MMF commends Minister Hajdu on federal procurement review

February 29, 2024

Winnipeg, MB, in the National Homeland of the Red River Métis - Today, the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), the National Government of the Red River Métis, commends Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu for initiating a review of procurement policies that determine who can claim to be Indigenous, and by what standards they are measured, when seeking contracts with the federal government.

"We know that there are non-Indigenous companies and business owners out there that are claiming to be us," said David Chartrand, President of the MMF. "As Canada has set a mandatory minimum of five per cent Indigenous procurement by federal departments, these identity thieves are taking away opportunities from our Red River Métis businesses."

As the federal government looks to improve its procurement policies, the MMF is ready to work with them, supported by our leading business directory and gold standard citizenship verification practice.

"As the National Government of the Red River Métis, we know we are best positioned to confirm who our Red River Métis business owners are," said President Chartrand. "The MMF's business directory currently has over 600 verified and authenticated Red River Métis businesses registered, and we work with them to ensure that we are authentically represented at the business ownership level."

Our MMF affiliate, the Louis Riel Capital Corporation (LRCC), administers our business directory and confirms Red River Métis majority ownership and control. Further, LRCC works with the MMF's Central Registry Office to authenticate Red River Métis citizenship.

"As part of our Nation's right to self-determination, it is the responsibility of the Red River Métis government to confirm who our business owners are," said President Chartrand. "We are ready to work with Canada to ensure contracts are awarded to confirmed Red River Métis businesses, which will remove some of the challenges and risks Canada faces in achieving Indigenous participation in the federal procurement process. Like our business owners, our Red River Métis government is deeply invested in ensuring that our people are authentically represented. If our business owners succeed, our Nation succeeds - and those who seek to profit by misrepresentation are left out, exactly where they belong."

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For more information, media may contact:
Kat Patenaude
Media Relations Advisor
Manitoba Métis Federation
204-801-7710
Kat.Patenaude@mmf.mb.ca

Believe in Yourself; Believe in Métis.

The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) is the democratically elected National Government of the Red River Métis, also known as the Manitoba Métis. The Red River Métis are a distinct Indigenous Nation and People and Canada's Negotiating Partners in Confederation and the Founders of the Province of Manitoba.

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