UBCIC Chiefs Council Resolution Goes After MNBC and BCMF

(June 16, 2023) The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) has issued a scathing resolution against Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) and another Métis organization in BC – the BC Métis Federation, claiming among other things that MNBC and the BCMF regularly engage in what the Chiefs Council calls a form of Métis colonialism and then goes on to reject a number of MNBC’s claims regarding Métis rights.

The lengthy resolution which was passed on June 8th, 2023 specifically references the recently released Laws of the Hunt, First Edition, in which the Chiefs Council states “…MNBC makes a number of false, unfounded, and deeply offensive claims aimed at supporting MNBC’s assertion that MNBC’s members have collective and independent inherent and constitutionally protected rights to harvest throughout the whole of what is now known as British Columbia, which rights include related jurisdiction and give rise to obligations for MNBC to be consulted and accommodated by the governments of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.”

So how has MNBC responded to this long scathing resolution that is critical of almost every Métis rights claim that MNBC has ever made? They repeat some of their position statement from May 30th including acknowledging and respecting the rights and title of First Nations in British Columbia but they do not directly reference the accusation of “Métis colonialism”, nor do they say anything about being an Indigenous Governing Body which the Chiefs Council says they aren’t. But once again, instead of the statement being issued by the President and the Board, the MNBC politicians have avoided saying anything and left the statement to be issued by an MNBC staff member. Where’s the leadership on such an important issue?

BC Métis Leader and former MNBC President Clara Morin Dal Col asks, “MNBC has never before come under such an attack from the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, and where’s the President and the Board during all this? They are scared of the political fallout from our Métis Citizens who they will have to answer to in the next election.”

The former MNBC President said that First Nations in BC appear to be taking a page from the First Nations in Ontario where some First Nations there are initiating legal action against Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and the Government of Canada regarding a self-government agreement for MNO that was signed earlier this year in which the First Nations are disputing the asserted presence of Métis communities in their homeland.

Ms. Morin Dal Col said, “The issue in Ontario of MNO’s claims about historic Métis communities is a key part of the current legal objections from First Nations in Ontario and that was exactly the issue that resulted in MNO’s suspension from the Métis National Council (MNC) a few years ago, which I strongly supported, but as soon as this Board removed me as President then the new Interim President – now current President – and the Board supported MNO’s reinstatement. So now First Nations in Ontario are challenging some of MNO’s claims, and the Chiefs Council here in BC is picking apart MNBC’s claims.”

She said, “Given this resolution from the UBCIC, I would doubt very much that the federal government will be proceeding anytime soon with agreeing to granting self-government to MNBC.”

The BC Métis Leader and former President says, “Under s.35 of the Constitution which is the supreme law in Canada, Métis are specifically recognized as one of the three Aboriginal (term used in the Constitution) peoples in Canada and that the existing and treaty rights of Aboriginal peoples are recognized and affirmed. The 46 Articles of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) also apply to us.”

Ms. Morin Dal Col says, “Métis are a distinct Indigenous people. We have our own collective identity, language and culture, and historically we’ve had a way of life different from other Indigenous peoples. In April 2017 on behalf of our Métis Citizens, I signed the Canada-Métis Nation Accord in which for the first time the Prime Minister on behalf of the federal government committed to among many other things to advance reconciliation of the rights, claims, interests and aspirations of the Métis Nation and those of all Canadians."

“As First Nations have rights that are recognized which I respect, so too do Métis people. While our rights under s.35 have yet to be defined through negotiations, and while rights for Indigenous peoples will vary between Indigenous groups, make no mistake Métis do have rights,” said Ms. Morin Dal Col.

She said, “I am a proud Métis woman and I am very proud of who we are. Through constructive dialogue with First Nations we can better understand each other’s positions and have a positive relationship that respects each other’s distinctiveness. That is what true leadership is all about.”

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For further information:

Contact Clara Morin Dal Col

BC Métis Leader

Email: cmdalcol@gmail.com