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Metis Nation of Ontario and Casino Rama Revenue Sharing |
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| The following is the text of a letter from Tony
Belcourt, President of the Metis Nation of Ontario (MN0), to Kimberly
Hicks of the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal. In the context of an article published in the Chronicle Journal on October 20th Mr. Belcourt was concerned that his organization was being tied to the Metis Claim against Casino Rama Revenues (the Lovelace Case). In the letter, Mr Belcourt assures Regional Chief Tom Bressette that MNO has taken no part in Lovelace. Further MNO, has requested an opportunity to address the Special All Ontario Chiefs Assembly in December to explain the MNO position. For the record the Metis Nation of Ontario is not directly or indirectly involved with the current Lovelace Case. |
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I am writing to ask you to publish a story which states clearly that the Metis Nation of Ontario is not the organization involved in a court case concerning Casino Rama. You incorrectly identified the Metis Nation of Ontario in your story on October 20, 1998: AChiefs of Ontario office opens in Thunder Bay.@ The story unfortunately names us in a legal case we publicly stated we want nothing to do with. The Metis Nation of Ontario, in its Statement of Prime Purpose, has as one of its goals: ATo establish good relations with all Aboriginal peoples for the pursuit of our common interests and goals.@ Trying to dip into other people=s pockets is not our idea of how we would establish these good relations. We are very concerned that Metis in the Province of Ontario were deliberately left out when the government at Queen=s Park decided to establish a gaming policy which would exclusively benefit First Nations. However, our argument is not with First Nations who have invested their own funds in building a Casino which they own. Our argument is with a government which would discriminate unjustly against the Metis Nation in Ontario, one of the Aboriginal peoples of this province. It has come to my attention that many First Nations mistakenly believe that the Metis Nation of Ontario is the organization which is holding up their funds through the court case concerning Casino Rama. Very regrettably, your story will only compound this situation. We never brought this law suit. We were never involved in it at trial or any of the appeal levels. We do not support the organizations which are bringing this law suit against the Chiefs of Ontario. I hope you will find a way to reprint this clearly in your paper. Sincerely yours, Tony Belcourt President Metis Nation of Ontario |
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