The Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) is asking its members to ratify a constitution, a move that would form an official partnership with the Canadian government and allow the MNA to govern according to its own rules, laws and traditions. Opponents, however, say this partnership would be a blanket agreement that hurts the rights of individual Métis communities across the province.
The ratification, the largest vote for an aboriginal nation in Canadian history, would establish the MNA as a legitimate government in Canada, a move that has been a long time coming, according to Métis lawyer Jason Madden.
“It has been a long struggle for the Métis to be recognized as a distinct indigenous people with their own inherent right to self-government and their rights equal to those of First Nations within the prairies,” Madden said.
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Madden is also legal adviser to the MNA. He said in 2019 self-government agreements were signed by Métis governments in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.
“These agreements really recognized Métis for the first time as a distinct, rights-bearing people with their own right to self-government,” Madden said.
“Part of the actual implementation of that self-government is that the Métis themselves adopt a constitution, and that’s how they will govern themselves. It sets out clear rights and rules for their own citizens within their government, sets out a legislative branch, and how they will be represented at the local, regional and provincial level.”
If the vote passes, MNA President Audrey Poitras said it will give them the authority to govern in a way that meets the unique needs of their people.
Poitras gave housing programs as an example. She said lower-income people in Métis communities may be paying rent equivalent to a mortgage payment but can’t afford a down payment, which they love about the property ladder.
“We worked out a housing agreement where we will be able to support our people if they qualify for a mortgage with the down payment assistance so they can own their own home instead of renting from someone else,” Poitras said.
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Poitras said they are unable to set up some programs due to criteria imposed by the federal government, and their jurisdiction is limited due to their current status under the Alberta Societies Act.
“Currently the MNA is stuck in the Provincial Associations Act. They had to have a legal structure and use Alberta provincial government legislation to give them legal standing and authority,” said Madden.
“But we’ve always known it was an uneasy fit and is not and never was designed for indigenous self-government.”
Another change that would come with the new constitution is the ability to incorporate Métis customs and traditions into the legal system.
“Our citizens came up with the idea of creating what we call a Métis legal council: people chosen from our communities to deal with … people (who) are struggling to do the right thing.”
Other changes would come in the areas of health, language, education, training and economic development.
“The programs that have been designed do not meet the needs of our community. There may be a program that some of our people who live in a big city can fit into, but (for) some of our people in the northern communities, the small rural communities, they have to be designed (differently),” Poitras said. said. .
The MNA is trying to ratify the constitution because it feels like the federal government is imposing rules that don’t fit Alberta’s unique Métis communities. However, a group of nine Métis communities say the MNA is doing just that to the province’s more rural and remote Métis groups.
Fort MacKay Métis Nation President Ron Quintal said Métis communities across Alberta all have different needs.
“Communities that have been here since the beginning of time are standing up and saying, ‘We’re not going to let some organization based in Edmonton that does very little for its members outside of Edmonton dictate what our rights and our limitations are,” he said.
Quintal said the ratification vote was a power grab by an illegal institution.
“The current constitution, especially in chapter two, takes away all authority from Métis communities, Métis settlements and card carrying or not carrying Métis members.
“The MNA is essentially saying that they ultimately represent those Métis individuals or Métis communities. So our challenge is not necessarily with the MNA, more so with the Government of Canada, because we believe that going down this path will open them up to liability, to court challenges.”
Quintal wants the federal government to step up and make sure that individual Métis communities are able to seek self-government if they so choose.
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“What we are looking for from the Prime Minister and (Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller) is reassurances and verification that legislation of the MNA constitution will have limitations built into it so that Métis communities and settlements have their own ability to self-identify and self- represent,” Quintal said.
If not, the MNA should prepare for legal battles, he said.
“Instead of fighting it in court, I can use those dollars to build houses and education programs for my people,” he said.
“But the reality from our perspective is again, this is a fight we are prepared to fight, because it means everything to our community to be able to represent our own rights.”
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Both leaders said MNA citizens should vote as they want.
“If this vote passes now, Canada really needs to roll up their sleeves and prepare to consult with the Métis people and come to Alberta,” Quintal said.
“Consultation is going to be a key factor in this as an outcome. Our hope is that Canada is in no rush to introduce this constitution.”
The MNA has done his consultation, Poitras said.
“We went three rounds with our constitution in our communities before we ever got to the point where it was our citizens who said, ‘no, put it to a vote,'” she said.
“So I just encourage all people to come out and vote.”
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The MNA’s constitution can be read in its entirety online. MNA citizens aged 16 and over can vote online or in person until November 30. More details about voting can be found on MNA’s website.
