Goals stacked a mile high

Page 2

Clem Chartier has his work cut out for him. The newly-elected President of the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan has a list of goals for his three-year term that includes restarting the Metis land claims process, entrenching hunting and fishing rights for his people and coming up with an acceptable definition of Metis before an imminent enumeration takes place.

He also wants to improve the services his people get - from education to housing to healthcare. Oh, and if the Quebec issue blows up into constitutional talks, Chartier wants his organization to be ready to fight for a greater recognition of Metis rights entrenched in the Constitution.

"Too many things on the desk right now to get at everything," Chartier joked just two weeks into his term. The Buffalo Narrows lawyer won a close victory over encumbent Jim Durocher in the Feb. 21 election. The narrow margin of the vote and minor problems at several polling stations meant Chartier wasn't confirmed as the new leader until March 7, when his victory was declared official.

Now Chartier is settling into learning the political end of his job after working on Metis policy issues for the past few years.

"There's a bit of transition because I was working up in northern Saskatchewan in Buffalo Narrows, so I have to finish off the work I was doing up there and ease into this," Chartier said.

Chartier is a member of the Saskatchewan bar who has been working on test cases pushing for court recognition of the rights of Metis to enjoy Aboriginal hunting and fishing rights.

He won an important case this past summer with the Grumbo case and is waiting to see how the Court of Appeals handles the issue. For the time being at least, Metis people have won those rights. Chartier now wants to keep pushing for a deal with Regina that would empower the Metis Wildlife and Conservation Act to protect stocks of wildlife.

"We still firmly believe that there has to be some sort of regulatory management scheme taking place, but that can only come from our people," Chartier said. "It can't be imposed on us. The key rests with us."

The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation and others who are concerned about wildlife management should actually be advocating on behalf of Metis people, Chartier said;" [So] that the province comes to the table and works out a mechanism that's satisfactory . . . it's in everybody's best interest that we move ahead as quickly as possible on this matter."

One of the challenges associated with Metis hunting and fishing rights is the number of people who have obtained Metis identification cards.

Tensions have mounted in non-Aboriginal communities because of the unrestricted amount of game that is being taken by these Metis. Under the MNS constitution a very open and inclusive definition of Metis has meant that many people with dubious claims to Aboriginal heritage have obtained the identification cards - and the Metis right to hunt and fish.

An enumeration process, started during Durocher's term, is set to get under way, but Chartier is looking to put that on hold for a few months so the MNS can hold consultations with the people in the 12 different regions.

Chartier wants to see a clearer definition of Metis established and agreed upon before heads are counted.

After a conference call with the province, the federal government and the firm contracted to do the enumeration, Chartier said there is general consensus a clearer definition should be found.

Now Chartier and the MNS will be working throughout March to come up with a consultation process that will air the views of the membership on the definition of Metis.

Chartier's hope for his first term is that he can somehow involve the entire membership of the MNS in understanding and working toward the organization's goals.

"We want to make the communities more involved in decision making," Chartier said. "Feeling more a part of this. Not only understanding, but having more of a say in the direction we should e taking. Not only in the short term but in the long term."