For the purposes of this discussion, we are dealing with three types of community. The first is the conventional local, geographic, physical and more- or-less contiguous community most of us live in. The second is community in the form of membership in a more-or-less formal organization. The third is a community of interest which is connected by common interest but may not be local or geographically contiguous.
People who use this site, for expample could be called a community of interest. Roman Catholics in Ottawa could be treated as a community of interest distinct from the Jewish community of interest in the same geographic area. In the context of Metis identity, community can play a very signficant role. Any of the three types of community described above can have very different criteria for membership or citizenship in the broadest sense of the words. This can make it relatively easy, or very difficult for a given individual to assert his/her Metis identity.
In another sense, the significance of community recognition can be very
limited in its impact on any given individual. The only time community
recognition is absolutely critical is when an individual is asserting eligibility
to a right or benefit which applies to a specific community. If that community
withholds public recognition of a given individual it is very unlikely
that individual --even if he/she has Aboriginal ancestry and declares him/herself
to be Metis-- will be considered eligible for benefit.
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