Truth Commission Lacks Relevance For Metis

Truth Commission Lacks Relevance For Metis

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 14:28

The president of the Metis National Council says very little reconciliation is being offered to his people.

Clem Chartier notes that while a lot of good work was done by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission last week in Winnipeg, few Metis are being recognized by the government for their time in residential schools.

Chartier estimates between 300 and 400 Metis citizens are eligible for compensation from the federal government — even though thousands of Metis attended the schools.

He says he asked the Prime Minister about his pledge to offer compensation to survivors of the Ile-a-la-Crosse boarding school, but was told by Stephen Harper that a letter has been written to Premier Brad Wall saying the province was responsible for funding the school.

Chartier says Metis can go to the national TRC events and tell the truth, but reconciliation is still impossible unless someone accepts responsibility.