La Confédération des Métis

At the last Annual General Meeting (AGM) delegates passed a resolution to form a Confederacy of Métis Peoples in Canada. (See attached article from NCC's Communiqué.) The Confederacy is a network of participating Métis individuals and groups from seven provinces, including three NCC PTOs, the New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Association, the Labrador Metis Association, and the Native Alliance of Quebec. Since the Confederacy is not incorporated and has no source of Federal or Provincial funding activities were conducted on a volunteer basis using the phones and fax facilities of the NCC. The following is a brief report of that activity. 

Confederacy Activity

Shortly after the last AGM, Martin Dunn - as a volunteer Métis liaison officer-- drafted a letter announcing the existence of the Confederacy and inviting Métis groups and individuals to participate. The letter was sent to any person or group on the NCC mailing list who might have an interest in participating in a network of Métis groups and individuals, including affiliates of the Métis National Council. 

A dozen organizations and individuals responded from seven provinces and territories. Over the next several months three conferences calls of Confedracy participants were conducted. At the request of participants a brief paper on the concept of the Confederacy (summary attached) was drafted and distributed for comment. 

Following the announcements of an Accord signed between the Métis National Council and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP), Confedracy participants urged that a parallel process be established between the Confederacy and RCAP. 

After an exchange of letters between NCC and the Commission Co-Chairs a series of meetings between RCAP, NCC, and Confederacy officials resulted in an agreement to hold a special consultation, called the Métis Circle, in Ottawa on April 5 & 6, 1994. It was also agreed that a focus paper on Confederacy concerns and issues should be commissioned by RCAP. 

In preparation for the Métis Circle, and to develop a Métis component of the new Inherent Right project, the NCC agreed to host of Métis workshop at the AGM. In addition to considering issues reltaed to the Circle and the Inherent Right project, the workshop will develop resolution on Meetis issues to be considered by this AGM. 

Sincerely, 

Martin Dunn

Métis Liaison Officer