Clement Chartier MNC President	Tony Belcourt MNO President

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 25, 2008) - The Metis National Council (MNC) is pleased to announce the re-election of Clement Chartier as President of the Metis Nation at the MNC General Assembly held this weekend. "I am honoured that you have placed your confidence in me and I pledge to work with the leadership to unite our great nation", Chartier stated in his acceptance speech. Chartier secured the position of President by winning a first ballot victory over three other candidates.

Chartier expressed his commitment to work with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Federal Interlocutor, Chuck Strahl to "establish a new partnership aimed at improving the lives and living conditions of Metis citizens and to address long-standing Metis rights and land issues." The newly elected President informed the assembled delegates that he will go to "work on my five point plan for strengthening the Metis Nation" and will "move immediately to re-establishing working relationships with other federal Ministers and departments."

Vice-President, David Chartrand characterized the weekend meeting as a "democratic watershed" for his people and commended all of the Provincial Presidents of Governing Members "for pledging to work with the President of the Metis Nation." For his part, he continued "I pledge to work with President Chartier and my provincial counterparts to unite our people and to forge a new relationship with the Government of Canada".

Since 1983, the MNC has represented the Metis Nation nationally and internationally. It receives its mandate and direction from the democratically elected leadership of the Metis Nation's governments from Ontario westward. Specifically, the MNC reflects and moves forward on the desires and aspirations of these Metis governments at a national and international level.