Time for federal Métis Act, says president

Métis Nation-Saskatchewan President Robert Doucette is calling for a federal Métis Act.

“I think it’s time now that there be a federal Métis Act that lays out the obligations and responsibilities of both parties,” he said.

Two years ago when Doucette stood before the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples he called for the creation of a federal Métis Act.

As it stands now, he said, it is the Indian Act that drives the benefits Metis people do and do not have.

“Whatever happens in the Indian Act collaterally has an impact on the Métis,” said Doucette.

The Indian Act lays out educational and health benefits for registered Indians, none of which are available for Métis people. Because of the McIvor ruling, more Métis people have the option to register under the Indian Act and to claim those benefits.

In January 2011, Bill C-3, The Gender Equity in Indian Registration Act, amended sections of the Indian Registration rules, based on a court ruling in a discrimination case initiated by Sharon McIvor and her son. The ruling opened up the possibility of more generations being able to register under the Indian Act.
“The change to McIvor impacted Métis. People who always said they were Métis, whether a need for health or education, they opted into status. That had a direct impact on Métis community,” said Doucette.

Although the last federal election saw the name of the former Indian and Northern Affairs Canada department changed to Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada, the scope of the department did not change.

“I have a very good relationship with (ANAC). We’ve done a lot of good things over the last five years to advance a lot of issues with respect to the Métis, but there are a lot of issues that they can’t deal with by the very nature of ministry,” said Doucette.

Issues such as housing, health, education, and employment and training fall outside the scope of the department, he said. However, for First Nations, these are all covered through federal legislation.

“I think it’s time now that the federal government sits down with the Métis leaders in a Métis Nation leaders summit… to talk about some of the issues that are facing Métis people,” said Doucette.

He noted that Saskatchewan has a Métis Act. It was signed in 2001 and came into effect the following year. The act lays out the process by which the Government of Saskatchewan and MN-S address issues.

“It’s a very good process. We’ve got a very good premier, ministers that have engaged in a lot of good discussions and we’ve worked hard with each other,” said Doucette.

The act sets out a bilateral process in which the two parties will work together to address such issues as capacity building, land, harvesting and governance. Discussions could lead to memorandums of understanding if deemed necessary by both parties.
“There are over one million Métis people in Canada,” said Doucette. “I think it’s time we engaged the discussion. We’re taxpayers and I’d like to see some return on my investment.”