Office of the President. Prime Minister Meets with National Aboriginal Leaders to Begin Reconciliation

Transcription

1 Office of the President Prime Minister Meets with National Aboriginal Leaders to Begin Reconciliation And the presence of Cabinet Ministers holding key posts like In d i g e n o u s a n d No r t h e r n Affairs, Justice, Health, and E m p l o y m e n t a n d Tr a i n i n g demonstrated his belief in a whole-of-government approach to achieve it. President Chartier and VicePresident Chartrand outlined effective means for the roll-out o f t h e Pr i m e M i n i s t e r s campaign commitments to the Métis Nation on economic development, skills and development, and scholarships and bursaries. On December 16, 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and seven Cabinet Ministers met w i t h Na t i o n a l Ab o r i g i n a l Leaders in Ottawa, earning p r a i s e f r o m M é t i s Na t i o n leaders for his commitment to advance toward reconciliation. In a historic three hour meeting in the Aboriginal Room in Parliament, National Aboriginal Leaders responded to the Prime Minister s request to identify implementation plans to ensure tangible outcomes related to the Liberals campaign commitments. The Prime Minister proved he is serious about reconciliation, said MNC President Chartier. In the discussion of the process g o i n g f o r w a r d, Pr e s i d e n t Chartier emphasized to the Prime Minister the need for a distinctions-based, nation-tonation bilateral process between the federal government and the Métis Nation. His call was echoed by the First Nations and Inuit leaders. In an Assembly of First Nations news release Continued on next page

2 earlier that day, National Chief Bellegarde stated: It was clear at today s meeting that working nation-to-nation means that First Nations, the Metis Nation and Inuit peoples each need their own approach with the federal Crown. We are distinct peoples with our own unique rights, approaches and priorities. We will stand with our Indigenous brothers and sisters in calling for action and enga gement but the ongoing relationship must be bilateral, not multilateral. MNC Vice-President/MMF President David Chartrand concluded the MNC presentation by praising the Prime Minister for acting on his campaign commitment to immediatel y establish a negotiations process between Canada and the Manitoba Métis Federation in order to settle the outstanding land claim of the Manitoba Métis community, as recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada in Manitoba Métis Federation v. Canada. We are pleased with progress toward securing a Cabinet mandate for the negotiation and settlement of a MMF land claim agreement, said Chartrand. On September 28, 2013, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau promised to negotiate in good faith, nation to nation, a fair and equitable resolution of the historic injustice faced by our people and, as Prime Minister, he is proving to be true to his word. In a further demonstration of the government s commitment to fulfill its campaign promises, Minister of Indigenous Affairs Carolyn Bennett, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, and Minister of Status of Women Patty Hajdu met with the National Aboriginal Leaders in the afternoon to begin the planning of the design of the National Inquir y into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Women of the Métis Nation President Melanie Omeniho joined President Chartier, Vice- President Chartrand and MNBC President Dumont in these discussions. The MNC s Governing Members and the Women of the Métis Nation have a lot of experience and expertise in dealing with preventive measures that can be effective in the fight against this national tra gedy, said President Chartier. I am hopeful and confident that they will play a meaningful role in the inquiry.

3 New Canada - Métis Nation Relationship Begins The MNC and federal Minister of Indigenous Affairs Carolyn Bennett began to chart a new course in Canada-Métis Nation relations at a meeting in Ottawa on December 14, The meeting was set to explore ways of moving ahead on the Liberal government s Métis Nation policy and related commitments unveiled during the recent federal election campaign. MNC President Chartier, Vice-President David Chartrand, MNBC President Bruce Dumont and Women of the Métis Nation President Melanie Omeniho joined the Minister in a cordial and informative discussion on how to translate the policy and commitments into effective measures in the upcoming budget and future initiatives. The government s Métis Nation policy, Advancing and Achieving Reconciliation for the Métis Nation, included a number of uprecedented commitments to the Métis people: to immediatel y establish a L-R: David Chartrand, Clément Chartier, Minister Carolyn Bennett negotiations process between Canada and the Manitoba Métis Federation to settle the outstanding land claim further to the landmark decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in MMF v. Canada in 2013; to establish a federal claims process to address Métis rights protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act 1982; to move to an ongoing and reliable base of funding; and to undertake crucially important investments in Métis Nation skills development and economic development institutions. Minister Bennett impressed my colleagues and me with her genuine interest in seeking our ideas and recommendations for concrete solutions to the major challenges facing us, said President Chartier. As she said, this was the first of many meetings to come to work through the issues and come up with effective actions. We really look forward to a collaborative relationship with her.

