MN-S Pulls Support for Bill C-53
On April 17th a statement was issued by the President of Métis Nation– Saskatchewan, Glenn McCallum, that “in a historic meeting, the Métis Nation– Saskatchewan (MN–S) Provincial Métis Council (PMC) unanimously passed a motion withdrawing its support for Bill C-53, An Act respecting the recognition of certain Métis governments in Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, to give effect to treaties with those governments and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, to pursue direct negotiations with Canada on our self-government Treaty.” The statement said that the “one-size-fits-all” approach failed to recognize the unique context of MN-S.
Signed on June 21, 2023, Bill C-53 was meant to provide for the recognition of certain Métis governments in Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan and provide a framework for the implementation of treaties to be entered into by these Métis governments and the Government of Canada under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, which recognizes their inherent right to self-government. Speaking of the historic moment of that day, Michelle LeClair, Vice-President, Métis Nation – Saskatchewan said at that time, “Today, we are taking another important step in realizing the dreams and aspirations of our Métis ancestors.”
There were great hopes that with Bill C-53, Métis governments could be recognized as an equal order of government alongside other self-governing First Nations and Inuit and that with the passage of the Bill, it would end the legacy of ignoring the Métis and denying them their section 35 rights.
Last week, McCallum stated that as the Métis Government in Saskatchewan, it is their duty to put the needs of Métis in Saskatchewan first. Métis Nation-Saskatchewan adamantly believe that change and improvements for the Métis people will only come about when the governments realize that self-determination and self-governance are at the very core of who the Métis people are. It was what Riel took a stand for in 1870 and again in 1885, and although the Resistance was squashed nearly 140 years ago, the belief in the right to continue governing themselves was not. The people suffered and struggled, but they never gave up. “Bill C-53 does not need to be part of our journey to completing and ratifying [a] Treaty. At this stage, it is ultimately holding us back. We will achieve self-government our own way, on our own terms that respects and upholds our identity, culture, values, and language.”
The Métis Nation emerged as a distinct people in the Prairies in the 18th century, but whether the Métis homeland stretches to eastern Ontario is a source of controversy. For years, the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) accused the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) of watering down Métis national identity and ultimately cut ties with the Métis National Council, and legal wranglings between some Ontario First Nations and MNO have erupted over ‘traditional’ lands. In Alberta, some Métis reject Métis Nation Alberta's (MNA) authority and allege that Bill C-53 usurps their rights to self-determination and tramples their right to be consulted. These outstanding issues in Alberta and Ontario were what prompted MN-S to re-evaluate their support and involvement in the legislation.
A spokesperson for Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree would not comment to the media about the bill’s future. However, Joanna Sivasankaran, Director of Communications for Anandasangaree communicated via text message on April 18th', “We will continue to work with the Métis governments in Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan to recognize their rights, in ways that work for them and in the spirit of reconciliation.”
In their statement, MNA and MNO wished their Saskatchewan counterpart well but vowed to 'fight on' to cement their self-government rights.
Carol Baldwin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Wakaw Recorder
