National spotlight will soon fade

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In his state of the nation address to delegates gathered for the Metis National Council (MNC) general assembly held in Calgary March 19 and 20, council President Clem Chartier had high praise for Canada's Prime Minister Paul Martin.

"This PM has demonstrated a willingness to put Metis issues on the federal agenda in contrast with the willful blindness we faced from Ottawa throughout the mid- to late 1990s," he said.

In his address, Chartier described the Canada-Aboriginal peoples' roundtable held last April in Ottawa as highly successful and recounted the inroads Metis made when the prime minister recognized the existence of the Metis as a nation in Canada.

Chartier quoted the prime minister as saying "[t]here is also no question that we need to strengthen our relationship with the Metis community in Canada. It is time to recognize the contributions the Metis nation has made, and continues to make, to this country."

Chartier said it was the first time in Metis contemporary history that a Canadian prime minister specifically identified the Metis as a nation.

Chartier also praised Martin for his initiative to learn about Metis people and their issues. He told delegates that he and members of the board of governors had been given direct access to Martin, a situation unique in the Metis experience and one that Chartier credits as helping to further Martin's understanding and appreciation of the Metis people and their issues.

Chartier warned delegates, however, not to take for granted the current positive climate experienced between Metis and the federal government. He advised Metis leaders to act now on issues of importance, because the attention the Metis nation is receiving now may only last a couple of years. He said there will come a time in short order when some other issue will bump Metis concerns to the sidelines.

The Supreme Court Powley decision was front and centre as one such issue of importance on which to act.

"On Sept. 19, 2003, the highest court in the land affirmed the Metis are a full-fledged, rights-bearing people," said Chartier. "The Supreme Court affirmed our distinct rights flow from our unique existence and identity as an Aboriginal people. Our rights are equal to that of other Aboriginal peoples. And most importantly, our rights must be recognized and accommodated by all governments in the country."

Chartier spoke about the $20.5 million allocated by the federal government after the court decision to advance Powley rights, and praised the additional two-year commitment of $15 million annually announced in the most recent federal budget.

"The only reason the federal government is moving now is because of the Powley decision. We can't deny that," said Chartier.

Chartier said the Metis Nation Research Committee is in the process of designing an online genealogical research tool that will allow Metis people to trace their family trees or view historical documents posted to the site.

"This work will be invaluable to our people and to our rights-based agenda," he said

Chartier also commented on the need for a Metis Nation Constitution, which has been proposed at previous assemblies.

"To date, we have received minimal resources for cursory discussions on this important topic. What has become clear is that significant resources need to be devoted to effectively engage our people across the homeland if we hope to move forward."

Day two of the assembly was taken up with financial reports and resolutions put forward by delegates from across the nation. Only one resolution failed to pass, one that called for the national office's sponsorship of a post-Powley work plan for the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan (MNS).

The MNS has had Powley funding withheld by the federal government. Allegations of election irregularities caused the government of Saskatchewan to freeze funding to the MNS, and the federal government followed suit soon after.

President David Chartrandof the Manitoba Metis Federation said that the vote against the resolution was not a result of a lack of support for the governing officials from MNS, but of the MNC's reluctance to be financially responsible for the plan.

A resolution was later passed that called for Chartier and MNS President Dwayne Roth to meet with officials from the federal government to discuss reinstating a working relationship between the government and the MNS.