Province is siding with wrong Métis representatives

Decision is heading to courts, Audrey Poitras writes.

For more than 90 years, the Métis Nation of Alberta has represented Métis throughout this province. Our ancestors and our over 42,000 citizens have built our Métis government community meeting by community meeting, assembly by assembly, election by election. For generations, our democratically elected leaders at the local, regional and provincial levels have advocated and advanced Métis rights politically and through the courts.

After decades of struggle, we are thankfully finally beginning to have our rights recognized by the courts and at the federal level. For example, we are finally seeing Canada make historic investments in our government as well as recognize us on a government-to-government basis. In July 2019, the MNA, along with Métis governments in Ontario and Saskatchewan, signed our historic self-government agreements that put us on the path to self-determination.

One of the unfortunate outcomes of our recent Métis rights and self-government successes, however, is we are now seeing individuals and Métis community associations try to divert lands and financial resources from Métis rights-holders, MNA regions and locals and rights-bearing Métis communities. The individuals leading these Métis community associations are accountable to no one; yet, they are using the Métis Nation’s name.

This is what makes the Alberta government’s decision last week to consult with the Fort Mckay community association so shocking and appalling to the MNA. Instead of ensuring that legitimate Métis right-holders and communities are consulted, the Alberta government is aiding and abetting these newly created entities. As a result, a handful of individuals, some of whom are not even Métis and don’t even live in Alberta, will be pocketing resources in the name of our people with absolutely no checks or balances. This is not an effective use of taxpayer money and industry in Alberta could

The Alberta government does not have the constitutional authority to slice and dice our rights.

now be forced to hand over millions of dollars to such groups.

The MNA, as the legitimate and democratic government of the Métis Nation within Alberta, does not accept this decision of the Alberta government. We will shine a light on this decision so our people — as well as all Albertans — know what has happened. We will also be turning to the courts to expose the truth. We take the current Alberta government’s word this was not a “backroom deal” that advanced short-term interests on the backs of the Métis. However, if it remains that only these handful of individuals are consulted in the name of the Métis in Alberta, what other conclusion can legitimate Métis rights-holders reach?

Significantly, this decision runs contrary to the 2016 Supreme Court of Canada decision in the Harry Daniels case that recognized the federal government as the level of government in Canada with constitutional jurisdiction to deal with these types of matters with Indigenous peoples, including the Métis. This is why the MNA is negotiating our self-government with Canada, not Alberta. The Alberta government does not have the constitutional authority to slice and dice our rights-bearing Métis communities here in Alberta at its pleasure.

This decision also flies in the face of the modern law related to Métis rights, including the Alberta Court of Appeal, that recognizes our rights-bearing Métis communities as large and regional in nature. Instead, this decision advances a divide and conquer approach that we have seen used by governments before in Indigenous communities. Current events in British Columbia demonstrate that governments don’t always know best and can’t impose their unilateral systems on Indigenous peoples without consequence.

After 140 years, Canada’s colonial imposition of the Indian Act on traditional First Nation government systems still doesn’t work. Alberta’s unilateral decision about our Métis rights and communities here in Alberta also won’t be sustainable in the long-term either.

The Métis Nation within Alberta, as represented by the MNA, will make sure of that. Audrey Poitras is president of the Métis Nation of Alberta.