Metis tackle two major issues at assembly

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The definition of what is a Metis person and the possibility of ballot box elections for the Metis National Council (MNC) were two red-hot topics being discussed at the MNC annual general assembly in Edmonton on Sept. 27 and 28.

Hundreds of Metis people from across the province and from B.C., Saskatchewan and Ontario gathered for the two-day assembly.

According to Gerald Morin, president of the Metis National Council, the definition of who is a Metis has been debated in the community for many years.

Through a unanimous decision on Sept. 28, the people agreed to define a Metis person using four main components: the person has to self-identify as Metis; the person has to be of Metis Nation ancestry; a Metis person is distinct from other Aboriginal people; and finally is accepted by the Metis Nation as a Metis.

"We had a unanimous resolution adopting the definition, so that was definitely significant. I don't think that this term is set in stone yet and I imagine that it may come up for debate in future years, in future assemblies. The important thing is that we now have a definition. We never had one before, and we could never get a consensus in our communities as to whom constituted as a Metis," Morin said.

The Metis National Council also decided to elect its leaders by a national ballot box elections. Currently the national president is elected by a delegate system.

Morin said that the Metis nation is going give its best effort to ensure that the people have the national ballot box system so that every citizen of the nation gets the opportunity to elect their national president.

"That is what the resolution says and it is something I strongly support and I'm certainly going to do whatever I can within my power to ensure that this is reality.

"Now we have to go to work to ensure that we can pull this off and that the resources are in place. So that we can fully implement this resolution, but I suppose discussions will go on in the future especially as part of the issue of Metis governance," said Morin.

According to Morin, the annual general assembly was a success.

"We did all our business there, our audits, the president's report, reports from the Metis Nation's cabinets, and resolutions and the other decisions that took place. It was just a magnificent assembly, he said.

On the Friday evening, 20 Metis veterans were presented with the Queen's Golden Jubilee medals. The Governor General of Canada gave the medals to the Metis Nation commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Queen's reign. The council decided to honor the veterans with the medals. The veterans were from Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The banquet room was filled to capacity for the procession, flag raising, dinner, speeches, presentations and dance.

"I think this was definitely the highlight of the assembly. The evening went really, really well. The veterans and their families, and everyone who was gathered there, the leadership and so on, just had a wonderful evening. I think for the Metis veterans, this is the most recognition that they've ever received for their role in the war. So it was not only commemorating the 20 veterans who were there, but also to commemorate the Metis people who were involved in war time efforts and peacekeeping missions. The medals they got were very prestigious," he said.