|
The Métis Nation of Ontario
Nation to Nation Relations
The Métis are a “people”. The
word “people” or “peoples” has
a legal meaning within Canada and internationally.
The Métis are one of the “aboriginal peoples”
named in Canada’s Constitution, the Constitution
Act, 1982. This, the highest law in the land,
names the aboriginal peoples as “the Indians,
the Inuit and the Métis peoples”.
“Indians” is a legal term and these people
prefer, today, to be referred to as “First Nations”.
The foundation of the rights of “peoples”
is established in a number of international instruments,
primarily, the Charter of the United Nations, the UN
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
and the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights.
As a people, the Métis have
the right of self-determination and the inherent right
of self-government. As such, we are a Nation,
a people whose legitimacy is established by history,
territory, language, custom, values and laws.
On this basis we seek to establish “nation to
nation” relationships with others.
North America
First and foremost, it is important
for the Métis Nation to restore and rekindle
age-old relationships with First Nations. The
MNO has accomplished this goal through a Nation-to-Nation
Relationship with the Anishenabek Nation. It has
done this in a traditional way, through song, smoke,
dance and feast. In 2006, in a ceremony and Kettle
and Stony Point First Nation, the MNO brought its song
to the Drum and the Anishenabek Nation brought its song
to the Drum. The pipes of the Métis Nation
and the Anishenabek Nation were lit and shared.
The ceremony was commemorated in a dance and followed
by a feast. (See: Culture – The Michif Song).
The MNO has begun discussions to enter
into a similar relationship with the Nishinabe-Ask-Nation.
The MNO has an established “Protocol” with
the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) and works closely with the
COO in matters of mutual interest with the Government
of Ontario. Talks have also begun on inter-treaty
harvesting arrangements and the commemoration of a wampum
belt to be shared between the Métis Nation and
the Anishenabek Nation.
The MNO, through the Métis
National Council, works closely with the Assembly of
First Nations and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami on issues
of comment concern at the national and international
levels. The MNO and the Métis National
Council have also begun talks with the National Congress
of American Indians, the national representative of
tribal governments in the United States. Métis
north and south of the Canada/US border share kinship,
historic and cultural ties. Internationally we
have common interests within the UN and the Organization
of American States (OAS). Our interests
range from human rights to economic development and
trade.
The Métis, as a people within
Ontario, also aspire to develop an appropriate relationship
with the Government of Ontario and with the Government
of Canada. As a consequence of the historic decision
concerning Métis Rights at the Supreme Court
of Canada in R v. Powley, the MNO entered into
a binding, and equally historic MNO (Métis Nation
of Ontario)/MNR (Ministry of Natural Resources) Interim
Harvesting Agreement in 2004 in order to accommodate
the Métis right to harvest in Métis traditional
harvesting territories in Ontario. The MNO is
now entering into a new era of discussions and negotiations
with Ontario on many matters ranging from health care
to access to lands and natural resources.
Nation to Nation Accord
The MNO is negotiating a Nation-to-Nation
Accord between the MNO and the Union of Ontario Indians
and Chiefs of Ontario that will establish mutual respect
and recognition as all Aboriginal peoples of Ontario
strive to advancement. The MNO will not compromise the
mutually respectful relationship that has taken years
to develop with First Nations in Ontario. This continued
development and integrity of the MNO ensures the effective
and fair delivery of programs. More
info here
|
