EDMONTON, AB, March 28,
2024 /CNW/ - Today, the Federal Court released two
decisions on legal challenges made by the Metis Settlements General
Council and a group called the "Fort McKay Métis Nation
Association" against the Canada-Métis Nation of Alberta
Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Agreement that was
signed between the Métis Nation of Alberta ("MNA") and the Government of
Canada ("Canada") in February 2023 (the "2023 MNA Self-Government
Agreement").
In these decisions, the Federal Court upheld the validity of the
vast majority of the contents of the Agreement as negotiated
between the MNA and Canada with
only minor exceptions. While the Federal Court granted the
applications for judicial review, the MNA emphasizes the following
to its 65,000+ registered Citizens and the Métis communities it
represents:
- The 2023 MNA Self-Government Agreement that was signed
between the MNA and Canada remains
in place and in effect.
- The Federal Court refused the requests from the Métis
Settlements General Council and the "Fort McKay Métis Nation
Association" to cancel the 2023 MNA Self-Government
Agreement.
- The Federal Court has only set aside Chapter 6 and the
definition of "Métis Nation within Alberta" in the 2023 MNA Self-Government
Agreement, and referred these elements back to the Minister for
reconsideration.
The MNA is currently reviewing the decision in greater detail
and will be determining next steps, with a focus on continued
collaboration with our partner Canada, where our Nation will remain focused
on the significant successes achieved in the advancement of
reconciliation, including in the 2023 Agreement that was primarily
upheld by the Federal Court.
As noted above, the remainder of terms within the 2023 MNA
Self-Government Agreement continue to be in effect—as a legally
binding agreement—between the Government of Canada and the MNA. The agreement also
provides that amendments can be made based on the mutual consent of
the MNA and Canada in order to
address the Federal Court's decision.
The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is committed to working with
our partner the Government of Canada in reaching potential amendment(s) that
satisfy the direction of the Federal Court and which will advance
self-government and self-determination for the Métis Nation within
Alberta without further delay.
In the Fall of 2022, MNA citizens ratified the Otipemisiwak
Métis Government Constitution in the largest ratification vote
every undertaken by an Indigenous nation in Canada. The
MNA/Otipemisiwak Métis Government continues to move forward on the
implementation of its self-government based on the mandate it
receives from its over 65,000 registered citizens and the Métis
communities it represents throughout the province.
"Our over 65,000 citizens and our communities will continue to
move forward on our vision for self-government that we have been
advancing over 200 years. Reconciliation is hard work and
today's decisions only strengthen our resolve to fully implement
our nation-to-nation, government-to-government relationship with
Canada," said MNA President
Andrea Sandmaier.
Canada & Métis Nation Of
Alberta Sign Updated Métis Self-Government Agreement, 2023:
https://albertametis.com/news/mna-and-canada-sign-self-government-recognition-and-implementation-agreement/
Metis Settlements General Council v. Canada (Crown-Indigenous
Relations): Federal Court Decision:
https://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/fc-cf/decisions/en/item/525306/index.do
SOURCE Metis Nation of Alberta