Today, the Métis National Council held a meeting of the Permanent Bilateral Mechanism with the Canadian Government and Métis Nation Governing members. MNBC had full representation consisting of President Lissa Dawn Smith, Vice President Walter Mineault, Region 1 Director Patrick Harriott, Region 4 Director Debra Fisher, Women’s Chair Dr. Kate Elliott, and Elder Bruce Dumont who opened the meeting with a prayer.
Topics Important to Métis people were discussed, including culture, language, economic development, k-12 education, and emergency management. Every year it becomes increasingly more apparent that as a governing body we need the means to take care of our own people, and today MNBC advanced these key areas with the Government of Canada.
Having a bilateral mechanism between the Canadian Government and the Métis Nation is a testament to the work done in years past, and shows how far we have come as a Nation in terms of awareness and recognition. The results of work like this has been seen across the homeland with sub-accords being signed which have assisted in key areas such as housing, early years, and skills training.
MNBC will continue to represent the section 35 rights of its more than 24,000 citizens and advocate for the 98,000 self-identified Métis in British Columbia, as we continue our work in the spirit of Otipemisiwak (those that rule themselves).