What Laws Recognize the Collective Rights of the Metis?

What Laws

Recognize

the Collective

Rights of the

Métis?

Who are the Métis?

The Métis, who are

descendants of the Voyageurs

and First Nations women, are

one of Canada’s Aboriginal

peoples under section 35 of

Canada’s Constitution.

What Laws Recognize the Collective Rights of the Métis?

Who are the Métis?

As an Aboriginal people of

Canada, the Métis consider

rights to land, and rights to use

the land in traditional ways, as

inherent rights (rights they

have because they are First

Peoples)


Timeline of Métis Events

1869-1870

Red River Resistance

the sequence of events related to the 1869 establishment of a provisional government by the Métis leader Louis Riel and his followers at the Red River Colony, in what is now the Canadian province of Manitoba.

Resulted in the Manitoba Act



1869-1870

The Manitoba Act:

Established Manitoba as bilingual (education rights for Catholics & Protestants)

Provided for Métis land rights (receive more than 500 000 hectares + established farms)



1875-1879

Canada’s government

issued scrip to the Métis,

instead of establishing Métis

land in Manitoba.



1875-1879

Métis choice: accept scrip or

become “Treaty Indians”

According to Canadian

Government, Métis did not

have the same rights to land,

so did not require reserves.



The problem with scrip

Although scrip could be exchanged

for land, the Métis found it difficult

to establish a large tract of land

where they could live together.

Many sold their scrip and moved

west



1885 Northwest Resistance

Sought to protect Métis lands

in what is now Saskatchewan

Métis felt they were asserting their

rights

Canadian Government saw it as an

attempt to overthrow government

authorityWhat Laws Recognize the Collective Rights of the Métis?



Also led by Louis Riel

Ended in a military conflict

at Batoche




Riel was tried and hung for treason

Many Anglophones agreed with the sentence

Most Francophones opposed it



1896-1910

Métis settle near what is today St. Paul, Alberta

Land was provided by the Catholic Church

Métis did not have land titles though, and had to leave when settlement was closed



1938

Alberta government passed the Métis Population Betterment Act

Established 12 temporary Métis settlements

**This is the first time in Canadian history that a government provided the Métis with land



1940-1960

Temporary settlements did not give

Métis control of the land.

4 of the settlements were unsuitable

for farming, hunting or fishing, so

were closed and land given back.


Métis Settlements in

Alberta

Closed Métis settlements



1982 – Constitution Act

Métis lobbied for recognition of

their rights in Canada

Canadian Constitution included

section 35– recognizing the Métis

as one of Canada’s Aboriginal

peoples with rights



1990Alberta Government passed

legislation so Métis received settlements as a permanent land base, and the right to manage their own affairs.

Métis also have the right to participate in the development of oil and gas resources on settlement lands



2003

Supreme Court ruled Métis have

the right to hunt and fish (as

Aboriginal peoples under the

Constitution)



2004

Metis groups struck agreements with

Alberta government recognizing Métis

hunting and fishing rights.

No licenses needed

Note: 2007 Alberta restricted these

rights without input from Métis

groups.



2006

Manitoba Métis launched a

court case seeking

compensation for land

promised, but not delivered in

Manitoba Act

Case was denied.



2012

Supreme Court issues Métis and Non-Status Indians with official Indian statusunder the Constitution Act

Some feel this is good as they could gain access to services only given to those with Indian status

Others don’t like it as they don’t want to lose their unique identity



March 2013Supreme Court rules that the

Government did not act in good faith when putting Manitoba Act into place.

Metis will continue to negotiate with the Canadian Government about what this ruling will change/not change.


Published on Mar 9, 2013

Fri, Mar 8 - The Supreme Court has ruled the Manitoba Metis were cheated

out of a huge chunk of land in 1870.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf4GtYDkY10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf4GtYDkY10


Video from Manitoba Metis


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wa3oD8Z-M-w 7:31 mins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wa3oD8Z-M-w



2015

http://www.metisnation.ca/index.php/news/prime-minister-meets-with-national-aboriginal-leaders-to-begin-reconciliation

http://www.metisnation.ca/index.php/news/prime-minister-meets-with-national-aboriginal-leaders-to-begin-reconciliation

2015

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and

Cabinet Ministers meet with

National Aboriginal Leaders. They

are trying to mend the relationship

between First Nations and the

Canadian Government.

2016

2016

An agreement is signed between the

Manitoba Metis and the Canadian

Government. They are now guaranteed

meetings to discuss and negotiate

issues , including a possible settlement

for land that was not given to the Metis,

but was promised by the Government in

the Manitoba Act.

2016

2016

Alberta Metis hope that since the

Federal government is open to

discussing Metis issues, that the

Alberta Metis can open

discussion as well. They want

specifically want to discuss land

and education issues.

Documents

What Laws Recognize the Collective Rights of the Metis?