Metis Organizations

File contains a presentation by Pat Harper, representative of Metis Women of Manitoba. The topics she covers include representation, housing, education and training, economic development, family services and culture. Following this is a discussion between Harper and the Commissioners on the topics covered.

File contains a presentation made by Frank Morin for the Protectors of Mother Earth on environmental issues pertaining to Northern Saskatchewan communities and the lack of proper government representation. Also contained are comments and questions from the assembled Commissioners and those of the Commissioner-of-the-Day.

File contains a presentation by Raymond Laliberte, Metis Addictions Council. Raymond discusses his organization which aids all people with addictions regardless of legal status, including Status Indians and Non-Aboriginals. Laliberte discusses the disorganized state of Metis youth, his views on the Canadian Constitution and makes some specific recommendations for facilities to help address some of the social problems afflicting Aboriginal people.

File contains a presentation by Robert Doucette. Doucette discusses conditions for Metis people within the City of Saskatoon, and Saskatchewan generally. Doucette highlights problems of institutional racism, access to education, ignorance of Aboriginal identity and issues in the general population, migration to urban centres, and related issues. Doucette also discusses the need for a Metis land base and the differences in the way the government addresses Metis and Treaty people's issues.

File contains a presentation by Robert Mercredi of the Metis Society of Saskatchewan. Mercredi discusses his organization, and the problems facing his people. He describes the Metis as Canada's forgotten people, and while offering support for the "Canada clause" of the Constitution stresses the need for the Metis to be recognized on an equitable level with their Indian and Inuit brothers and sisters. He bemoans the lack of a land base for the Metis people of Saskatchewan, and the lack of resources neccessary for basic governmental functioning.

File contains an individual presentation by Ron Spencer. Spencer discusses the history of his people and how he thinks Aboriginal people can effectively deal with the government by staying united in the face of outside incursions on traditional lands like Ontario hydro development. Spencer discusses the need to rewrite the Constitution to include Aboriginal peoples and stresses the importance of education.

File contains remarks by Roy Myke, Jim Brady Metis Local Representative. Myke claims that self-governance has to be established from the bottom-up, at the community level. He states that "if the government ever gets serious about self-government, it has got to start at the bottom and not at the top." Following this Commissioners Erasmus and Chartrand have a brief discussion with Myke regarding self-governance.

The file contains a presentation by Sandra Delaronde, President, Metis Women of Manitoba. Delaronde discusses the history of the Metis people, land issues, issues with curricula, the need for rights recognition, social problems, environmental issues, self-governance,and international women's issues. Following the presentation Commissioners Chartrand and Wilson discuss some of the issues raised with Delaronde.

File contains a presentation by Senator Bear of the Metis Senate of Manitoba. Bears brief remarks include a welcome to the Commission to the Metis Homeland, and a welcome to the youth in attendance.

File contains a presentation by Senator Fortunate Guiboche, Metis Senate of Manitoba. Fortunate Guiboche welcomes the Commission to the Metis Homeland, and stresses the importance of this homeland to the Metis people, as well as explaning the significance of the Metis Senate to his people. He then introduces a presentation by Senator Bear.

File contains a presentation by Senator Head of the Metis Senate of Manitoba, followed by remarks by Senator Fortunate Guiboche of the same body. Head discusses the need for a level playing field for Metis people, and Guiboche goes on to make a series of remarks and observations on the importance and role of the Royal Commission, as well as his expectations of it. Following this is a wide-ranging discussion between the Metis Senators and the Commissioners.

File contains remarks by Sharon McCallum, President, La Ronge Metis Women's Chapter. McCallum makes a brief statement seconding the sentiments contained in Mary Wiegers' previous presenation. She then introduces the next presenter, Bernice Hammersmith.

File contains a presentation by Sonny Flett, President of the Fort Chipewyan Metis Local. Flett presents on the concerns of the Metis people of the area, mainly with regard to the impact of industry on the Metis way of life. Flett discusses the negative impact of the Bennett Dam on the Athabasca Delta, polluted water, and a lack of access to education and assistance. Flett also discusses the state of local fisheries and relations with the rest of the Metis Nation of Alberta and the provincial government.

File contains a presentation by Stan Sinclair and Brian Sinclair of the Moose Lake Metis Federation. The Sinclairs discuss how they feel that the Metis' aboriginal rights have been suppressed, that government assistance provided is completely inadequate, and that the Metis have lost many of their cultural traditions. Following the presentation is a discussion between Commissioners Chartrand and Blakeney and the two presenters on some of the issues raised in the presentation.

