre; Karen Drake, Associate Professor, York University Osgoode Hall Law School; and Marilyn Poitras, Director Indigenous Law Centre, University of Saskatchewan.
The conference will take place at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in the National Capital Region on March 9-10, 2020 and will be live webcast so citizens from across the Métis Nation Homeland will be able to participate in this historic occasion: https://freeman.streamme.ca/MetisOntario2020
Statements from Métis Government Leaders:
“This conference is about who we are as Métis. We are Otipemisiwak – a people that own themselves. Our Métis governments have been built community meeting by community meeting, assembly by assembly, success by success. The MGRSA’s represent the next chapter in this long history of Métis self-government and self-determination.”
– Audrey Poitras, Métis Nation of Alberta President
“The Traditional and democratic self-government structure of the Métis Nation Saskatchewan has been practiced and built since the days of Louis Riel in Batoche. This government structure needs to be understood, respected, and practiced. This conference represents an opportunity for our federal partners to hear directly from us, in our own words, about our Métis rights and self-government.”
— Glen McCallum, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan President
“The MGRSAs were the result of the Métis successfully advancing their rights before the Supreme Court of Canada over the last 15 years. This includes cases like R. v. Powley (2003), which recognized Métis s.35 harvesting rights in and around Sault Ste Marie Ontario, and the Harry Daniels v. Canada case (2016), which recognized the federal government’s role in advancing government-to-government relationship with Indigenous communities, including the Métis.”
— Margaret Froh, Métis Nation of Ontario President
About the Self-Government Agreements
On June 27, 2019, the Métis Governments of Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta each signed Métis Government Recognition and Self-Government Agreements with Canada. The Self-Government Agreements provide for Canada’s immediate recognition of the inherent right to self-government held by the Métis communities and citizens represented by each of our Métis Governments, and set out a clear, mutually agreeable path for recognition of the Métis Governments as Indigenous governments in Canadian law. This is the first time that Canada has ever recognized an inherent right of self-government for Métis.
For further information please see the following Media Contacts:
Julia Burns – Métis Nation-Saskatchewan – Director of Communications
Phone: 306-343-8285
Email: jburns@mns.work
Marc St. Germain – Métis Nation of Ontario – Director of Communications
Phone: 613-798-1488 Ext.119
Email: marcs@metisnation.org
Amy Dillon – Métis Nation of Alberta – Director of Communications
Phone: 780-455-2200 Ext. 309
Email: adillon@metis.org