draft Newsletter April 2014

Office of the President
April 2014
The Journey of Reconciliation
Métis National Council President Chartier along with a delegation of Métis residential school
survivors and youth joined Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Alberta National Event in
Edmonton from March 27-30, 2014.
This was the final national event; the previous events took place in:
Manitoba National Event - Winnipeg - June 2010
Northern National Event - Inuvik - June/July 2011
Atlantic National Event - Halifax - October 2011
Saskatchewan National Event - Saskatoon - June 2012
Quebec National event - Montreal - April 2013
British Columbia National Event - Vancouver September 2013
Continued on next page
Office of the President
April 2014
Highlights of the event:
Lighting of the Sacred Fire
4Rs Young Leaders Youth Summit
Occured before each TRC national event, in
keeping with Aboriginal spiritual traditions. The
fire remains lit for the duration of the event to
ensure the spirits and teachings guide and protect
participants during the course of the Commission’s
work. The Sacred Fire, which Elders tend and
oversee, also is used by the TRC to assist with
survivors’ healing.
Métis youth representatives participated in the
summit. At one of the presentations, Dale Drown,
CEO MNBC and Colette Trudeau, Director of
Youth, MNBC spoke on one of the three key
elements of the 4Rs Strategic Plan – Framing and
Supporting Youth to Youth Dialogues.
Sharing Circles
Sharing Circles enabled
Sur vivors, their famil y
members, former staff and
anyone else affected by the
residential schools to share
their hopes for the future.
100 Years of Loss Display
Developed by the Legacy of Hope Foundation, this
display aims to raise awareness about the history
and legacy of residential
schools.
Mo r e
specifically, it’s designed
to: educate Canadians
(young Aboriginal, nonAb o r i g i n a l , a n d n e w
Canadians); challenge
stereotypes; and foster
i n q u i r y, d i a l o g u e a n d
action.
Youth Panel & Student Tribute to Survivors
Five youth panelists reflected on the impacts of
residential schools and their hopes for the future.
Continued on next page
Office of the President
April 2014
l-r: Malcolm Emerson, Melanie Omeniho, Alicia A$ard, Angie Crerar, Clément Chartier, Andrew Carrier,
Helene Johnson, Annette Maurice, Barbaranne Wright, Genevieve Benoit, Shae Shati$a
Education Day
Two thousands students participated in educational
activities dealing with the residential schools. A
Truth & Reconciliation Métis Workshop took place
during the TRC event on the first day of the event.
At the workshop led by Joseph Pimlot and Kim
Mueller, the Métis National Anthem was played,
followed by opening remarks by Métis Nation of
Alberta President Audrey Poitras. Residential
School sur vivors Angie Crerar and Dennie
Whitford shared their residential school
experiences and the intergenerational impacts.
Fiddler Len Venne and Guitarist Doreen Pruden
played the Red River jig with Kaitlin Poitras
teaching and sharing a few jigging steps where
everyone experienced the rich cultural heritage and
“Métis Pride” in the Spirit of Unity.
“What happened to our people is deplorable. Many have
no voice. Many never had a chance to grow up. Many
died without an identity. For me it was a journey of pain”
- Métis Elder Angie Crerar
“Citizens of the Métis Nation can only hope that one day
this same opportunity wi! be afforded the thousands of
former students of Métis boarding/residential schools who
have been excluded #om the settlement, Canada’s apology
and the mandate of the TRC itself ”
- President Chartier.
Office of the President
April 2014
Message from the President
On March 27-30, 2014, the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission
held its final national event in
Edmonton, Alberta, part of the
traditional territory of the Métis
Nation and of the Treaty Six First
Nations who co-exist in the
territory.
W h i l e t h e T RC o r g a n i z e r s
offered AFN Regional Chief
Alexis the opportunity to
welcome
the
delegates/
participants to the Treaty Six
territory, no such opportunity was
afforded the Métis leadership in
Alberta, nor did the Métis
traditional territory where the
event was taking place receive any
mention by the speakers who all
acknowledged being on Treaty Six
territory.
