The Journey of Reconciliation - Métis National Council · April 2014 Office of the President The Journey of Reconciliation Continued on next page Métis National Council President

April 2014

Office of the President

The Journey of Reconciliation

Continued on next page

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

April 2014

Office of the President

Continued on next page

Highlights of the event:

Lighting of the Sacred Fire

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.

Sharing Circles

Sharing Circles enabled Sur vivors, their family 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 s choo l s . More specifically, it’s designed to: educate Canadians (young Aboriginal, non-Abor ig ina l , and ne w Canadians) ; chal lenge stereotypes; and foster inquir y, dia logue and action.

4Rs Young Leaders Youth Summit

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.

Youth Panel & Student Tribute to Survivors

Five youth panelists reflected on the impacts of residential schools and their hopes for the future.

April 2014

Office of the President

“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.

“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

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 res ident ia l 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.

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

Office of the President

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.

Whi le the TRC organ izer s offered AFN Regional Chief A lex i s the oppor tun i ty to we lcome the de legates /participants to the Treaty Six territory, no such opportunity was afforded the Métis leadership in Alber ta , nor d id the Mét is 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 we l l a t tended 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 Canada ’s apo logy, nor the 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 go ver nments 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.

April 2014

April 2014

Office of the President

Toward a Métis Nation Education Strategy

Continued on next page

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 Mét i s Nat iona l Counc i l , education experts and officials discussed ways to improve Métis outcomes in education.

The Seminar was organized around five key objectives:

1 . Increas ing the learning 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 pract ices to acce le ra te impro vements on Mét i s educational outcomes;4 . Enhanc ing broader understanding of the need to address understanding of Métis education issues and challenges; and5. Establishing a structural platform for long-term change in Métis education.

The seminar focused on the need to develop a Métis Nation 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 Abor ig ina l Organ izat ions through the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group. Some of that work is being done with the Counc i l o f Min i s te r s o f Education Canada (CMEC) .

April 2014

Office of the President

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.

In a panel discussion, MNC Go ver n ing Members ’ educational institutes discussed the key challenges and issues that their governments are facing. The key challenges and issues include: jurisdiction and funding inequalities, lack of Métis-specific curriculum in mainstream education, access and integra t ion , and accountability and capacity building. Métis have not shared equitably in the allocation of early childhood development re sources that the federa l government has transferred to the prov inces through the Canada Social Transfer. The ju r i sd ic t iona l bar r ie r ha s

compounded the problem of social and economic disparities including poverty, poor health, and inadequate housing that produce lower than average education and employment levels for Métis.

Despite these barriers, however, the Métis Nation is moving forward. The best practices include Métis ASETS program (Abor ig ina l Sk i l l s and Employment Training Strategy), Métis Nation Endowments, and the establishment of the Métis Nation educational institutions such as the Louis Riel Institute in Mani toba , the Gabr ie l Dumont Ins t i tute in Sa skatche wan 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

long - term Métis economic development strategy being developed under the MEDS process. “Education is one of the pillars of the Métis Nation Economic De ve lopment St rategy” s ta ted Pres ident Char t ie r, add ing , “we wi 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 Af fa i r s Working Group to advance this process.”

Through the roundtab le d i scuss ion , the Go ver n ing Members articulated broad goals for Métis education that take into account the link between educational achievement and economic potential. Governing Members expres sed the i r intention to work more closely and share experiences to assist in the development of an education strategy.

April 2014

Office of the President

MNC Environment Committee Reconvenes in B.C.Members of the Métis Nation Environment Committee met in British Columbia on March 1 5 & 16 th to cont inue the i r d i scuss ions on traditional land use and s t ra teg ic p l ann ing 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 o f the h igh l i ghts o f the presentat ions wa s the participation of special guest, Dr. Kenichi Matsui, University of Tsukuba (Japan), who spoke on Traditional Knowledge; guest speaker, Jean Teil let, Métis Rights lawyer, who spoke on evidence required to prove traditional lands and traditional land use. Professor Emeritus Arthur Ray (UBC ) , MNBC Environment Minister Bruce Dumont, MMF Al Benoit, MNS Helene Johnson a l so ga ve presentations on traditional land use under taken in the i r respective province.

On day two the Environment Committee members discussed a number of national topics of concer n inc lud ing ; Mét i s t rad i t iona l env i ronmenta l knowledge; species at risk; the Canad ian Env i ronmenta l Assessment Act; and the work of the National Energy Board.  Inter nat iona l top ics o f d i scuss ion inc luded Mét i s Nation involvement in the United Nation’s Convention on Biological Diversity; the World Inte l l ec tua l Proper ty 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 Nat iona l

E n v i r o n m e n t Committee members exchanged information on the i r re spect ive cur rent a rea s o f de ve lopment , bes t 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

April 2014

Office of the President

MNC Supports the Canadian Partnership

Against Cancer Initiative

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 , r epresent ing a col laborative effort by the nat iona l Abor ig ina l organizations and individuals working to improve cancer e rad icat ion among the Aboriginal peoples in Canada. The new initiative is intended to advance impro vements in prevention, detection and the continuity of care, in a culturally re spons ive and safe way, particularly for and with First Nations, Inuit and Métis cancer patients focusing on the journey

from cancer diagnosis through to patient discharge during cancer care to their home community.

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC ) i s investing a total of 10.2 million in the implementation of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Cancer Control Initiative with n ine ju r i sd ic t ions f rom 2014-2017.

In h i s open ing remarks , President Chartier welcomed the launch of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer initiative, and spoke to the ongoing health struggles and

chal lenges confronting the Métis Nation. "We recognize the work that CPAC has been doing to move this initiatives for ward and are extremely pleased that the Métis are included" President Chartier s ta ted and that "we a re extremely pleased to be part of it".

A l so in a t tendance a t 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

Above  (l-­‐r):  MP  Rob  Clarke,  MNC  President  Clément  Char=er,  CPAC  CEO  Shelly  Jamieson,  AFN  NC  Shawn  Atleo,  and  ITK  President  Terry  Audla

April 2014

Office of the President

The Hon Shelly Glover holds consultation on 2017, Canada’s 150th Anniversary

On March 1 3 th Pres ident Char t ie r a t tended a consultation in Winnipeg held by Min i s te r Glo ver w i th Abor ig ina l l eaders and representatives, mainly from Manitoba, including MMF President, David Chartrand.

President Chartier stressed that while Canada will be 150 years o ld in 2017 which i s an impor tant mi le s tone 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 so s t res sed that the province of Manitoba which entered into Confederation in 1870 through the negotiations of the Riel government as the f i r s t post-Confederat ion province and that preparations for that 1 50 th anniversar y

celebration in 2020 should be incorporated into the 2017 preparations.

President Chartier further 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.

April 2014

Office of the President

Toward a Métis Nation Housing Strategy

The Métis National Council he ld a Seminar on Mét i s 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 . Ident i fy ing bes t and 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. Increasing Métis home ownership levels within the Métis Nation;

6. Establishing a structural platform for long-term change in hous ing pro v i s ion and outcomes for Métis; and

7. Developing a strategy to advance the housing interests of Métis going forward.

April 2014

Office of the President

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

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 meet ing , 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 ver the le s s , MNC d id acknowledge that some recommendations were worth cons ider ing , e spec ia l l y 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.

Federal Government Releases Parliamentary Committee Report on Violence Against

Aboriginal Women

Office of the President

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