Features of democracy lacking at Metis Nation - reader

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Dear Editor:

Throughout history, democracy has been defined as "government of the people, for the people, by the people." Basic features of democracy include: majority rule, with rights for the minority; political parties, or so-called "dream teams" that run on the same slate; and controls on power, checks and balances.

Two of the most important aspects of democracy are the principles of individual equality and free elections. Today, there is neither equality, nor free elections in the Metis Nation because there is no real democracy.

Currently, the Metis Nation is a hodge-podge of non-profit corporations under the jurisdiction of the provincial government's Justice Department. This is a betrayal of Metis nationhood. We are recognized in three adhesions to treaties and in the Constitution of Canada. We are strictly a federal jurisdiction.

We can decide on our own who we are. In fact, we very recently did just that when we filled out the federal government's census records.

All Metis in the federal government's database, who are of majority age, should be the only people allowed to vote in Metis elections.

Right now, democracy in the Metis Nation is a joke. I couldn't vote in the last election because I pissed off a local president -and I was a registered candidate for president! Talk about your "divide and conquer!"

Here's how it works . . .

Each local is also a non-profit corporation under the provincial government's jurisdiction. The presidents of these outfits represent the Metis people in the Metis legislature. They are our equivalent to MLAs.

Each local is given equal weight, even though some locals have a dozen Metis citizens, while others have thousands. This is where they killed democracy.

To remedy the situation, a Metis electoral boundary commission needs to be struck and have its work done in time for the next Metis election in 2004.

Divide the province into, say, 12 districts, each with more or less the same number of Metis people. Of course, some of these districts will have more locals than others, the point being that each district will represent approximately the same number of Metis people in the legislature. This would be real democracy.

The captains elected from these districts would represent us in the Metis legislature. At the same time, we would pick our leader?a captain of the Saskatchewan Metis. The three runners-up would fill the first, second, and third vice captain positions, depending on their vote count.

It's all about equality and fairness. Without real democracy, the Metis will continue to display the typical behavior demonstrated by societies that are victimized by "divide and conquer" tactics?acrimony and strife. I want the provincial government to stop victimizing us!

We are a nation. We are recognized in treaties and the Constitution. We are ready for democracy, 116 years after our ancestors fought and died valiantly in battle for it. The government should stop using taxpayers' money to divide and conquer us. They should be helping us compile a list of Metis from StatsCan census records. And they should monitor all aspects of the next Metis general election in 2004.

Until we have real democracy, there will be no equality, and tainted elections will continue to be the norm. Moreover, until the Metis Nation decides to embrace democracy, neither the federal government, nor the provincial government has any business transferring taxpayers' money to it.

The province should take its $10 million and use it to help us attain democracy. It's going to cost money to go through the federal government's census records, and to hire Elections Canada staff to fully monitor our next election.

Gordon Robert Dumont

Prince Albert, Sask.