The Manitoba Métis Federation announced yesterday that they have withdrawn from the Métis National Council.
A lot went into this decision, but President of the MMF David Chartrand says this choice is about protecting the Métis identity,
"It's been a concern for the Métis citizens of Manitoba for some time now. When you look at the concept of what was happening to Ontario, where they were not abiding with the definition and starting to actually increase their numbers by bringing in new people of mixed blood ancestry, which are not our people. If you look at the census of 2006, the Métis population in Ontario grew by 252 percent, and in 2016 it grew by another 51 percent. So you look at it, Ontario is bringing in people by the thousands and thousands that are not our people." Chartrand continued, "When you look at what we have developed as a people, as a nation, it's protecting our culture and identity. That was the reason the formation of the MNC was established in 1983, so we could make sure we could protect Métis history, culture and the identity of our homeland, and now our homeland is all the way to Quebec, according to Ontario. Those are not our people; there's no connection historically, in any story of culture connection, none exists with them."
The president of the MMF noted this decision stemmed from frustration,
"Nobody wanted to be Métis before, but now we are making such great strides, and the wind sails are strong behind us; everybody now wants a piece of what we have been able to achieve. But we suffered two hundred and something years to get here, and now they are trying to steal our identity, steal our culture and steal our future, and we are not going to let that happen."
Chartrand says that he believes the reason why so many people want to claim Métis citizenship is solely for financial benefit.
He carried on about his displeasure with the situation,
"People want to understand what the difference is between them and us. It's all Red River, it all comes from here, this is where our nation was formed, and when you look at Eastern Canada, Ottawa, or Killarney, or outside of Toronto in Simcoe, all those places they are trying to bring in, there is not one connection."
Moving forward, President Chartrand says the MMF has a plan for international, national and provincial affairs, adding that the MMF has the intelligence to continue to thrive after leaving the MNC.
