MNC Concerned Government Developing Metis Registry

MNC Concerned Government Developing Metis Registry

Monday, February 07, 2011 at 14:10

 

 

The government seems to be looking at who is and isn’t Metis.

 

Indian Affairs has reportedly awarded a contract to a company to develop a verification strategy for Metis identification.

 

This has caught the attention of Clem Chartier, the president of the Metis National Council.

 

He says his office has called INAC looking for more information but so far they haven’t received a call back.

 

Chartier says he’s disappointed the government is proceeding this way and figures there’s a better way to go.

 

The president adds the five Metis provinces have already begun work on their own registries by themselves.

 

He says if the government tries to set up its own system there could be a problem.

 

Chartier also notes the Supreme Court of Canada already issued a ruling about who is Metis through the Powley decision.

 

He believes government intervention in this area could conflict with that ruling as well.