(Toronto, ON – April 19, 2024) Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare issued the following statement regarding the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan’s withdrawal of support for Bill C-53.

“On April 17, 2024, the Métis Nation- Saskatchewan published a press release indicating that they are withdrawing their support for Bill C-53, An Act respecting the recognition of certain Métis governments in Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, to give effect to treaties with those governments and to make consequential amendments to other Acts,” said Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare. “We welcome this news and applaud the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan for opting instead to proceed with their own self-government treaty negotiations with the Crown.”

Bill C-53 would recognize the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S), the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA), and the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) as having the section 35 Aboriginal right to self-government. The bill is the successor of the Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Agreements signed between Canada and the three Métis groups.

The announcement from MN-S came just weeks after a federal court ruled that the MNA Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Agreement is too broad in its definition of who it covers, thereby giving MNA exclusive ability to assert Métis rights in Alberta. The court also ruled the agreement was made without consulting two other Métis groups in the province, the Métis Settlements General Council and the Fort McKay Métis Nation. The agreement must now go back to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations for revision and re-negotiation, while ensuring the appropriate groups are consulted, ultimately halting the legislative process for Bill C-53.

“First Nations in the Ontario region have fiercely criticized Bill C-53 as it devalues our inalienable rights as the first people of this land and elevates those who wish to usurp them,” said Regional Chief Hare. “The MN-S’ withdrawal sends a strong and clear message that there are serious problems with Bill C-53 that can no longer be ignored. The integrity of the bill has been further compromised, and there is no way Canada can go forward with this in good faith.”

Despite significant opposition from First Nations in the Ontario region, Bill C-53 was introduced in the House of Commons just days after First Nation Leadership, Elders and Knowledge Keepers, Youth, technicians, community members and allies gathered on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, ON, for a demonstration opposing the bill in June 2023.

First Nations were not consulted before the bill was introduced, even though it would grant Aboriginal rights to new “historic Métis communities” in their Ancestral and Treaty territories.

“Canada is not the arbiter of rights and titles in our territories and does not have the authority to create new section 35 rights-holding entities with ‘jurisdiction’ in our territories without consulting us.”

Extensive expert academic research demonstrates that the so-called “historic Métis communities” represented by MNO did not exist historically and do not meet the legal criteria set out in  R. v. Powley to be recognized as having section 35 rights. Yet the federal government has railroaded this legislation and ignored the protests and comments from First Nations across Canada as well as Red River Métis Leadership.

False claims to Indigenous identity are a pervasive and increasing threat to Indigenous Nations in Canada. The Chiefs of Ontario and the Manitoba Métis Federation, the National Government of the Red River Métis, are co-hosting a leadership summit next month in Winnipeg to bring together First Nation, Red River Métis and Inuit leaders from across Canada to work towards addressing this issue once and for all.

“Self-determination is a fundamental and non-negotiable right for legitimate all Indigenous Nations. We congratulate the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan for exercising their rights.”

Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare (Gwiingos)

-30-

The Chiefs of Ontario support all First Nations in Ontario as they assert their sovereignty, jurisdiction and their chosen expression of nationhood. Follow Chiefs of Ontario on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @ChiefsOfOntario.

Media Contact:

Isak Vaillancourt
Communications Manager
Chiefs of Ontario
Telephone: 416-819-8184
Email: isak.vaillancourt@coo.org