Native Secretariat policies irk Metis

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Allegations of the withholding proper funding to the Metis Association of Alberta (MAA) were leveled at the Native Secretariat during a two-day MAA workshop on March 24 and 25.

MAA President Sam Sinclair said he often has difficulty in reaching high level officials for meetings and has to deal with bureaucrats. In addition, the Native Secretariat places too many restrictions on the way that MAA funds are spent. Sinclair favors block funding which would allow the MAA to decide for itself where its money should be spent.

"We know which way we want to go," said Sinclair. "We need an agency or department where Native people could divide up the money where the need is."

Henry Thiessen, managing director of the Native Secretariat, was subdued during the criticism of his department and said he did not feel that the MAA was "an opposition body" to government, rather he felt there had been cooperation between the MAA and government.

When asked if the Native Secretariat would continue to sponsor workshops such as this, Mr. Thiessen replied that a group of people would do an assessment of the workshops and that some aspects may have to be charged.

"We do hope to continue. We are concerned that this opportunity be given to other Metis people," he said.

In summary, there seems to be a need for more meetings with the MAA board to develop more efficient policies. It is felt that too much power is given to the MAA board to decide policies and that there be major changes in the MAA bylaws. There should be more input from the local level to alleviate the lack of unity between the MAA and the locals.

A clear definition of the educational policy is required, and a full-time MAA office manager is needed. Every local is to receive all transactions of the Annual Assembly within 60 days, along with transcripts of the first and second First Ministers' Conference. There should be future workshops to discuss the Constitution of Canada.

There seems to be a serious rift in communications between the MAA and the people. It was recommended that an inhouse communications coordinator be hired on a full-time basis to ensure constant communication between the MAA and the locals. The Metis people wish to be informed of every issue, policy, program and development that may affect them. Membership fees since 1967 should be used to develop a communications system. There was also a discussion on what guidelines a person uses to determine native ancestry when selling Metis membership cards. To date there is no clear policy.