History came full circle on July 6, 2021, with the signing of the Manitoba M茅tis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Agreement by the leader of the Manitoba M茅tis and a representative of the Canadian government.
David Chartrand, President of the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) and the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations signed the Agreement affirming the MMF as the existing and exclusive government of the Manitoba M茅tis.
The historic signing took place at Upper Fort Garry Heritage Provincial Park, located in what is now downtown Winnipeg. The Fort was where Louis Riel鈥檚 Provisional Government created the terms by which the postage stamp province of Manitoba joined Canada鈥檚 Confederation, 151 years ago.
The Agreement provides that Canada recognizes that the MMF is already the democratically-elected government of the Manitoba M茅tis and has the responsibility for providing responsible and accountable self-government.
The Manitoba M茅tis were historically known as the Red River M茅tis and collectively hold the rights and freedoms referred to in sections 25 and 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 as a result of direct ancestral connection to the Red River M茅tis. These rights include the inherent right of self-government.
The Agreement recognizes that Manitoba M茅tis Citizens and individuals entitled to become Citizens may live in Manitoba or elsewhere inside and outside of Canada.
All four Liberal MPs from Manitoba, Hon. Jim Carr (Winnipeg South Centre), Terry Duguid (Winnipeg South), Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North), and Hon. Dan Vandal (Saint Boniface 鈥� Saint Vital) were in attendance, as was M茅tis National Council (MNC) President Cl茅ment Chartier, along with the MMF Cabinet, with Minister Leah LaPlante acting as witness to the Agreement for the MMF.
Kicking off his speech, President Chartrand said that, after decades of discussions with the federal government, he was impressed that the Trudeau government was not only willing to negotiate regarding Manitoba M茅tis self-government and land claims, but that Minister Bennett proactively contacted him to spark the discussions.
President Chartrand said during the ceremony that while the Agreement won鈥檛 change how the MMF operates, it is key to have such a relationship with the federal government.
鈥淭his country is built on the concept of its laws and its processes, and it only makes it easier when a federal government comes on board to say, 鈥榃e recognize the self-government.鈥欌��
Minister Bennett, acknowledging the context of the discoveries of unmarked graves at former residential school sites across the country in recent weeks, said she hopes the Agreement marks a step forward in relations between Indigenous peoples and the federal government.
鈥淐anada has a long way to go to end the legacy of colonial violence still being felt today, recognizing its current consequences and working in partnership with Indigenous peoples on the path to healing,鈥� Minister Bennett said. 鈥淥ur government is committed to building a new type of relationship with M茅tis by advancing reconciliation, providing opportunities, and respecting your traditions, language and culture.鈥�
鈥淭he Agreement we鈥檙e signing today is the result of a genuine co-development process in true partnership with your Nation.鈥�
It would not have been possible to have this event without acknowledging the importance of Louis Riel and his Provisional Government. The Provisional Government drafted the List of Rights which were enshrined in the Manitoba Act, 1870. The Manitoba Act, as described in correspondence between Riel and Sir. John A. Macdonald, was a Treaty that allowed Canada access to what was then called the North-West Territory.
鈥淓ven though Louis Riel created this beautiful province, helped build this beautiful country of Canada we all love, they would not recognize his government,鈥� President Chartrand said. 鈥淚n fact, they went against his government and argued vigorously for over a century that his government had no standing, had no right to be a government in the Prairies, had no right to be standing and speaking for those people that were clearly the majority.鈥�
President Chartier, an MNC founder, stressed that the reasons for its creation in 1983 were to secure a land base and self-government. He was proud to see progress made on both with the July 6 announcement.
鈥淚 am very, very honoured to be here today to witness your government, your president signing this significant self-government recognition agreement, which is going to lead us 鈥� and I say us meaning the M茅tis Nation in Western Canada 鈥� forward because from this day forward, we can say the M茅tis National Council has got us here, but it鈥檚 now up to our government to lead us forward into the future as a people, as a Nation, impact on our citizenship, impact on our Homeland, and impact where our future will be taking us,鈥� President Chartier said. 鈥淵our government is going to be not only the catalyst but the protector of the M茅tis Nation.鈥�
Vandal, the Minister of Northern Affairs and a Manitoba M茅tis Citizen, credited the MMF for its work on several fronts in advancing M茅tis interests.
鈥淵ou have fought for the recognition and the rights of M茅tis in Manitoba. You have worked hard to create the space for M茅tis in the realm of politics, in society and in the economy and in doing so, you have enabled people to thrive,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou have brought M茅tis culture to the national stage, and helped connect M茅tis across the province, bringing them together as a 水果视频.鈥�
The Agreement provides for Canada and the MMF to enter into a nearly completed Modern Day Treaty which will then be the subject of Implementation Legislation by Parliament. This will solidify the federal recognition of the MMF as the government of the Manitoba M茅tis and provide Constitutional certainty of rights.
The MMF and the federal government are still working out some finer details of the Modern Day Treaty, including the provisions of the Agreement and points such as the relationship of laws, enforcement and adjudication, a tax treatment agreement, and Supplementary Self-Government Agreements for expanded MMF jurisdictions. Negotiations regarding the MMF land claim in Section 31 of the Manitoba Act, 1870 will also continue.
鈥淭his agreement and the Modern Day Treaty that is coming really give us control of our own future and our own destiny,鈥� said President Chartrand. 鈥淲e won鈥檛 have bureaucrats from Ottawa telling us what to do and how to do it 鈥� our programs and services can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the Manitoba M茅tis.鈥�
Ultimately, (MMF) President (David) Chartrand stressed that the Agreement symbolizes M茅tis resilience. After decades or, in some cases, well over a century of digging in for the Nation鈥檚 rights, those efforts were rewarded. He pledged to not only continue fighting for more rights, but the importance of defending what has already been won.
鈥淲e will not give up to anyone,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e will not give up our rights or our place in Confederation. It is ours. We earned it. We bled for it, and we died for it.鈥