The federal government signed a memorandum with Métis in Ontario on Friday that aims to pave the way for advancing their rights and settling various claims.
The document kick-starts discussions toward a tentative agreement — to be reached by September — that will set up negotiations on Métis self-government, lands, rights and other outstanding claims against Canada.
Margaret Froh, president of the Métis Nation of Ontario, called it an “incredibly important” event, even though the memorandum of understanding is just a commitment to more talking.
“This is a whole bright new day and not just for Métis in Ontario, but for all the Métis Nation,” Froh said in an interview ahead of the signing.
“It is the beginning of developing a true nation-to-nation, government-to-government relationship between Canada and the Métis Nation.”
The Métis trace their origins to early unions between First Nations people — usually women — and European settlers. They later developed a distinct culture. While they have historically had an “enormous” part to play in the formation of Ontario and Canada, Froh said, formal recognition of the Métis as a nation has largely been lacking.
“We have been standing on the outside looking in,” Froh said. “The fact that we’ve got a federal government that acknowledges us…is a remarkable shift.”
Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett signed the memorandum of understanding on behalf of the federal government, with her Ontario counterpart, David Zimmer, Métis dignitaries and others in attendance at a downtown hotel ceremony.
“This is a historic step forward in achieving lasting and meaningful reconciliation on a nation-to-nation, government-to-government basis for the benefit of the Métis Nation of Ontario and all Canadians,” Bennett said in a statement.
In November 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau directed her to advance a nation-to-nation, government-to-government relationship with the Métis. In April last year, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled the Métis are one of the three constitutionally recognized indigenous groups — along with First Nations and Inuit — making Ottawa responsible for negotiating with them as a nation.
Trudeau had planned to meet with Métis on Parliament Hill on Monday for what was to be the first permanent bilateral Métis Nation-Crown summit but the mosque massacre in Quebec City scuttled that plan.
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