File contains remarks by Stanley McLeod, Metis Youth of Stanley Mission. Stanley remarks that earlier presenter Winston McKay "covered all the issues that I was going to talk about, so I cut out most of the things." McLeod goes on to highlight that the Metis of the north have very limited resources to operate programs with, and asks for more help with recreation facilities and substance abuse.

The file contains a presentation by Sydney McKay of the Manitoba Metis Federation (Thompson Region), and Freda Lundmark, Metis Women of Manitoba. Lundmark discusses Metis youth, employment, cultural, recreational, education, Elders, housing, child care, child support, gender and employment, curricula, Aboriginal languages (including Michif, Cree, and Saulteaux), jurisdiction, justice, health, and general concerns of Metis women and youth in Northern Manitoba.

File contains a presentation by spokesperson Mario Paradis, and Rene Boudreault, of the Association des Metis et Indiens hors reserves du Quebec Inc. Paradis and Boudreault discuss the status of non-Status, Métis and off-reserve Status Indians in Quebec. They also address the issue of urbanization, and present a history of their organization and its goals. The assembled Commissioners discuss some of the points raised with them, particularly with regard to eastern Métis identity.

The file contains a presentation by the Metis Nation of the Northwest Territories by Gary Bohnet, and Garth Wallbridge. President Gary Bohnet discusses health, education (including post-secondary), economic, housing, trapping, and equity of access to programs for Metis people. Garth Wallbridge discusses the Metis Nation Accord, the failure of the NWT to develop a Metis curriculum despite developing a Dene curriculum, home ownership programs, government assistance for Aboriginal people generally, and the definition of Metis people.

File contains a presentation by the Metis Society of Saskatchewan, Clem Chartier (Consultant). Chartier discusses the historical background to the Metis view of their rights in the area beginning with the visit of the Scrip Commissioner to Ile a La Crosse in 1906. Chartier does so to show the Commission "a cursory overview to hopefully sensitize you to some of the reasons...why we are saying the Commission has to look at Metis issues specifically." In addition to the scrip issue Chartier discusses poverty, resources, and game laws.

File contains a presentation by Thelma Chalifoux, Senator Co-Chair, Metis Nation of Alberta. Chalifoux discusses the institution of the Metis Senate in Alberta. Chalifoux gives an overview of its composition and goals, and relates how it draws its inspiration from the Senate of the Metis provisional government of Red River in 1870.

File contains a presentation by Tony Belcourt, Constitutional Advisor, Metis National Council. Belcourt adds some remarks to the previous presentation by Marc Leclair, spokesperson for the Metis National Council. Belcourt asks the Commission to act on behalf of Metis peoples to let their history be known to Canadians, and to have them included as equals under the designation of Aboriginal peoples. Belcourt points out that often Metis people have been disregarded and Aboriginal used as a blanket term for First Nations and Inuit people in general parlance.

File contains remarks by Winston McKay, Metis Addictions Corporation of Saskatchewan. McKay relates some of his own life story and battle with addictions, as well as the larger struggle of northern Metis communities to cope with the destruction of their traditional economy, and transition into dependency on government. McKay discusses how treatment approaches intended for Status Indian and Non-Aboriginal society do not work for his people, and the lack of adequate funding his organization faces.

File contains a presentation by Yvon Allard, Member of the Manitoba Metis Federation regarding Employment Equity for Aboriginal Peoples and Post-Secondary Institutions. In particular Allard discusses discrimination in employment, and the promotion and protection of Aboriginal cultural identity in educational institutions.

File contains a presentation by Yvon Dumont of the Manitoba Metis Federation regarding the history of the Metis in Canada and the issues they face, particularly the need for a land base, and self-government, for the Metis people. Dumont tells the Commissioners what he expects to come out of the Commission, and what he views as their role in redressing past injustices towards the Metis by Canada.

This file contains a transcript of a portion of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Elizabeth Metis Settlement, Alberta. This portion includes a presentation for the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement by Mike Sigurdur concerning the health system, services and programs of the Metis community.

This file contains a presentation made at a round table discussion for a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Wednesday, June 2, 1993. This presentation was made by Ernie Blais, President of the Manitoba Metis Federation. Blais discusses briefly the mandate of the Federation and touches on the topic of self-government and issues concerning the Metis people of Manitoba.

This file contains a transcript of a part of a portion of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Prince George, British Columbia. This part includes a presentation of the Nechako Fraser Junction Metis Association by Jim Pavich concerning National and Provincial concerns of the Metis community. Questions from the assembled Commissioners follow.

