Metis Nation calls accord with federal government ‘groundbreaking’

A Canada-Métis Nation accord signed in Ottawa has Métis leaders buoyed with a renewed sense of optimism.

“It’s been a long, long struggle and of course we still have a long ways to go but it was a very significant milestone achievement for our people,” said an ecstatic Gerald Morin.

Morin, the vice-president of Métis Nation — Saskatchewan, signed the accord Thursday, along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett, and the presidents of the Métis National Council, the Métis Nation of Ontario, the Manitoba Metis Federation, the Métis Nation of Alberta and the Métis Nation British Columbia.

“If you look at the document it has all of the right words, nation to nation, government-to-government relationship,” Morin said. “Clearly the government of Canada has acknowledged and recognized the Métis Nation, the fact that we are governments.”

A release from the Métis National Council calls the accord “groundbreaking,” saying it “marks a turning point for Canada and the Métis Nation.”

They will now start negotiations on shared priorities in a permanent bilateral forum chaired by the prime minister.

MNC president Clem Chartier called it a “reset” in the relationship.

“A process is in place to deal with issues in a concentrated and collaborative manner and that speaks to the commitment of both parties to get things done,” Chartier said in the release.

Meeting annually, they will jointly set policy priorities for the year ahead.

Priorities in the first year include employment and training, youth, early learning and child care, poverty reduction and homelessness. They will also look at improved cultural supports for schoolchildren, greater support for post-secondary education, and expanded capacity at Métis educational institutes.

Health, wellness and housing are also set down as first-year priorities.

The accord also promises a “move towards sufficient, predictable and sustained funding for the Métis Nation.”

Morin expressed confidence that the money will be there, noting funds were included in the last federal budget, although some finer details remain to be worked out.

“So we’re basically ready to go,” he said. “We just basically at this particular point in time have to roll up our sleeves and start discussions and negotiations in good faith.”

Morin recalled that around this time last year he was heading home from hearing the Supreme Court of Canada decision in the Daniels case, holding that the federal government has jurisdiction to deal with Métis rights and program and service issues.

“A year later we’re coming home and we’ve signed a major agreement with the prime minister,” Morin said.

He said work to follow includes a national housing strategy for the Métis Nation, and a national Métis health and wellness accord.

There is also a commitment to set up negotiating tables with the five Métis regions including Saskatchewan, Morin said.

The one in Saskatchewan will focus on implementing Métis constitutional rights. For example, Morin hopes to negotiate an outof-court settlement for the 1994 Métis land claim in the northwest of the province.

He expects to sign the regional accord, paving the way for those discussions, within the next few months.