Métis National Council
Encyclopedia
The Métis National Council is the representative of the Northwest Métis
people within Canada
.
in Canada, in Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982
. It is a recognized voice of the Métis people in five Canadian Provicinces to the Government of Canada
, and represents these Métis people on the international stage. The National Council is governed by a Board of Governors made up of the presidents of the provincial Métis organizations, and the national president. A former national president of the Council is Yvon Dumont, who went on to become the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
. The current president of the Métis National Council is Clément Chartier
.
The MNC is composed of five provincial Métis organizations. They are:
Within each provincial organization are regional councils.
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
people within Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
History
The National Council was formed in 1983, following the recognition of the Métis as an aboriginal peopleAboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
in Canada, in Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982
Constitution Act, 1982
The Constitution Act, 1982 is a part of the Constitution of Canada. The Act was introduced as part of Canada's process of "patriating" the constitution, introducing several amendments to the British North America Act, 1867, and changing the latter's name in Canada to the Constitution Act, 1867...
. It is a recognized voice of the Métis people in five Canadian Provicinces to the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
, and represents these Métis people on the international stage. The National Council is governed by a Board of Governors made up of the presidents of the provincial Métis organizations, and the national president. A former national president of the Council is Yvon Dumont, who went on to become the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba is the viceregal representative in Manitoba of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
. The current president of the Métis National Council is Clément Chartier
Clément Chartier
Clément Chartier LL.B, QC is a Métis Canadian leader. He grew up in Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan. He officially became a lawyer in 1980...
.
The MNC is composed of five provincial Métis organizations. They are:
- Métis Nation British ColumbiaMétis Nation British ColumbiaThe Métis Nation British Columbia , formerly Métis Provincial Council of British Columbia, is an aboriginal organization representing Métis people in British Columbia, Canada. Its current president is Bruce Dumont, Vice-president is David Hodgson....
- Métis Nation of AlbertaMétis Nation of AlbertaThe Métis Nation of Alberta was formed in 1932 as the Métis Association of Alberta. Its primary goal was to be a political body to lobby the government on behalf of the Métis people. Its primary founding members were Felice Callihoo, Joseph Dion, James P. Brady, Malcolm Norris, Peter Tompkins. ...
- Métis Nation - SaskatchewanMétis Nation - SaskatchewanThe Métis Nation—Saskatchewan is an organization that represents the approximately 80,000 Métis people in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is affiliated with the Métis National Council....
- Manitoba Métis FederationManitoba Métis FederationThe Manitoba Métis Federation is an aboriginal organization in Manitoba, Canada. Its current president is David Chartrand. MMF is an affiliate of the Métis National Council.-History:...
- Métis Nation of OntarioMétis Nation of OntarioMétis Nation of Ontario is an aboriginal organization for the Métis population in Ontario.It is affiliated with the Métis National Council.-External links:*...
.
Within each provincial organization are regional councils.
Presidents
- Yvon Dumont (1988–1993)
- Gerald Morin (1993–2003)
- Audrey Poitras (January 12, 2003 interim President and National spokesperson),
- Clément Chartier (2003–Present)