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Home  Community President's Message
President's Message
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President's Message - November 13, 2009 |
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There have been many times and many instances over the past several years where our people have heard the words of Louis Riel, who, on July 4, 1885, stated, “My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.”
His message has, in fact, turned out to be very prophetic. As we look around the Metis Nation Homeland, we see celebrations of our culture popping up in every corner and at all levels. There are the local and regional celebrations that laid the groundwork, like Turtle Mountain and St. Laurent, and there are those very active locals like Shell River and St. Norbert, who are raising the bar higher than ever before.
This Metis cultural renaissance has been carried by our young people, and because of that, the strength of the Metis culture will only continue to grow stronger and achieve a deeper sense of pride in every one of our Metis citizens. When the young steppers from St. Ambroise performed for our Metis veterans, Canadian dignitaries and French dignitaries this Remembrance Day, they represented our entire nation. They will also never forget that moment in time and will be the ones who pass on the cultural knowledge to the next generations.
Next year marks the 125th anniversary of the Northwest Resistance and the Battle of Batoche. This national remembrance is one of the cornerstones of the rich and vibrant culture of our people. It is also a testament to the will of the people who fought and died for the future of the Metis Nation. Every time we hear the Red River Jig or see our young people perform, we should be thankful for our past leaders who were willing to die so that the Metis Nation could survive.
In closing, I want to thank all of our Elders who have carried the soul of the nation in their hearts and who have passed on this knowledge to the next generation. It is they who have saved our heritage, and we must always be thankful for this – without it, there truly would have been a cultural genocide.
So when we are remembering those who have recently left us, let’s remember those gifts they have left us. And when we celebrate the arrival of a new Metis citizen, let’s remember the duty we have to instill the Metis pride that was given to us.
Believe in yourself – believe in Metis!
Meeqwetch. |
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President's Message - October 6, 2009 |
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Nothing means more to you or I than our families. Our children and grandchildren mean the world to each and every one of us who are lucky enough to be so blessed.
The Metis Nation is built on family and community. It is no coincidence that in our gatherings and assemblies, we seek out people who are connected to us through our genealogies. Our long-lost cousins seek us out and we talk about our grandfathers and grandmothers; we see the similarities in the small things we talk about; we hear the words that were told to us by our parents every day.
When we talk about the Metis Nation or the Manitoba Metis Community, these are the things that resonate for each of us. We feel like we belong. We know that there is a wide-reaching family that will protect us and watch our backs.
Since the days of Cuthbert Grant and the cries of “la nouvelle Nation”, we have grown into our identity through the interconnection of our families. And now, in the 21st century, the Supreme Court of Canada also recognizes the Manitoba Metis Community.
It is sad to say that the province does not and will not recognize our Nation and our Community. The political unwillingness to do the “right thing” and to follow the laws of Canada is evident in practically everything Manitoba is doing these days with respect to our Metis Rights.
Manitoba has the Duty to Consult the Metis Nation. What they are doing is as little as possible, while hiding behind flawed legal advice from the Department of Justice, who have been wrong every time on Metis Rights in the past few years.
As the Metis Government in Manitoba, the Manitoba Metis Federation is democratically elected by you, the Metis Citizens. By disrespecting our Metis Government, the province is disrespecting you, the Metis Citizens.
When the province or Manitoba Hydro or any other Crown organization or department talks to individuals or mayors or municipal entities, they are doing an end-run around all of us. This is what Manitoba calls “consultation.” What they are really doing is suppressing and denying our Metis Rights.
As a Nation and as the Manitoba Metis Community, we must stand guard on these attempts to deny and belittle our Metis Rights. This is one of the times when we must all protect each other because in this case, all we have is each other. No one else will fight for us – we must do it ourselves.
So, when the provincial government, Manitoba Hydro, the Department of Conservation or anyone else tries to “consult” you, please contact your local chair, your regional office or the MMF Home Office. As per the direction given by the 2007 MMF AGA Resolution #8 passed by our delegates, we will all work together to ensure that all our Rights are protected.
Please join with me as we remember the members of our family who are no longer with us. We all mourn when someone leaves us, just as we all celebrate when a new Metis Citizen joins the Metis Nation. And let’s remember the sacrifices made by our Metis Veterans and Peacekeepers.
Until next time, believe in yourself – believe in Metis!
Meeqwetch.
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President's Message - Sept. 18, 2009 |
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Although summer is “officially” over, the warm weather continues as September passes by. Duck hunters wait for the weather to cool a little to bring the bigger birds from up north. Deer and elk are still deep in the bush but will start to move when the temperatures begin to move downward.
As usual, I have the opportunity to reflect on a very successful annual general assembly. There are so many people to send out my appreciation to – all of our Elders, the MMF staff, your Ministers, volunteers and entertainers. I think most of all, I want to thank you, the Metis citizens who took the opportunity to participate in Metis democracy. Not only was our assembly a time to reconnect with our friends and family from across our province, but it was also the time to put our voices together to send a message.
And the message was that the Metis Nation will not be ignored. When the Province of Manitoba breaks the law by ignoring Canada’s Constitution, it is our responsibility to remind them that everyone has to follow the law – even a provincial government.
Metis hunters continue to be harassed and abused by the province’s conservation officers. There has been no communication from the provincial government even though the courts declared Metis have harvesting rights in Manitoba back in January.
I definitely do not condone violence. But it is important for you to know that it is the conservation officers who are breaking the law, not our Metis who are hunting, fishing and harvesting. If you are a Metis hunter, have a Metis Harvester Identification Card and are practicing your harvesting rights in line with our Metis Laws of the Harvest, you are completely within your rights to hunt and fish and harvest.
It seems that no one has told the Government of Manitoba that the war on the Metis is over. We won in 1982 when the Constitution Act recognized Metis with Aboriginal rights. We won in 2003 when the Supreme Court recognized that we have hunting rights in the Powley Decision. And we won in Manitoba this January when the provincial court declared the Metis have these rights in the Goodon Decision.
The war is over. But Manitoba keeps on fighting us.
It is still time for us to stay focused and unified in this battle for our rights. Believe in yourself – believe in Metis.
To all of our Elders and our Metis Veterans, I offer my thanks for all you have done to build our nation. To our families who have lost a loved one, please accept my sincere condolences. To our families who welcomed a new life, our best wishes and good luck as you take on this great responsibility.
To my friend and Vice-President Ron Chartrand of the Winnipeg Region, it is with heartfelt condolences I send my prayers to you and your family for the loss of your wife, Ferne, on behalf of the Board of Directors and the Metis Nation.
Meeqwetch. |
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