Be that as it may, the MNA was
provided the opportunity to put
on a workshop which was very
well attended and heard
presentations from President
Poitras and Grande Prairie Local
President and Elder Angie Crerar,
co-chaired by Region 3 Vice-
President Joe Pimlot and RCMP
Constable Kim Mueller.
It is truly unfortunate that I was
not afforded the opportunity, as
in the previous TRC National
Events, to address the plenary
session and explain the situation
facing the vast majority of Métis
who attended residential schools
not on the Settlement Agreement
list and therefore not covered by
C a n a d a ’s a p o l o g y, n o r t h e
mandate of the TRC itself. At the
same time, there are a small
number of Métis who did attend
an Indian residential school which
is covered under the agreement
and we must also be there to give
them our acknowledgement,
encouragement and support.
The TRC Commissioners will
now have the task of working
with everything they have heard
and prepare a final report with
recommendations. Hopefully
that report will make it clear that
the Métis residential/boarding
schools were not included and in
their recommendations sections
urge the federal and provincial
governments and church
organizations to deal in a positive
way with the Métis in the same
manner that the First Nations
were dealt with.
One must not give up hope.
Office of the President
April 2014
Toward a Métis Nation Education Strategy
The Métis National Council held
a Seminar on Métis Education in
Vancouver on March 24 & 25,
where political representatives of
the Governing Members of the
M é t i s Na t i o n a l C o u n c i l ,
education experts and officials
discussed ways to improve Métis
outcomes in education.
The Seminar was organized
around five key objectives:
1 . In c r e a s i n g t h e l e a r n i n g
outcomes of Métis learners;
2. Enhancing and profile the
cultural heritage and history of
the Métis Nation in provincial
educational curricula;
3. Establishing collaborative
shared strategies, expertise, best
practices
to
accelerate
improvements on Métis
educational outcomes;
4.
Enhancing
broader
understanding of the need to
address understanding of Métis
education issues and challenges;
and
5. Establishing a structural
platform for long-term change in
Métis education.
The seminar focused on the need
to d e v e l o p a M é t i s Na t i o n
education strategy that can be
reviewed and adopted by the
MNC General Assembly and
used in the Métis Nation’s
discussions with the federal and
provincial governments under
different processes. The strategy
will focus on all aspects of the
life long education continuum
and will include a special focus
on transitioning Métis students
into the workforce.
One of the processes is the work
being undertaken on education
by the Provinces and National
Ab o r i g i n a l O r g a n i z a t i o n s
through the Aboriginal Affairs
Working Group. Some of that
work is being done with the
Council of Ministers of
Education Canada (CMEC).
Continued on next page
Office of the President
April 2014
Christy Bresette of CMEC
presented on this work and an
upcoming symposium in July
including the MNC that will
address how the education
system can deal with the skills
shortage in Canada.
compounded the problem of
social and economic disparities
including poverty, poor health,
and inadequate housing that
produce lower than avera ge
education and employment levels
for Métis.
In a panel discussion, MNC
Governing
Me m b e r s ’
educational institutes discussed
the key challenges and issues
that their go ver nments are
facing. The key challenges and
issues include: jurisdiction and
funding inequalities, lack of
Métis-specific curriculum in
mainstream education, access
and
integration,
and
accountability and capacity
building. Métis have not shared
equitably in the allocation of
early childhood development
resources that the federal
government has transferred to
the provinces through the
Canada Social Transfer. The
jurisdictional barrier has
Despite these barriers, however,
the Métis Nation is moving
forward. The best practices
include Métis ASETS program
( Ab o r i g i n a l
Skills
and
Employment Training Strategy),
Métis Nation Endowments, and
the establishment of the Métis
Nation educational institutions
such as the Louis Riel Institute
i n Ma n i t o b a , t h e G a b r i e l
Dumont
In s t i t u t e
in
Saskatchewan
and
the
Rupertsland Institute in Alberta.