4 Trudeau Government Acts on National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women On December 8, 2015, the Government of Canada announced the launch of a national inquiry to address the high number of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The announcement of the national inquiry was made in Ottawa by the three Ministers who will immediately begin engaging with survivors, family members and loved ones of victims, as well as National Aboriginal, provincial, and territorial representatives to seek their views on the design and scope of the inquiry. The Ministers are the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women. MNC President Chartier commended the Ministers for their prompt action: I appreciate the fact that they have launched the inquiry now and are committed to hearing from those directly affected as well a s the National and provincial Aboriginal representatives and Indigenous women s organizations in the design of the inquiry, said President Chartier. At the end of this engagement process, the Government will report back on what has been heard from the participants. The views and ideas expressed by all participants will allow the Government to develop the inquiry, including the mandate, the terms of reference, the format of the Inquiry, and the timeline. The MNC and its Governing Members and Women of the Métis Nation can be counted on to contribute to this inquiry design process, said President Chartier. It is important that we get this right. UPCOMING EVENTS 2nd National Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Winnipeg, MB February 25-26, 2016

5 MNC Participates in Planning of National Health Accord Renewal On January 21, 2016, Indigenous leaders, federal Health Minister Jane Philpott and provincial and territorial health ministers met in Vancouver on the planning of national Health Accord renewal. Health Ministers and representatives of the AFN, MNC and ITK agreed on the inclusion of First Nations, the Métis Nation and Inuit in developing a formal process within the broader Health Accord discussion to better determine how provincial, territorial and federal governments can meet health needs in their respective health systems. The agreement was reached in advance of today s meeting in Vancouver of Federal, provincial and territorial Health Ministers to negotiate a new Health Accord that will include a long - term a greement on funding and setting national priorities on health care. Métis Nation British Columbia President Bruce Dumont who is MNC s Health Minister, applauded the decision on Indigenous peoples inclusion in the process: Having the Métis Nation at the table with federal and provincial Health Ministers will enable us to tackle the barrier of jurisdiction that has long delayed dealing with critical Métis Nation health issues by Ottawa and the provinces, said Dumont. We really need cooperation of all jurisdictions with the Métis Nation to deal with the acute chronic disease issues of Métis people. MNC President Chartier also viewed the agreement as a breakthrough for the Métis Nation: It speaks to the sincerity of the Trudeau government early in its term in pressing ahead with the First Nations, the Métis Nation and Inuit to begin closing the gap in health outcomes with the overall Canadian population, said Chartier. This is consistent with the government s commitment to fulfill the vision of the Kelowna Accord and the spirit of reconciliation that drove it.

6 Harvesting Rights Case in Saskatchewan Over the past four years three Métis, two from Meadow Lake and one from Chitek Lake were charged with hunting and <ishing without a licence, even though Métis in that part of the province saw their hunting and <ishing rights af<irmed by the provincial court in the 2005 Laviolette case. The Métis Legal Research and Education Foundation, a non- pro<it organization incorporated in 2002 by Kathy Hodgson- Smith, the late Flora Shatilla and C l e m C h a r t i e r h a s b e e n providing a pro bono defence. Kathy Hodgson- Smith, Dwayne Trudeau Roth and Clem Chartier are the lawyers providing the defence for the three defendants. To date, seven days of trial have taken place in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan for community witnesses. There is one further day for community witnesses; April 8 th in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Numerous (about 45) witnesses have participated to date, including witnesses from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and one from BC; MNBC President Bruce Dumont. President David Chartrand of the Manitoba Métis Federation and MMF Cabinet Minister, Will Goodon (of the Goodon case) also testi<ied, as did Karen Collins of the Provincial Council of the Métis Nation of Alberta, along with President Ron Quintal of Fort McKay and Vice- President Bill Loutitt of Fort McMurray. The week of June 6, 2016 has been reserved for testimony from expert witnesses, such as Dr. Frank Tough, Prof Brenda McDougall, John Thornton and Laura Hanowski. Likely, we will need more than one week for this testimony. The Crown will then put on its case, and when legal/closing arguments are <inally concluded, we expect a decision sometime in late 2017 or early This case will add to the trilogy to date where the courts have con<irmed Métis harvesting rights: in 1997 the Court of Queens Bench in Morin and Daigneault af<irmed that the Métis of northwest Saskatchewan have <ishing rights, the 2005 Laviolette decision extended the northwest Saskatchewan Métis rights bearing regional community to include Meadow Lake, and in L-R: Dwayne Roth, Kathy Hodgson- Smith, and Clem Chartier 2007 the Belhumeur case established Métis <ishing rights in the Qu Appelle Valley and environs, including the City of Regina. Even with these three victories in northern and southern Saskatchewan the MNS and the provincial government have been unable to conclude a province- wide harvesting agreement, which hopefully will <inally be done with the anticipated victory <lowing from this trial.

