ECMA CONTROVERSY
Musician stripped of Indigenous Artist of the Year nomination
A Cheticamp musician who identifies as having both Acadian and Métis roots is no longer up for consideration as Indigenous Artist of the Year at the upcoming East Coast Music Awards.
An update posted to the ECMA website Thursday afternoon states that the organization’s board of directors carried out consultation and research in removing Maxim Cormier, who is trained in classical guitar performance, from its list of 2018 nominees.
Cormier belongs to a group known as the Highlands Métis Nation, whose members claim Aboriginal ancestry.
In a letter attributed to board chair, Dean Stairs, it is stated that while the ECMAS do not question how someone identifies their own ancestry and personal identity, it must ensure that all nominees have met the true intent of the criteria for the award.
According to the ECMA board of directors, it has come to understand that the law does not yet recognize Cormier or Highlands Métis Nation as being Aboriginal peoples under the Canadian Constitution.
“This is regrettable for all involved,” said Stairs. “We did not arrive at this decision quickly. We have consulted and researched on the matter and have taken into account all inputs.”
The ECMA’S Awards and Stages
Committee is now planning to clarify its Indigenous awards criteria, specifically as it relates to self-identification, as part of its annual review.
Cormier directed media requests to the Council of the First Métis People of Canada, in conjunction with the Highlands Métis Nation, where he is a verified member.
Council chief Karole Dumont said she was awaiting information requested from ECMA organizers before bringing the case to their lawyers. She expects to
then issue a formal response.
“The CFMPC supports the nomination of Mr. Cormier as Indigenous Artist of the Year, and will fight for his right to represent himself as Métis under s.35 of the Constitution of Canada,” Dumont said. “There is no doubt that he is Métis, and as such, he has the right to be nominated for an Indigenous award.”
A list of ECMA nominations was released in late January. This year, the festival will be celebrating its 30th anniversary with a five-day event, May 2-6, in Halifax.