MNC Policy senior advisors John
Weinstein, David Boisvert and
Marc LeClair presented on how
education and labor market
development will figure in the
l o n g - te r m M é t i s e c o n o m i c
development strategy being
developed under the MEDS
process. “Education is one of
the pillars of the Métis Nation
Economic
Development
S t r a t e g y ” s t a t e d Pr e s i d e n t
C h a r t i e r, a d d i n g , “ w e w i l l
continue to use our relationship
with the federal government
under the Métis Nation Protocol
and our relationship with the
provinces through the Aboriginal
A f f a i r s Wo r k i n g G r o u p t o
advance this process.”
Through the roundtable
discussion, the Governing
Members articulated broad goals
for Métis education that take
into account the link between
educational achievement and
economic potential. Governing
Me m b e r s e x p r e s s e d t h e i r
intention to work more closely
and share experiences to assist in
the development of an education
strategy.
Office of the President
April 2014
MNC Environment Committee Reconvenes in B.C.
Members of the Métis
Nation Environment
Committee met in
British Columbia on
Ma r c h 1 5 & 1 6 t h t o
continue
their
discussions
on
traditional land use and
strategic planning
regarding environment
issues across the Métis
Nation homeland.
The first day began with a
Traditional Land Use Workshop,
where a number guest speakers
presented at the workshop. One
of the highlights of the
presentations
was
the
participation of special guest,
Dr. Kenichi Matsui, University
of Tsukuba (Japan), who spoke
on Traditional Knowledge; guest
speaker, Jean Teillet, Métis
Rights lawyer, who spoke on
e vidence required to pro ve
traditional lands and traditional
land use. Professor Emeritus
Ar thur Ray (UBC), MNBC
Environment Minister Bruce
Dumont, MMF Al Benoit, MNS
He l e n e Jo h n s o n a l s o g a v e
presentations on traditional land
u s e u n d e r t a ke n i n t h e i r
respective province.
On day two the Environment
Committee members discussed a
number of national topics of
concern including; Métis
traditional environmental
knowledge; species at risk; the
Canadian Environmental
Assessment Act; and the work of
the National Energy Board. In t e r n a t i o n a l t o p i c s o f
discussion included Métis
Na t i o n i n v o l v e m e n t i n t h e
United Nation’s Convention on
Biological Diversity; the World
In t e l l e c t u a l
Pr o p e r t y
Organization; Climate Change;
and relationships between the
Métis Nation and international
processes including the United
Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Over the course of the two days
the
MNC
Na t i o n a l
E n v i r o n m e n t
Committee members
exchanged information
on their respective
current areas of
development, best
practices, and potential
areas of focus for the
future, which ultimately
ensures that the entire
Métis perspective is
included in the Métis
Nation environment agenda.
Kenichi
Matsui
Jean
Tei$et
Office of the President
April 2014
MNC Supports the
Canadian Partnership
Against Cancer Initiative
Above (l-­‐r): MP Rob Clarke, MNC President Clément Char=er, CPAC CEO Shelly Jamieson, AFN NC Shawn Atleo, and ITK President Terry Audla
The First Nations, Inuit and
Métis Cancer Control Initiative
launched in Ottawa on March 6,
2014, stems from an Action Plan
which was originally released in
2011,
representing
a
col laborative effor t by the
national
Ab o r i g i n a l
organizations and individuals
working to improve cancer
eradication
among
the
Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
The new initiative is intended to
advance improvements in
prevention, detection and the
continuity of care, in a culturally
r e s p o n s i v e a n d s a f e w a y,
particularly for and with First
Nations, Inuit and Métis cancer
patients focusing on the journey
from cancer diagnosis through
to patient discharge during
c a n ce r c a r e to t h e i r h o m e
community.
T h e Ca n a d i a n Pa r t n e r s h i p
A g a i n s t Ca n ce r ( C PAC ) i s
investing a total of 10.2 million
in the implementation of the
First Nations, Inuit and Métis
Cancer Control Initiative with
nine jurisdictions from
2014-2017.
In h i s o p e n i n g r e m a r k s ,
President Chartier welcomed
the launch of the Canadian
Partnership Against Cancer
initiative, and spoke to the
ongoing health struggles and
chal lenges conf ronting the
Métis Nation. "We recognize
the work that CPAC has been
doing to move this initiatives
for ward and are extremel y
plea sed that the Métis are
included" President Chartier
stated and that "we are
extremely pleased to be part of
it".
