Tag: Wood Buffalo Metis

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Alberta Ft Mac Politics

Scrip System Consequences Challenged by Wood Buffalo Metis who Cite Fraud

Scrip system consequences which happened decades ago are being challenged by the Wood Buffalo Metis as well as the Metis Nation of Alberta. Both Metis groups are partnering in a legal research project about the scrip system, fraud, and “the sorry legacy of Metis scrip in northeastern Alberta.” During the later part of the 19th century Metis in Canada were issued scrips, vouchers that could be used for either 240 acres of land or $240, in exchange for the forfeiture of any Indian title that they held. According to a report by Canada’s ministerial special representative on Metis rights and Vancouver-based lawyer Tom Isaac “The system was replete with fraud, abuses, and delays. In short, the scrip policy was largely unsuccessful in bringing economic and social benefits to Metis.”

According to the McMurray Metis general manager Daniel Stuckless “There was fraud committed in this region, to put it quite bluntly. We feel it’s time to knock on that window and start these discussions with the government.” The Fort McKay Metis have also joined the Wood Buffalo Metis claims of fraud. Fort McKay Metis president Ron Quintal explained “We intend to do right by our ancestors who were tricked by a federal government that sought to take advantage of them. This is also about the future of our children, that they may be able to grow up in a world that’s just a little fairer.” In 2013 the Supreme Court of Canada determined that Ottawa did not honour an 1870 Manitoba land grant proision with the Metis.

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Alberta Breaking News Canada Ft Mac Politics

Ruling by Canada Supreme Court Celebrated by Wood Buffalo Metis

A recent ruling by the Canada Supreme Court is cause for celebration by the Wood Buffalo Metis. The highest court in the country has determined that Canada and the government have the exact same responsibilities to the Metis and other non status groups of Indians that it does to the other indigenous people and groups that are under the constitutional jurisdiction of the government. This ruling finally ends a debate that has gone on for 17 years, and it decides once and for all just how much responsibility the government has and must take for the non status aboriginal people including the Metis who do not have specific reserves. This group numbers around 600,000. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the decision “a landmark ruling that will have broad consequences and impacts”, and the ruling was more than the Metis expected or hoped for.

After the Canada Supreme Court ruling the Wood Buffalo Metis expressed their relief at the decision. Fort McKay Métis member Dwayne Roth stated “It’s a glorious day for the Métis people. It made direct statements to treat us fairly, bring us into confederation and work on a nation-to-nation basis. The comments from the prime minister is a great sign. It’s more than we expected. It’s the start of a new relationship for the Métis people of Canada.” The court determined that the Metis and other non status aboriginal groups were all placed together into what the court deemed a “judicial wasteland with significant and obvious disadvantaging consequences.” Because of this the court found that the communities in these groups were deprived of significant programs concerning funding, services, and benefits, and that these people were caught up in a “jurisdictional tug-of-war.”

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Alberta Ft Mac Politics

Wood Buffalo Mets Formed by Oilands Metis Communities for Negotiation Purposes

oilsands Metis communities, Wood Buffalo Metis

The Wood Buffalo Metis is a new group that has been formed by four of the oilsands Metis communities for the purpose of negotiating with those in the government and various industries. The four Metis communities that have banded together include the Conklin, Fort Chipewyan, Fort McMurray, and Fort McKay Metis. Leaders from the groups gathere in Fort McMurray so that they could all sign a memorandum of understanding. With the signing the communities were all rebranded into the new Wood Buffalo Metis. A single entity for the Metis was created so that the communities could pool their resources and band together to promote a single message. Fort McKay Metis president Ron Quintal said “We’ve been working together for many years and it was time to formalize our cooperation.”

All of the Metis communities in Wood Buffalo share a number of problems, including industrial expansion and municipal development. Fort Chipewyan is typically downstream of oilsands developments. The Metis in Fort McMurray have concerns about affordable housing, as well as urban expansion and environmental impact concerning traditional lands. The Metis in Conklin and Fort McKay have open pit mines and SAGD sites to contend with. Quintal explained “We here in northeastern Alberta and Wood Buffalo are faced with much different challenges, much different impacts than your typical Metis community around the province.” Fort Chipewyan’s Metis local president Fred “Jumbo” Fraser said “I was just thinking yesterday that if I wanted to do something, I was doing it by myself. But today we’ve got a group that goes from Conklin to the Northwest Territories border. What more could you ask for? We’ve got all the help in the world now so look out, it’s going to be good.”