MMF signs first-of-its-kind treaty

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WINNIPEG — Speeches, tears, standing ovations and fiddle music marked a historic day as the Manitoba Métis Federation signed a first-of-its-kind treaty with Canada that recognizes it as the official government of the Red River Métis people.

More than 150 people attended the signing ceremony, held Saturday afternoon on the 20th floor of 333 Main St., one of two towers in downtown Winnipeg the federation purchased this past summer. Another 500 people watched the ceremony via a livestream on YouTube.

Federation president David Chartrand choked back tears as he spoke about the treaty.

“People don’t know what our people have suffered through,” he said. “Being treated as worse than second class. Being pushed aside … But (from) this day forward it’s going to change.”

The treaty is significant, he added, because it will bind Canada to working with the Métis on a government-to-government basis, regardless of which party holds power in Ottawa — ensuring that the Métis are never taken advantage of again.

“The treaty will be the foundation (on which) we will build the pillars — the pillars that will ensure that our people’s needs, whatever they are, will be addressed,” he said.

“No government, no political stripe, can ever bring us down again. We will take anybody on and that’s what this treaty will give us. It’ll give us the strength, it’ll give us the pride, it’ll give us the wisdom and the (guarantee to) our young generation that it will never ever happen again.”

After signing the treaty, Chartrand smiled widely and triumphantly held up the document, whose covers feature artwork by Métis beadwork artist Jennine Krauchi.

Chartrand signed the treaty on behalf of the federation, with Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree signing on behalf of the federal government.

Allan Benoit, federation chief of staff, and Dan Vandal, minister of northern affairs, signed the treaty as witnesses.

“Today is a fantastic day for Manitoba and today is a fantastic day for Canada,” Vandal said. “I can tell you that this day has been a long time coming — about 153 years — and that this day is going to affect everyone: Manitobans, Canadians, Métis and non, in a positive way.”

Vandal touched on the history of the treaty, which fulfills the mission of Métis leader Louis Riel.

Riel, who was leader of a provisional government, helped negotiate such a treaty with Canada in 1870, known as the Manitoba Act, that led to Manitoba joining Confederation. The agreement was intended to preserve land and economic opportunities for the Métis, but federal leaders failed to honour those terms.

“This is a historic day — one that honours the dreams of Louis Riel, now recognized as Manitoba’s first premier,” said Terry Duguid, parliamentary secretary to the prime minister. “It’s a day of celebration, a day of reflection, a day of progress.”

Duguid went on to call Chartrand “the greatest Métis leader since Louis Riel himself.”

“Under his leadership, the Manitoba Métis Federation has become a powerful force with its influence and achievements benefiting not only Métis citizens, but the entirety of Manitoba,” Duguid said.

Anandasangaree called the treaty one example of how the federal government is working with partners to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

“Now that the treaty is signed, the next step is introducing federal legislation to bring it into effect, and I hope to advance this in the coming days,” he said. “I call upon all parliamentarians to support this initiative and to ensure that we have swift passage of this bill.”

“It has often been said that we are all treaty people,” he said. “And from today on, there can be no doubt that that includes the Red River Métis.”

Métis pride was evident as attendees enjoyed a performance by a Métis dance group following the 80-minute ceremony. Portraits created by artist JD Hawk, each depicting a different Métis elder, were on display around the room.

“We want the next generation to never be ashamed of who we are,” Chartrand said.

According to Chartrand, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was scheduled to attend the ceremony, but had to back out at the last minute so that he could fly to Florida to meet with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.

» Winnipeg Free Press