Manitoba Metis in trouble

Page 3

Years of bitter infighting between Manitoba Metis Federation president

Billyjo DeLaRonde and the board of directors over power and money have

finally resulted in the self-destruction of the organization. It now

has to be rebuilt from scratch-- not an easy task since the same players

continue to fight the same battles.

President DeLaRonde presided over the MMF's annual meeting during the

week of May 13, taking a business as usual approach. About 300

delegates attended, representing 100 to 121 MMF locals. Most of the

agenda dealt with the mechanics of leadership restructuring. Delegates

also gave their full support to the president and voted to oust the

dissenting board members.

Many delegates said the question of leadership and government structure

had to be resolved by the Metis people and not by the courts. They said

the constant leadership battles took attention away from the more

important issues facing Metis people, such as self-governance,

education, child and family services and land claims.

The directors, led by David Chartrand, countered by holding a press

conference. They refused to recognize the legitimacy of the assembly

and dismissed all resolutions as invalid. The delegates, said the

directors, were DeLaRonde supporters and did not represent all Metis

constituents.

Chartrand and DeLaRonde were former allies in the battle of control of

the MMF who recently turned on one another.

Throwing his support to the directors was Gerald Morin, president of

the Metis National Council, an organization that represents Metis people

across Canada.

The internal struggles for control came to a head earlier this year

when DeLaRonde and Chartrand became rivals. For the third time in three

years MMF board members petitioned the courts to help resolve the

dispute over leadership.

But Mr. Justice James Smith stated on May 7, that he could see no way

the two parties could ever find common ground. He ordered the

dissolution of the federation's corporate wing and appointed a

receiver-manger from the firm of Deloitte & Touche to wind down its

affairs.

The 12 directors have stated they will appeal the ruling.