Metis nations ask Ottawa to negotiate directly with them, not national body

EDMONTON – Three provincial Metis nations are asking the federal government to negotiate directly with them on issues of self-government and not through their national representative body.

The Metis Nation of Alberta, the Metis Nation of Ontario and Saskatchewan’s Metis Nation met this week in Edmonton and passed a resolution calling for more transparency and accountability from Metis National Council.

The resolution says the three nations will work through the national council until after the federal government releases its 2020 budget, but then they want to see changes.

Presidents of the three nations signed a document saying the development of a federal Metis claims policy should occur between their respective governments and Ottawa, and that they will establish a working group to discuss possible reforms to the national council or creation of a new structure.

Last year the three nations signed self-government agreements with Ottawa that recognize their jurisdiction.

The three nations met with federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett in Edmonton to discuss their resolution.

Bennett’s office says she was pleased with Friday’s meeting and looks forward to them working together, including on the implementation of the Metis Government Recognition and Self-Government Agreements signed in June.