Office of the President. Back to Batoche! those sacrifices of the past are not forgotten and that we must continue fighting for those

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1 Back to Batoche! The annual Batoche Days took place on July th with large numbers of Métis and guests participating in the various events. President Chartier gave rousing opening remarks on the morning of July 18 th extolling the history, sacrifices and dedication of the many Métis women and men who gave so much of themselves for the benefit of their people and for future generations. Having so stated, President Chartier stated that it is now our responsibility to ensure that those sacrifices of the past are not forgotten and that we must continue fighting for those rights so cherished by our ancestors and current citizens. That there is only one Métis Nation which is based primarily in western Canada. Throughout the weekend, there was a lot of fiddle playing, jigging and dancing, along with other traditional activities and numerous displays. On Sunday, the annual walk took place to the Batoche cemetery and mass gravesite of some of the Métis warriors who fought and died during the Battle of Batoche. This event was well attended with many children and youth visible, a good sign that this tradition will carry on well into the future.

2 Métis Veterans Memorial Monument Unveiled in Batoche On July 19, 2014, the 2014 Back to Batoche Festival honoured Métis Veterans with the unveiling of the first national monument to specifically honour Métis servicemen and servicewomen, a first in history for the Métis and all of Canada. Thousands of people traveled to Back to Batoche to memorialize and pay homage to their national heroes and encourage knowledge sharing between the generations. In his address at the opening ceremony on Jul y18, MNC President Chartier highlighted the importance of this year s gathering in view of major court decisions upholding Métis rights and the determination of the Métis Nation to fulfill the mission of Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont. Back to Batoche 2014 also marked the culmination of years of effort by the Métis Nation to honour its military veterans, according to President Chartier in his address at the unveiling of the memorial monument on July 19. We have done our best to ensure permanent commemoration of the great contributions and sacrifices of our veterans with monuments and exhibitions in Canada and in Juno Beach, France, the site of the D-Day landing in 1944 that began the liberation of Europe from Nazi rule, said President Chartier. I am very proud of our efforts in this regard so to witness the unveiling of a magnificent monument for our veterans on this sacred soil of the Métis Nation is a powerful and poignant experience for me. This monument speaks to the vision and determination of Lennerd Morin, a great Métis patriot, and to the superb work of the Gabriel Dumont Institute in fulfilling Continued on next page

3 that vision. And, of course, the monument speaks to the great respect we have for those who fought for our rights here on the battlefield of Batoche and for the rights and freedoms of all Canadians in global conflicts. While their numbers may be dwindling, this monument will enshrine the memory of their great deeds forever. From Gabriel Dumont Institute, the Host of the Unveiling. The Métis have always defended their right to be free people, les gens libre, and the Otipaymishoowuk the people who own themselves. This value, a gift from our ancestors, has been demonstrated in our early history and by thousands of Métis who ha ve ser ved in Canada s Armed Forces. The Métis have served alongside other Canadian servicemen and ser vicewomen in the South African War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and in each of the efforts since then to defend our country and contribute to international peace and security. The Métis Veterans Memorial Monument at the site is a national project that honours Métis ser vicemen and ser vicewomen f rom across Canada. The monument expresses a long-held dream of the Métis to honour and commemorate the contributions of over 7,000 Métis veterans who have valiantly served our nation and defended our land and freedom. The site was officially designated in July 2010 at a ceremony attended by the Honourable John Duncan, the former Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. The Gabriel Dumont Institute is leading the fundraising effort for the monument. Over twothirds of the cost of the monument has been realized by the July 19, 2014 unveiling through contributions from the Institutes, Veteran Affairs Canada, the Clarence Campeau Development Fund, the Saskatchewan Community initiatives Fund, and donations from individuals, businesses, and service organizations. All of these efforts are greatl y appreciated. The Métis Veterans Memorial Monument is a fitting tribute to our veterans and will remind us of the sacrifices they made so we can enjoy our freedom and spend time with family and friends, the Métis way, at Batoche. It is with heartfelt sincerity that Continued on next page

4 we honour our Métis veterans who bravely served our country to preserve our freedom. Their service, along with that of other veterans, is a contribution for which all Canadians can be grateful and proud. At the same time a s we acknowledge and thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice, we are grateful to those who have helped make this tribute a reality through the many ontributions made, including funding, in-kind contributions, and donations. In conjunction with the festival, 80 youth known as Honour Runners run 100 km from Saskatoon to Batoche in tribute to Métis Veterans. (see Starphoenix news: story.html?id= ) UPCOMING EVENTS Métis Nation of Alberta Annual General Assembly Consultation on Sept-2014 WCIP Métis Nation of Ontario Annual General Assembly 2014 Council of the Federation meeting World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP) Manitoba Metis Federation Annual General Assembly Métis Nation British Columbia Annual General Meeting Aug 8-10 Stettler, AB Aug UN, NYC Aug Thunder Bay Aug Charlottetown, PEI Sept UN, NYC Sept Brandon, MB Sept Richmond, BC