7 Tragedy in La Loche On January 22, 2016 President Chartier received the sad and s h o c k i n g n e ws f ro m t h e Clearwater River Dene Nation (CRDN) Chief, Ted Clark, that several people were shot at a home and secondary school in La Loche resulting in several dead and others wounded. President Chartier was assured that his <ifteen year old granddaughter was safe, but nevertheless took the news with a heavy heart for the families of the victims, many of whom he knows personally. Also distressing over the following days was the lack of acknowledgment of the Métis residents of La Loche by the news coverage and municipal and provincial government representatives including the Métis mayor and the Premier, both of whom never once mentioned the word Métis, even though the Premier was in La Loche twice for meetings with the municipal government and CRDN leaders. It was as if the Métis in La Loche, which has a majority Métis population, were invisible. In this Prime Minister Trudeau and Chief Ted Clark connection, in both meetings, the <irst with the Premier, the second with the Prime Minister and the Premier, President Chartier was only able to attend as a guest of the CRDN Chief. Nevertheless, President Chartier was steadfast in his praise for the municipal, CRDN, provincial and federal governments for their quick and compassionate responses, as well as the unquali<ied response of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) for the families at the hospital in Saskatoon, regardless of whether the families were First Nations or Métis. Following the meetings with the Prime Minister on Friday, January 29 th President Chartier was assured by federal Health Minister Philpott, who was at the meeting with the Prime Continued on next page

8 Minister, that the Métis of La Loche would not be excluded in the federal government s response to the tragedy, that jurisdiction would not be a barrier to service. The next morning, President Chartier was contacted by Health Canada informing him that Métis representatives would be included in the daily conference call brie<ings going forward. and ensure that the federal and provincial governments live up to their commitments. President Chartier made a commitment to the Métis of La Loche that he will help the Métis community get re- organized and ensure that its voice is heard and presence engaged as the village moves forward in its response to this tragedy. In the wake of the shock, sorrow, confusion and a shattered community, more clarity has emerged. Both the First Nation and Métis communities will be engaged in the process as the village of La Loche and the CRDN First Nation move forward in an attempt to address what went wrong and how to prevent similar tragedies in the future Part of the audience at the meeting with Prime Minister Should you wish to contribute to assist with funeral costs to the families or for the trial on Harvesting Rights Case in Saskatchewan, please mail your cheque to: Metis Legal Research and Education Foundation Inc st Street East Saskatoon, SK S7K 0C1

