MNS Softens Stance on Dissident Members

MNS Softens Stance on Dissident Members

Thursday, January 06, 2005 at 15:10

The provincial secretary for the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan says he’s not prepared to suspend the memberships of any candidates who spoke out against last spring’s MNS election.

Ralph Kennedy issued letters to about a dozen Metis citizens late last year asking them to firmly declare their support, or dissatisfaction, with the MNS.

Most of the people who received the correspondence were unsuccessful candidates in the Metis election and had helped form the Provisional Metis Council to counter the current executive.

Kennedy received replies from about a quarter of the people.

He says those individuals affirmed their support for the MNS, and as far as he’s concerned, the issue is now closed.

According to Kennedy and MNS president Dwayne Roth, their organization does not have the power to revoke the membership of any Metis citizen.

However, Kennedy says he could still issue a request to the MNS Senate asking that body to suspend the membership cards and privileges of certain members.