5 Message from the President In the last newsletter, I wrote about the significant victory of the Tsilhquot in Nation and the current lea ve to appeal application to the Supreme Court of Canada by the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) in the Daniels case. In previous newsletters I have written about the importance of promoting and protecting the integrity of the Métis as a people and nation. As evidenced by previous court decisions and international instruments, it is only peoples and/or nations which possess the right of self-determination, and/or Aboriginal rights, one of those rights being Aboriginal title, others being the right to hunt and fish. It is clear that the historic Métis Nation of western Canada has all the essential elements which evidences the existence of a distinct Aboriginal people and nation. While other persons of mixed ancestry do exist in other parts of Canada, that does not make them part of the historic Métis Nation. Certainly many of our citizens have moved to areas outside our historic Métis Nation homeland, whether within Canada, the USA or other parts of the world and remain part of the Métis Nation. Our nation and rights are grounded in the fact that we emerged as a distinct Aboriginal people/nation before effective control was exercised by non- Aboriginal peoples in our traditional territor y a s referenced in Cunningham by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2011 as being mainly on the plains/prairies which are now covered by the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. If we are to successfully protect, promote and strengthen our nation, we must ensure that this history and struggle for justice and rights is taught to our children and youth. If we are truly dedicated as leaders to achieve this for our future generations, then we must not waiver from this objective. If we expect further court victories, we must not deviate from who we are as a people, including our Aboriginal title to the lands and resources which were illegally taken from us by the failed scrip process of the late 1800s and early 1900s which the Supreme Court of Canada in the Blais case in 2003 referred to as a sorry chapter in Canada s history.

6 MNC Board of Governors meets in Saskachewan On July 16, 2014, the MNC Board of Governors met in Saskatoon on July 16th to discuss how to address current challenges and o p p o r t u n i t i e s facing the MNC and its Governing Members. The agenda for the Board meeting included the review of the audited financial statement for in which the MNC posted a surplus that is being applied to debt reduction. The Board also discussed the impact of reduced federal funding for Aboriginal organizations on the MNC and its Governing Members. This is a tough fiscal environment we are working in, said MNC President Chartier, but I am pleased that the Board is working collectively and constructively on measures to deal with it and at the same time capitalize on significant opportunities opening to the Métis Nation as a result of judicial decisions and agreements with the federal government. Among these opportunities discussed were the ruling of the Federal Court of Appeal in Daniels affirming federal jurisdiction for the historic Métis community and the recent Tsilhqot in Nation decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on Aboriginal title. The Board discussed the impact of these cases on the Métis rights agenda and how they can move that agenda forward. The Board also reviewed the Canada-MNC relationship and agenda and how to move forward with the federal government under the Métis Nation Protocol 2013 and its schedule, the Governance and Financial Accountability Accord A meeting with the federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister is being planned for the early fall at which time progress under these agreements will be reviewed and further action considered. The Accord provides for completion of the development of common standards for Métis citizenship registries, the development of a Métis Nation Constitution, a new reliable and flexible federal funding system, and strengthened financial accountability measures. President Chartier s meeting with the Minister is expected to also focus on a number of key economic development initiatives building on earlier work under the Protocol and the new Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development. These include the signing of a Canada-MNC Métis Economic Development Accord and the planning of the third Métis Economic Development Symposium where the federal Minister, his counterparts from the five westernmost provinces, and the Métis Nation leadership will forge a Métis Economic Development Strategy.

7 Office of the President President Chartier attends Manitoba Metis Federation Inauguration On July 24th the recently re-elected and newly elected members of the MMF Cabinet were sworn-in by the Hon Philip Lee, Lt-Governor of the province of Manitoba. The ceremony was well attended and President Chartrand who was elected by acclamation received a standing ovation for his inaugural address.

8 Office of the President President Chartier visits Fort McMurray and Fort McKay On July 11th President Chartier met with some of the Board Members and staff of Fort Mc Mu r r a y L o c a l a n d engaged in a range of discussions including the recent Supreme Court of Canada Tsilhqot in Nation decision and the leave application by the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) to the Supreme Court of Canada in Daniels. L a t e r t h a t d a y Pr e s i d e n t Chartier attended the opening of Métis Days in Fort McKay and brought greetings on behalf of the Métis Nation. President Poitras of the MNA was also present and provided opening remarks as well. President Chartier spent the next day there and thoroughly enjoyed the Métis traditions, music, food and dance and was greatly impressed by the work o f t h e Fo r t Mc Ka y M é t i s Community under the leadership of President Ron Quintal for making this such a huge success.

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