Assembly leaves unfinished business

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"Unfinished business" might have been the unofficial motto of the 22nd Annual Assembly of the Metis Nation of Alberta (MNA) held Aug. 10 to 13 in Lac La Biche. The assembly, last held in Lac La Biche 13 years ago, attracted about 700.

"We didn't even get half of our business done," said Rick Boucher, vice-president of the host, Zone 1. "The members didn't even have a chance to comment on the auditor's report."

MNA president Audrey Poitras agreed the complaint was valid. "I don't think we got as much business done as we wanted, " she said.

She added that too much time was spent on "national issues that had already been dealt with," referring to the controversial Batoche protocol that dominated debate on the last day.

"The assembly is an opportunity for our people to come out and speak directly to the leaders," she said. "The whole perspective stopped us from doing other business."

The Batoche protocol was rejected at the Metis National Council's assembly in Saskatoon in July by a 29 to 26 vote. Poitras said she "lobbied hard in Saskatoon to have it defeated" because the wording failed to recognize the "nation" status of Metis people.

"We've worked hard to get Metis Nation recognition," she said.

"This (protocol) would take us a step backward."

Metis National Council president Gerald Morin insists the document does recognize the Metis as a nation, and brought this view to the provincial assembly. A motion to accept the protocol was defeated 69 to 44.

Rick Boucher, who supports the protocol, said the people needed more information to vote knowledgeably. He added that a bulk vote from about 20 people defeated the motion. "I don't know if they understood it."

Rural housing was one of the unfinished business items on the MNA assembly's agenda.

"There is a desperate need for housing in this zone," Boucher said. "I was out in Conklin recently and it brought tears to my eyes. There was a young lady with three kids living in a tent."

"The MNA just bought a million dollar building in Edmonton for the office space," he said. "And our people are living in conditions like that."

Despite differences, Boucher and Poitras both said the cultural and social events tied to the assembly were very successful.