The Metis Nation-Saskatchewan is speaking out against the findings of an expert panel on the Metis identity of seven communities from Ontario.
The panel was formed in 2021 following a resolution from the Metis National Council’s general assembly. It’s purpose was to address questions about the legitimacy of seven Ontario Metis communities.
The final report released this week concluded that these communities are an “integral part of the Metis Nation and its Homeland.”
In a media release sent out on Friday morning, the MN-S says they have been concerned about the integrity of this process and say it played a direct role in the MN-S’s decision to leave the MNC last year.
“The identity, culture, values, and language of our Métis Nation is the foundation of our government’s integrity, in the highest evidentiary standards and best practices,” MN-S president Glen McCallum was quoted in the release. “This report was not done based on those pillars and has been hamstrung by many issues since its outset. From the MN–S’ standpoint, we will continue to pursue our own distinctions-based path for Saskatchewan Métis without MNC.”
In the media release, the MN-S made it clear that they are opposed to the MNC Expert Panel’s final report and do not agree with the findings.
They also raised questions about the integrity of the findings asserting politics may have interfered.
The media release from the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan is available here – MN–S responds to MNC Expert Panel release