Metis group wants to meet minister to raise concerns about provincial rival

OTTAWA – British Columbia Metis representatives say they will raise concerns about a rival organization during a meeting this week with officials at Aboriginal Affairs headquarters.

They asked for the meeting after The Canadian Press first reported that a national Metis organization and its provincial affiliates had come under scrutiny for their management practices and financial controls.

Federation president Keith Henry and some of his staff are scheduled to meet Aboriginal Affairs officials on Thursday.

Henry has also written to Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt asking for a meeting that day or the next morning, but a spokesperson in the minister’s office would only say a “representative” would be available to meet.

The B.C. Metis Federation and the Metis Nation British Columbia are the two main aboriginal organizations representing Metis people in the province.

The federation has been highly critical of its provincial rival since questions arose about the Metis Nation British Columbia’s management and finances.