MAA membership criteria questioned

Page 7

Dear Editor:

What is the criteria for membership in the Metis Association of Alberta? I had the opportunity to attend the Annual Assembly of the Metis Association of Alberta on the weekend of March 14 and 15, 1987. This specific issue was brought to light on the first day of the assembly.

An individual had her membership challenged by Local #84. Once this happens the member may choose to go to the executive of the MAA with her complaints. The executive told her at that time that she had to appeal the decision to challenge her membership in writing to the Zone 3 Regional Council. She was also informed that they were meeting on Saturday, March 21, 1987 and her membership application would be reviewed at that time.

This does not constitute membership. This individual does not hold a membership in the MAA or any Local until the Zone 3 Regional Council meets to discuss the issue and approves the application. What this means, at an assembly, is that legally, the individual cannot vote on any resolution presented at the assembly.

This person choose to vote on several resolutions. After observing this, the director of Zone 3, called "point of order" and made reference to the fact that there was an individual voting on resolutions who was not "a member of the association in good standing."

The reasoning behind this being, that none of the resolutions passed up to that point wer done so legally, if a non-member was allowed to vote at these proceedings. The assembly's chairman allowed this issue to be turned into a strictly personal free-for-all.

Friends of the non-member then proceeded to go to the floor and in an attempt to right the so-called wrong against her started to defame other persons in the association, specifically members of Zone 3. These actions were also allowed to continue.

After this one-sided name calling continued for several minutes the chairman of the assembly asked the members of the association attending this assembly to decide if in fact this person was a member.

According to the by-laws of the Metis Association of Alberta under Article V, sub-section (5) and (5A): (5) All applications for membership shall be in written form approved by the Board of Directors, and shall be submitted to a Local in which a person resides. Upon approval by the Local, and upon payment of the prescribed membership fee, the applicants shall become members of the Metis Association.

(6) Any person denied membership, or wishes to challenge an aplicant's right to membership in the Association, may appeal in writing to the Regional Council and his/her zone. A person may further appeal in writing to the Board of Directors of the Metis Association. The decision of the Board shall be final.

This series of events may seem inconsequential however, it will set a precedent. Until the Metis Association of Alberta decides on a definite membership criteria how can we expect to ever become a nation.

Theresa Arseneau

Local #14

Calgary, AB