Women's group wants time at FMC talks

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Metis women must become aware and involved in the constitutional negotiations by Metis organizations, say members of the Women of the Metis Nation, a sub-committee of the Metis Association of Alberta.

The Women of the Metis Nation (WMN), was formed early last year, to explain the constitutional negotiation process and to obtain the support from Metis women toward an equal participation between men and women in Metis organizations.

"We need to de-mystify the constitutional process, to make it understandable to local people," said Deborah Hanly, co-chairperson of WMN.

The WMN have been holding community workshops to explain the Metis positions regarding Aboriginal rights, that will be discussed at the First Ministers' Conference (FMC), on Aboriginal rights. These workshops have been scheduled with regular MAA constitutional information meetings, throughout the provinces.

The WMN is funded by the Metis National Council through the MAA, and has the co-operative backing of the MAA and the Federation of Metis Settlements. The interim committee has 12 delegates from Metis locals and settlements.

The quality of men and women is emphasized in the community awareness workshops and in the development of a Metis women's position paper, said Joanne Daniels, organizer and fieldworker with the WMN.

The WMN wants Metis women to have equal partnership and representation during constitutional negotiations and at all meetings that will determine the future of Metis people. The WMN is working toward having Metis women representatives at the upcoming First Ministers talks to present a Metis women's position paper.

The WMN position paper stresses equal access to Aboriginal rights of self-government/self-determination, a land base and subsurface resources.

"The issue of sexual equality will have to be dealt with at the next First Ministers' conference," said Daniels. The equality issue is considered unfinished business by the WMN.

"If the provincial governments at the FMC can show that Metis women do not have equal say, they can stall constitutional amendments," said Muriel Stanley-Venne, WMN organizer.

To reach the goal of equal participation, the WMN is encouraging Metis women

to form committees within the Metis locals and regional councils. "We see a great need

to increase the involvement of women at every level of the organization," said Daniels.

To prepare for the constitutional talks on Aboriginal rights, the WMN has scheduled a Metis women's conference, on March 12 and 13, two days before the MAA assembly.

"We expect to see two women delegates from each of the (75) locals of the MAA and from the 8 settlements to come to their conference," said Stanley-Venne. "This way our women will be able to choose their representatives to the FMC/87 and to participate fully in their provincial organizations," said Daniels.