9 Message from the President As we enter the year 2016, we can re<lect on the dramatic changes, potential opportunities and signi<icant challenges faced by the Métis Nation. With the election of the Trudeau government in October and its positive Métis Nation policy based on recognition of the Métis as a people and as a Nation, there has been a dramatic shift in the relationship between the Métis Nation and the federal government. That relationship is underpinned by the commitment of the federal government to engage with the Métis Nation on a nation- to- nation basis, which will of necessity engage a government- to- government process based on the Métis Nation s inherent right of self- government, recognized and af<irmed by s.35 of the Constitution Act, At the December 15th meeting of the Prime Minister and a number of his ministers with <ive National Aboriginal Organizations (NAOs), I stated the Métis Nation s position that as we move forward on the road of reconciliation, we must do so on a government- to- government/nation- to- nation basis, as Indigenous governments or representatives of Indigenous governments and not as organizations. I also made this position clear the following day on an APTN panel discussion convened to discuss the meeting with the Prime Minister. In the meeting with the Prime Minister, both the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) maintained that moving forward in the new relationship must be distinctions- based and built around bilateral processes with the federal government. This accords with the Métis Nation s position that we engage in a bilateral process with the federal government (and, where possible, to bring in the <ive provinces from Ontario to BC). Where multilateral meetings are needed, these should be with the MNC (which is the governmental body representing the Métis Nation), the AFN (which is the national representative of the First Nations governments) and the ITK (which is the national representative of the Inuit governments/land claims regions). These three bodies are the legitimate representatives of the three constitutionally recognized Aboriginal peoples and are part of one of the three orders of government, the other two being the federal and provincial governments. Continued on next page

10 Message from the President (continued) This of course does not preclude the federal and/or provincial governments from meeting with service delivery or advocacy organizations such as the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP), the Native Women s Association of Canada (NWAC) and the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC), amongst others. Otherwise, these organizations have no right to be engaged in nation- to- nation engagements or processes where the three orders of government in this constitutional democracy meet to reconcile the s.35 rights of the Indigenous peoples, including the implementation of the inherent right of self- government. If we are to achieve this, the leadership of the Métis Nation must take a strong stand and insist that any future meetings with the federal government or the federal government and the provinces/territories (First Ministers Conferences), or with the Premiers in the Council of the Federation (COF), must only engage Indigenous governments or representatives of Indigenous governments representing the three constitutionally recognized Aboriginal peoples ; otherwise we will not attend. We already took this position in 2013 when former Prime Minister Harper responded to our request for a Métis Nation- Crown Summit on Economic Development by issuing a letter of invitation to a meeting on Métis Economic Priorites in which he informed us that he had also invited CAP. In our response, the Board of Governors took the position that we were willing to participate in a meeting between the federal government and the Métis Nation on economic development but could not accept his invitation until this was clari<ied. This of course did not sit well with the PMO of<icials, and the meeting never did take place, but the Métis Nation s integrity and principles were adhered to, and attested to the strength and determination of the Métis Nation leadership. We appeared to be making progress on this issue as the Canadian delegation to the Climate Change Conference in Paris in November/December only included the MNC, AFN and ITK as did the meeting of health ministers in January in Vancouver. However, last week the Assembly of First Nations and the Métis National Council turned down a breakfast meeting with the Minister of the Environment as the invitation included CAP and NWAC. As we move forward, the AFN, ITK and MNC are proposing that we enter into an agreement which will make clear our intention of pursuing our respective rights based on the right of self- government as one of the three orders of government in this country and that we expect to engage in government- to- government relations in our future dialogue with the other two orders of government. Once we conclude this protocol, there cannot, and must not, be any turning back.

11 Call for Musicians MÉTIS NATION ANTHEM The Métis Nation will be celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the Métis Nation infinity flag on June 19, The Métis National Council is seeking Métis composers/musicians to develop a Métis Nation Anthem to debut as part of these celebrations. The criteria for the development of the Métis Nation Anthem is as follows: 1. The composer/musician shall be a citizen of the Métis Nation; 2. The anthem must be no longer than two (2) minutes; 3. The anthem may be in English, but will later be translated to Michif and French; and 4. The accompanying music score shall include fiddle music. 5. Deadline for submission is May 2, 2016 The successful composer/musician will be invited to be in attendance at the 200th Anniversary celebrations on June 19, 2016 to debut the Anthem. $5000 will be awarded for the Anthem that is chosen! MÉTIS NATIONAL COUNCIL RALLIEMENT NATIONAL DES MÉTIS SEND YOUR COMPOSITION TO: Métis National Council 340 MacLaren Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 0M6 Fax: loriannr@metisnation.ca

12 Office of the President Office of the President Métis National Council #4-340 MacLaren Street Ottawa, ON K2P 0M6 (800)