Abbreviation CMC Legal status active Region served Canada | Formation 1997 Headquarters Canada Founded 1997 | |
Purpose advocate and public voice, educator and network | ||
Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes three Aboriginal peoples of Canada: the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. However, in the absence of a clear definition of the term Métis, certain descendants of the Métis of the Red River Colony, in what is now Manitoba, confuse the concepts of people and nation and assume that this recognition applies to them alone. But in fact, the term métis was used far earlier, in New France, to refer to all descendants of mixed marriages between men of European descent and First Nations women. In modern times, the Manitoba Metis Federation has turned this generic term into an ethnonym and claimed exclusive rights to its use. The Métis National Council – the organization that represents the Métis Nation, defined as Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and parts of Ontario, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and the Northern United States – has done the same and still refuses to recognize the existence of other Métis, despite the recommendations in the report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the Powley and Daniels decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada. At the time of the 2011 census, there were 451,800 people who self-identified as Métis, including 228,150 in the Prairie provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta). This means that there were 223,650 people self-identified as Métis and scattered across the other provinces and territories. Although not all of these people are Métis within the meaning of the Powley decision, some 50 communities outside the Prairie provinces can be identified by reference to Department of Justice research reports, federal censuses, provincial and federal court cases, websites, and the transcript of the hearings that the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples held in 2012 on the legal and political recognition of Métis identity in Canada and the rights of Métis in Canada. Even though this committee heard from Métis from Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, it did not take their testimony into account in the report that it published in 2013. It recognized only the Métis of the national homeland, except for those in Kelowna, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, who are covered by Treaty 8 of 1899 and Treaty 11 of 1921, respectively. Reflecting the position of the Métis National Council, the Senate committee did not travel to Labrador and did not consider the existence of the Métis of Sault Ste Marie.
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The Canadian Métis Council was established in 1997 to further the economic, political, spiritual and cultural aspirations of Canada's Métis people. The Canadian Métis Council comprises over 50 community councils and affiliate Métis organizations in every province of Canada. As well, treaties have been signed with Métis organizations in the United States. Governed by a Board of Directors, the Canadian Métis Council is a non-profit corporation concerned with cultural issues, harvesting rights, education, health, youth, justice and other related issues that directly effect the Métis people of North America. Persons who believe that they have Aboriginal ancestry are invited to submit an application to CMC's Registry Office
Métis Nation
According to the Canadian Métis Council, many European men married Aboriginal women and the creation of the Métis Nation was born. The First Métis were registered in the late 1500s and early 1600s by Priests. The Priests first registered the Métis as Métissage which means mixed blood in French and this is where the Métis term comes from. The Métis Children who were born from this union were taught both cultures, European and Aboriginal. Later on the Métis mixed both cultures and beliefs and made them their own distinct culture. This way the Métis Children were learning about both ancestral cultures and beliefs and not favoring one over the other. Later on the French were expelled from the Maritimes in 1755. Not only the French, but who ever were affiliated with the French. which includes the First Nations and Métis. There were many Métis who were never caught and fled to other parts of the Provinces in Canada, and the United States and continued practicing and teaching their Métis culture and Beliefs. Later on the French and Métis returned to the Eastern parts of Canada with their Métis children and Aboriginal families. They lived peacefully for a few years then again the Métis had to flee if they were not to be treated the same as their First Nation family members. The Métis who stayed had to deny they were Aboriginal and lie to government officials and declare their heritage as French and secretly practice their culture and beliefs. If they did not want their children to be taken and sent away to Residential Schools, to keep their lands, and also keep their jobs, and to buy certain foods in stores, and not just get store credit. Aboriginal People were very discriminated against in those years. This is why a lot of Métis families were scared to state their Aboriginal ties. This is not just in the Eastern parts of Canada but also in the Southern, Western, and Northern parts of Canada. Today, there are a lot of Métis people who are finally able to state they are proud of who they are, and are not scared to speak up for their Ancestors. Métis people are still practicing their culture and beliefs and are still teaching their children their Heritage
Qualifying as Métis
Métis are persons of mixed blood - European/Aboriginal blood (Indian ancestry); Someone who is distinct from Indian and Inuit, someone who has genealogical ties to Aboriginal ancestry. There is no specified blood quantum. Anyone who self-identifies as a Métis, has community acceptance as a Métis, is not registered as an Indian or Inuit, has clear Aboriginal blood ties, and can prove their Aboriginal ancestry to the satisfaction of the Canadian Métis Council's verification process.
You can prove Aboriginal ancestry by: