MNC: Prime Minister Meets with National Aboriginal Leaders to Begin Reconciliation
Press Release
December 17, 2015
In a historic three hour meeting in the Aboriginal Room in Parliament, National Aboriginal Leaders responded to the Prime Minister’s request to identify implementation plans to ensure tangible outcomes related to the Liberals’ campaign commitments.
“The Prime Minister proved he is serious about reconciliation, “said MNC President Chartier. “And the presence of Cabinet Ministers holding key posts like Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Justice, Health, and Employment and Training demonstrated his belief in a whole-of-government approach to achieve it.”
President Chartier and Vice-President Chartrand outlined effective means for the roll-out of the Prime Minister’s campaign commitments to the Métis Nation on economic development, skills and development, and scholarships and bursaries.
In the discussion of the process going forward, President Chartier emphasized to the Prime Minister the need for a distinctions-based, nation-to-nation bilateral process between the federal government and the Métis Nation. His call was echoed by the First Nations and Inuit leaders. In an Assembly of First Nations news release earlier today, National Chief Bellegarde stated:
“It was clear at today’s meeting that working nation-to-nation means that First Nations, the Metis Nation and Inuit peoples each need their own approach with the federal Crown. We are distinct peoples with our own unique rights, approaches and priorities. We will stand with our Indigenous brothers and sisters in calling for action and engagement but the ongoing relationship must be bilateral, not multilateral.”
MNC Vice-President/MMF President Chartrand concluded the MNC presentation by praising the Prime Minister for acting on his campaign commitment to immediately establish a negotiations process between Canada and the Manitoba Métis Federation in order to settle the outstanding land claim of the Manitoba Métis community, as recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada in Manitoba Métis Federation v. Canada.
“We are pleased with progress toward securing a Cabinet mandate for the negotiation and settlement of a MMF land claim agreement,” said Chartrand. “On September 28, 2013, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau promised to negotiate in good faith, nation to nation, a fair and equitable resolution of the historic injustice faced by our people and, as Prime Minister, he is proving to be true to his word.”
In a further demonstration of the government’s commitment to fulfill its campaign promises, Minister of Indigenous Affairs Carolyn Bennett, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, and Minister of Status of Women Patty Hajdu met with the National Aboriginal Leaders in the afternoon to begin the planning of the design of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Women of the Métis Nation President Melanie Omeniho joined President Chartier, Vice-President Chartrand and MNBC President Dumont in these discussions.
“The MNC’s Governing Members and the Women of the Métis Nation have a lot of experience and expertise in dealing with preventive measures that can be effective in the fight against this national tragedy,” said President Chartier. ‘I am hopeful and confident that they will play a meaningful role in the inquiry.”
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