Citizenship issue continues to split Alberta Métis

The goal to advance Métis citizenship took a blow at the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) annual general assembly Aug. 6 and 7.

A resolution to amend the existing MNA bylaws was defeated. The resolution would have allowed only MNA members holding Métis citizenship cards to be eligible to run for office in the association or to vote.
The resolution was defeated by 11 votes. A bylaw amendment needs 75 per cent approval to pass.

The resolution was to encourage MNA members to pursue citizenship registration. Only 15,000 members of 40,000 hold citizenship cards, despite efforts to push the citizenship issue over the past five years.

Audrey Poitras, president of the MNA, believes Métis citizenship is important.

“You can’t develop a constitution if you don’t know who your citizens are,” Poitras said.

Alberta adopted the definition of citizenship from the Métis National Council (MNC) a number of years ago, and has been encouraging registration of citizens ever since. The definition of “Métis” means a person who self-identifies as a Métis, is distinct from other Aboriginal peoples, is of historic Métis Nation ancestry, and is accepted by the Métis Nation.

“Citizenship is the very key for us,” said Clement Chartier, president of the Métis National Council. “That’s why leadership … is moving citizenship because it’s only citizens of the nation that have the rights of that community…our rights are based on being Métis, not based on being part Indian, part this, part that. It’s based on our nationhood.”

Between 2002 and 2004, the five Métis governments operating in Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan adopted the MNC definition, and all started moving toward implementing citizenship registries. To qualify, a person has to meet a set criteria, including proving genealogy back to the mid-1800s.

Dean Lindsay, a Métis from Slave Lake, Alta., has been vocal in his opposition to the proposed changes in the MNA’s bylaws.  He claims that people with the red and white membership cards have lived as Métis and should be grandfathered in as Métis citizens.
“They’re trying to segregate a nation of people,” said Lindsay.
Chartier said, however, that Métis governments are attempting to identify their citizens so that, as the rights for Métis are won, whether through negotiations with the government or through court decisions, it is only Métis citizens who will get to practice those rights.

While there is trouble with citizenship in Alberta, in Manitoba the problem does not exist.

“We’re doing very well. We have unanimous support,” said David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Métis Federation.

With two years left until the federation’s 2012 deadline to have members obtain their citizenship cards, the group is almost two-thirds of the way through with 45,000 registered members (18 years and older) having proven their genealogy.

Another 3,000 to 5,000 people are in the process of getting their cards, and about 25,000 members are left to do the work.

Critics of the process say it’s costly, but Chartrand pointed out that only one family genealogy is needed and then relatives can use birth certificates to prove their own connection.

The 2012 deadline was established as part of a five-year plan that kicked in three years ago, and in that time, said Chartrand, membership has been educated to the importance of citizenship, with multiple pre-consultation meetings and pre-planned strategies.

“At the end of the day, I think that’s why our membership is strongly in support of it,” said Chartrand. He also noted that having 3,000 -plus people coming out to annual general assemblies, being involved in the process and passing resolutions unanimously, then taking the information and direction back to their families, is beneficial.

In August, the Métis Nation of Alberta held its annual general assembly in the northern part of the province and attracted only 150 members.