Debate continues

Page 5

Dear Editor:

Although there was never an historical identifiable group as the Metis in Eastern Canada and the word is now used for political purposes in those regions, the question of who is a Metis in Canada is a debate that is long overdue. Historically, the Metis of yesteryear were only self-identified and recognized here in Western Canada and the northwestern states. I understand now that to get recognition of so-called Metis rights (and dollars) the Metis population numbers have to be increased and that the organizations in the past and today allow virtually anyone to be a Metis.

Gabriel Dumont must be rolling in his grave today considering we have people with names that have no connection to the historical Metis. You can meet people everyday who are of Eastern European stock, German ancestry, etc., going around claiming to be Metis. They even have cards to prove it!

Let's get real here. A segment of the Metis people today is identifying as Metis or as Aboriginal for political and/or economic purposes only: nothing more. The cultural integrity of Indian-French ancestry is of little consequence to these people. This doesn't include, of course, the true Metis people in communities of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

The true Metis people have to be careful at this point in time because if the Metis don't watch it, the meaning of what it is to be Metis will be defined, highjacked, and appropriated by spurious people claiming ties to a history and people that are not of their own.

Craig K. Fontaine

Sagkeeng First Nation