File contains a presentation on behalf of the Metis Association of the Northwest Territories by Gordon Lennie, Vice-President. Lennie, presenting on behalf of President Gary Bohnet, raises concerns with underrepresentation of Metis peoples in the first round of Royal Commission sittings, as well as Commission composition and funding issues. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss the issues raised with Lennie.

The file contains a presentation on behalf of the Shuswap Okanagan Metis Association by Greg Mazur and Tim Low. Mazur, Vice-President of the Shuswap Okanagan Metis Organization, discusses the composition of his organization which represents approximately 650 Metis citizens as part of the larger Pacific Metis Federation. Mazur discusses the definition of Metis. Tim Low, Director of the SOMA, delivers a brief history of the Metis Nation.

File contains a presentation by President Clem Paul of the Yellowknife Métis Council. He discusses problems faced by the Northwest Territories Métis generally, and the Yellowknife Métis specifically. He argues that the government has created problems by funding the Dene organizations but not the Métis councils. Paul also discusses rights issues. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with Paul.

File contains a presentation by Jean Allard (in English). Allard discusses colonization and the suppression of Aboriginal peoples, segregation, his problems with the concept of self-government, and the need for fiscal self-sufficiency and economic developments for Aboriginal (specifically Metis) peoples. Following the presentation is a discussion with the Commissioners regarding his views on these issues.

File contains opening remarks by Alfred Genaille of Chelan, Saskatchewan. Genaille discusses his two hopes for the Commission which are the return of Metis hunting rights, and a land base for the Metis people.

File contains opening remarks by Senator Edward Head. Head discusses his Metis origins and gives an overview of his family's story from the time it left St. Norbert, Manitoba, to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, back to northern Manitoba and his home community of Granville Lake.

File contains opening remarks by Vital Morin of Ile A La Crosse, Saskatchewan. Morin discusses his own life including a stint in World War 2, and his actions in helping to organize the Metis Society of Saskatchewan, how the Metis were overlooked by government, hunting rights, and his hope that the Commission will lead to concrete action on behalf of Metis people.

The file contains a Workshop Report for the Metis Council of Women by Joey Hamelin. Hamelin discusses the need for empowerment, the need to educate "our communities, ourselves, towards the acceptance of lesbian and gay people," the need for increased female leadership in communities, the need for networking, sharing, and a national strategy to tackle the suicide issue. Chairperson Hodgson then makes some announcements and pronounces the day's session at a close.

Saskatchewan's first Northern Municipal Council election, and the controversy regarding jurisdictional concerns voiced by the Executive of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians (FSIN).

Includes Saskatoon City Council minutes from a meeting on Monday, June 11, 1984 regarding a request by Bruce Sanderson of the Saskatchewan Association of Friendship Centres that City Council respond to a tentative proposal to integrate Aboriginal people in Urban Communities. The Council moves that the letter be received and referred to the Planning and Development Committee.

Images of Saskatchewan Metis leaders' meeting on March 30, 1976.

Includes Saskatoon City Council minutes from a meeting on Monday, August 31, 1981 regarding a letter of thanks to City Council from the Saskatoon Indian Metis Friendship Centre for receiving a tax rebate.

Looks at funding problems for the 2008 Métis Nation-Saskatchewan election. Article located by scrolling page 7 and 9.

Report by the Saskatchewan Provincial Auditor determining whether money paid to MACSI was used appropriately.

Outlines current state of affairs, historical background and summary of the history of Métis lands.

Educational Psychology and Special Education Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Saskatchewan, 2011.

Law Thesis (LL.M.)--University of Ottawa, 2013.

Thomas Major was one of the Metis involved in the early Metis organizations of the province.

Discusses the new role the Gabriel Dumont Institute will take over due to the dissolved Métis Employment and Training Saskatchewan (METSI) Article located by scrolling to page 18.

Native Studies Thesis (M.A.)--University of Alberta, 2018.

Looks at the Saskatchewan Roughriders winning the Grey Cup, Robert Doucette re-elected as president of the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, residential school victims receiving financial payment and the SaskParty winning the provincial election. Article located on page 1 and then scrolling to page 3..

Evaluation of Dr. Sebastien Malette and Guilliaume Marcotte's article and testimony regarding Marie-Louise Riel being Louis Riel's aunt. The two were expert witnesses in two courts cases regarding the claim of a historical Métis community in eastern Canada.