OTTAWA—First Nations around Manitoulin joined other First Nations at a rally held in Ottawa last week to protest the government’s consideration of passing Bill C-53.
“You will have to ask the federal government why it appears they are going to recognize the Metis Nation as a government. We assume that it has to do with the votes they would get from them,” stated Glen Hare, Ontario regional chief after the protest that First Nations leadership, along with interim National Chief Joanna Bernard held on September 20 to oppose the passing of Bill C-53, which is coming up to third and final reading and is something that First Nations say will irreparably damage their inherent and treaty rights.
“Metis are not recognized in Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan or the east coast,” said Regional Chief Hare. “Even the Red River Metis in Manitoba have said there are no other Metis outside there.”
“I guess in Saskatchewan the Metis are talking to the government about a treaty. This blew us away. They have no land, or proof of membership,” said Regional Chief Hare. “My real problems with all of this is that I don’t want so-called Metis people bullying our chiefs. Secondly, I don’t want them to ask any of my chiefs to leave a community. And when my chiefs meet with the federal government to talk about compensation and land resources, no way do they (Metis) have any business getting involved. We don’t recognize them as a government.”
“My chiefs are saying this group can be identified as citizens, but they can’t say they are First Nation,” said Regional Chief Hare. “They think for example they will be able to hunt and fish anywhere they want. But they don’t have any land or rights to do this.”
“We know some of the people that are calling themselves Metis. They are not Metis,” said Regional Chief Hare. “For them to steal our membership and attach to us, no way.”
“We continue to fight for our rights, lands and to be recognized as a government. Then they come along and want to be recognized as a government. No way,” stated Regional Chief Hare. At a press conference at the demonstration it was pointed out the government has given no indication it intends to withdraw the bill. Regional Chief Hare said, “if that is the case, the Assembly of First Nations will continue the fight. He told CBC News, “My chiefs are already putting up their flags. No trespassing.”
In choosing to recognize the Metis, the First Nations leaders say Canada failed to consult them and failed to properly verify the Metis Nation of Ontario citizens are truly Metis.
The Metis Nations emerged as a distinct people of mixed First Nations and European origins in the prairies in the late 18th century. But the roots of the current battle are the Ontario government’s 2017 decision to recognize six new historic Metis communities in the province.
The decision stretches the Metis homeland as far east as the Ottawa River on the Quebec border, an area where first nations maintain their elders never spoke of a Metis presence.
“This is a pure fabrication of the federal and provincial governments,” Nipissing First Nation chief Scott McLeod, a spokesman for the Chiefs of Ontario umbrella group on the issue told CBC.
The Canadian government signed an updated self-government agreement with the MNO earlier this year, promising to ratify it through legislation. The first nations want that legislation, Bill C-53 cancelled. The Assembly of First Nations, representing more than 600 First Nations countrywide, backed the cause.
“Bill C-53 was advances without proper consultation with first nations,” said interim national chief Joanna Bernard.
The MNO, however, accuses First Nations of denialism.
MNR president Margaret Froh was quoted by CBC as saying she points to the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark Powley decision, which affirmed the existence of a historic Metis community in and around Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
The 20th anniversary of the ruling, which laid out the 10 part Powley test for affirming Metis rights, was celebrated last week. The federal legislation would confirm the MNO’s internal Indigenous self-government rights.
Ms. Froh told CBC she is “concerned, again, on the 20th anniversary, after finally achieving that recognition, there are others that are trying to take us back to the time Metis were not recognized.” She sees respectful dialogue as the solution but won’t back down on Bill C-53 either. “After 200 years of fighting for recognition, the time has come,” she said.
“The bill has passed first and second reading and has one more reading before it becomes law,” said Mitch Case, MNO region 4 councillor told The Expositor. “With the House having just returned we expect this bill to be in front of it quickly. We are excited this is going to come to fruition. It means the realization of the bill and includes rights for our people under the Constitution Act and our own governance.”
As for the protests by AFN and First Nations to bill C-53, “I think it is incredibly unfortunate that there is a whole lot of division. This is only about our internal government as Metis and to gain our rights,” said Mr. Case. He said some of the people who are now objecting to the Metis were some of the strongest voices celebrating the group 20 years ago. “Some of the same people who celebrated with us at a pipe ceremony are pretending none of it or the ruling happened.”
“The Sault Ste. Marie community is extremely proud to be the home of the landmark Powley decision recognizing the existence of a historic Metis community with constitutionally protected rights. With Metis denialism on the rise, it is more important than ever to tell our stories, affirm our ways of life and celebrate how far we have come in advancing Metis rights and self-government,” the MNO said.
September 19, 2023 marked the 20th anniversary of the landmark Powley decision, a pivotal moment in Canadian legal history for the Metis Nation. In 2002, the unanimous Supreme Court ruling in R v. Powley cemented a watershed victory for Metis rights recognition.