Also in attendance at the
meeting were MPs Stella Ambler
and Rob Clarke.
For more information on First
Nation, Inuit and Métis cancer
control, please visit:
www.cancerview.ca
Office of the President
April 2014
The Hon Shelly Glover holds consultation
on 2017, Canada’s 150th Anniversary
O n Ma r c h 1 3 t h Pr e s i d e n t
Chartier
attended
a
consultation in Winnipeg held
by Minister Glover with
Ab o r i g i n a l l e a d e r s a n d
representatives, mainly from
Manitoba, including MMF
President, David Chartrand.
President Chartier stressed that
while Canada will be 150 years
old in 2017 which is an
important milestone for
Canadians, equally important is
the fact that Indigenous peoples
and nations were established in
what is now Canada well before
1867 and whose participation
must be “Canadian Plus”.
He a l s o s t r e s s e d t h a t t h e
province of Manitoba which
entered into Confederation in
1870 through the negotiations
of the Riel government as the
f i r s t p o s t- C o n f e d e r a t i o n
province and that preparations
f o r t h a t 1 5 0th a n n i v e r s a r y
celebration in 2020 should be
incorporated into the 2017
preparations.
President Char tier fur ther
pressed for full Métis youth
engagement and that a special
fund for the engagement of
Aboriginal peoples and nations
should be established. He also
pressed for federal support to
ensure that the national Métis
museum at the Forks is ready
for 2017.
Office of the President
April 2014
Toward a Métis Nation Housing Strategy
The Métis National Council
held a Seminar on Métis
Housing in Vancouver on March
26th.
The objective of the seminar
was to develop a Métis Nation
Housing Strategy, including:
1. Addressing the housing needs
of the Métis population and to
ensure that there is adequate,
suitable and affordable housing
for the Métis population;
2. Increasing the awareness of
Métis housing needs in the
urban and rural areas among
municipal, provincial and federal
stakeholders;
3.
Id e n t i f y i n g b e s t a n d
promising practices in the
provision of social and market
housing initiatives;
4. Increasing capacity of Métis
institutions to address the
housing needs of Métis people;
5. In c r e a s i n g M é t i s h o m e
ownership levels within the
Métis Nation;
6. Establishing a structural
platform for long-term change
in housing provision and
outcomes for Métis; and
7. Developing a strategy to
advance the housing interests of
Métis going forward.
Office of the President
April 2014
Federal Government Releases Parliamentary
Committee Report on Violence Against
Aboriginal Women
Following the release of the
committee’s report the three
Leaders of AFN, ITK and MNC
decided that they must meet to
address the shortcomings of the
report’s recommendations and
invited NWAC to the meeting.
Vice-President Chartrand and
Women of the Métis Nation
President, Melanie Omeniho
attended the meeting on behalf
of the Métis. Following the
meeting, MNC and WMN
issued a joint press release
stating that the “Final Report
fails to address the unique
circumstances of Métis women
and girls and fails to adopt
concrete measures to address
the needs of Métis women and
girls” and that the MNC “is
expressing its’ frustration with
the report”.
Ne v e r t h e l e s s , M N C d i d
acknowledge that some
recommendations were worth
considering,
especially
improvements to the criminal
justice system which lead to
prevention of the violence in the
first place, as well as making the
system more responsive to the
victims of these crimes.
While supporting a National
Public Inquiry, MNC clearly
stated that any such inquiry
must focus “on the real issues
behind missing and murdered
Métis women and girls.”
It was agreed that the parties
would continue meeting to
address these issues.
UPCOMING EVENTS
• Women of the Métis Nation Annual General Assembly
April 26-27
Winnipeg, MB
• MNC General Assembly and Election
May 9-10
Winnipeg, MB
• Aboriginal Affairs Working Group Meeting
May 12-13
Winnipeg, MB
• United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
May 12-23
New York, NY
Office of the President
Office of the President
Métis National Council
#4 - 340 MacLaren Street
Ottawa, ON K2P 0M6
(800) 928-6330
www.metisnation.ca
[email protected]