Metis lawyer Jason Madden. Photo courtesy pstlaw.ca
The historic Supreme Court Ruling on the jurisdictional rights of Canada’s Metis people was a hot topic at a Metis business conference in Saskatoon.
Several different organizations and groups gathered for the 2016 Metis Economic Development Forum on Wednesday to discuss the barriers facing Metis Businesses. For Shirley Isbister, President of Central Urban Metis Federation Inc., the conference is a great opportunity for the city.
“We have never had an economic conference specific to the Metis before, so this is huge for us,” says Isbister.
The keynote address at the conference was from Metis lawyer Jason Madden, Managing Partner with Pape Salter Telleit LLP. He spoke on the Daniels Decision and the federal government’s responsibility to negotiate with Metis people.
On April 14, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Metis and non-status Indians are “Indians” under section 91(24) of the Constitution Act, which means they now fall under the federal government’s jurisdiction.
However, for Shirley Isbister and CUMFI, there has been a lot of confusion from the public as to what this decision actually means.
“We are getting questions upon questions and we really don’t have a full understanding of the decision,” says Isbister. “This was a really good explanation and I am looking forward to sharing this explanation with our people.”
During his address, Madden says the Daniel Decision basically just brings the Government of Canada back to the negotiating table. He says Metis people now can have a dialogue over what rights they feel they deserve.
Both Isbister and Madden agree, any significant changes that come from the decision may not come in their lifetime. However, Madden says the Daniels Decision does lay down a good framework for the ideas discussed at the Metis business conference. He says the court’s decision doesn’t necessarily guide businesses toward economic reconciliation with Metis, but he believes the decision provides a nudge in the right direction.
“The Daniels Decision means that Metis can’t be on the outside looking in any further and I think Economic reconciliation is part and parcel of that,” says Madden. “They are nudging governments as well as everyone else to show them the Metis should be your partners and benefiting from economic development just as much as others in traditional territories.”
Representatives from Pinehouse Business North also made a presentation during the conference.
“We are here to present the story of PBN to those in attendance,” says Walter Smith Manager of Training and Community Development for Pinehouse Business North. “It’s a fantastic story because it is a story of determination, capacity and success at a community level.”
Smith says the economic development firm has had a very successful year, with 120 people hired in different jobs, $400 million in wages paid and they have also purchased $7 million dollars in heavy equipment. He says the most significant success is that this is all managed by the people of Pinehouse.
“The message we want to give is to be determined in what you want to achieve and believe in the people you represent,” says Smith.
Other sessions focused on best practices for reconciliation, employment and procurement policies.
The forum was organized in partnership with the City, Central Urban Metis Federation Inc., Saskatoon Aboriginal Employment Partnership, and Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Association.