Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We've been here for just over a year, Blake. Ever since we came on, the only correspondence we got was a congratulatory letter from then-president Poitras. As far I can remember, they did not request a meeting but asked if we were available for a meeting. We responded to them and said that yes, we would like to have a meeting, and then it went silent.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The historical Métis in Canada are a nation, and we are part of that nation, whether it's MMF, Saskatchewan Métis or Alberta Métis. I think many of us who have historical roots to the real, historical Métis.... We are a Métis Nation in Canada. That's what I mean.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. It creates confusion to have dual membership, because the bottom line is a jurisdictional issue.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, we do. Most of our Métis people have historical connections that come from the eastern part of Canada, and many of them have come to Alberta as well. There is a Métis Nation in Canada. We're not saying we're not part of that Métis Nation. What we are saying is that there are two governments in Alberta.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'd like to thank you for those comments, Blake. They really resonate with the Metis Settlements General Council and all settlements, and I'm sure the people sitting behind us. Thank you for that. The biggest issue that we have on membership and how it is affected is the jurisdictional issue, like who authorizes whom to speak for them.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  How are we opposed to the MNA? We're saying we're opposed to the legislation, the way it's currently written, because there is a lack of clarity on who represents whom. The MNA agreement and the MNA constitution talk about having exclusive jurisdiction over the Métis people and communities within Alberta.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. We have long-established Métis land and membership. We've been operating as a self-government for many years. A society or non-profit organization coming in and saying it has jurisdiction over the settlements is insulting and appalling.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  In an ideal world, that should have happened. That should have happened way back before any agreement was signed by the Métis Nation of Alberta and Canada. We should have been consulted with. If our government was being talked about, we should have known what was going on. In this case, it didn't happen.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  First of all, I don't know what the process is. If you think this is the right process, we're now at the stage where we come to a consultation process. I think all of this would have been avoided, from our perspective, if the conversations had happened before among us, the MNA and Canada.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There are three pieces of documentation that the Métis nation put together. First, they voted on what is called the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Constitution, and part of the language of the constitution talks about where the MNA would help the Metis Settlements General Council entrench their lands under the Canadian Constitution.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, the amendments we are proposing would make it clear that the act does not recognize or affect the indigenous rights of any other groups or governments in column one. Therefore, if the amendments were accepted, they would help reassure all parties that the provincial Métis associations being recognized by the act do not represent them.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  [Witness spoke in Cree] [English] Good afternoon, Chair and honourable members of the committee. As the duly elected president of the Metis Settlements General Council, I am proud to be here today, along with my colleague, vice-president Brenda Blyan. I also acknowledge our settlement leaders, who are seated behind us today to observe the proceedings.