Finance committee  Yes, that's correct. We also experienced the same diminution of funding. For example, in 2008 we had about 30 staff, and today we have about seven.

Finance committee  Yes, that is correct, but we have five governing members from Ontario west. They deliver the programs and services on the ground, such as the federal assets program and programs received from the provinces. At the national level we're the policy body that interacts on an intergov

Finance committee  Well, yes, certainly it has, on all levels. In particular, for example, on international matters, we continue to be involved when it comes from our pockets. Nationally, we have, of course, been severely cut in our ability to marshal the forces that are required to put forward a s

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for inviting me to address your committee on the upcoming federal budget and the Métis Nation. The Métis Nation is greatly impressed by the adoption of a Métis Nation policy by the current government. This policy, advancing and achieving reconciliation f

Official Languages committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to say that we have some material we will be leaving with the clerk that gives examples of Michif so that you have a grounding in it. The other thing, in terms of 2017, is translation. I mentioned that we have a book. It would be great if

Official Languages committee  Thank you for the question. Before I get to that specifically, I wanted to say earlier that since 1967, we've had the patriation of the Constitution. We have the Constitution Act, 1982 and the recognition of the inherent right of the aboriginal peoples to self-government. That i

Official Languages committee  Thank you, Mr. Trottier. I gave a couple of examples earlier. One of the things for youth is to enable them to meet among themselves and to come up with their own ideas. We used to have what was called the Métis National Youth Advisory Council, but unfortunately funding was c

Official Languages committee  I think you captured one of the points we made. That in itself would be positive. I want to say taking an example from the Olympic Games, the engagement of aboriginal youth in the opening ceremonies and in the month prior to the games was very successful. If nothing else, if the

Official Languages committee  Thank you for the question. We have a protocol with the federal government, the Métis Nation Protocol signed in 2008. Under that, this whole issue could potentially be one of the agendas that we deal with bilaterally with the federal government. One of the things I may propose t

Official Languages committee  Mr. Chairman and committee members, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. With me is Elder Norman Fleury from Manitoba, an expert on the Michif language. First, let me provide a brief overview of the Métis National Council, the representative body of the Mé

Canadian Heritage committee  It was set up basically coming out of 1976, on behalf of Métis saying that we have to start promoting our culture, we have to start preserving our culture, we have to make our culture known and our people known. That is where the Gabriel Dumont Institute came from. It's expanded

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you. Before I get to that, I want to say that in addition to what you mentioned with the legislature, I should inform the committee that on November 15 the City of Regina, Mayor Fiacco, and the Métis Nation raised the Métis Nation flag, which is now going to be flying perm

Canadian Heritage committee  Of course my priority would be looking at the accommodation of the Métis people within Canada that's going to be lasting and productive for both the Métis people and Canada. In this case again, I would go back to the need for a land base and the opening of the space for self-gove

Canadian Heritage committee  On that note, what's on trial, if I can use that term, is the history of Manitoba, and of course the history of Canada, in that sense. There are going to be certain findings coming out of that. A lot of that the Canadian public is not aware of, and a lot of our own people aren't

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes. I think that's very good. In terms of the Métis Nation, there's a lot of misunderstanding, and there's been of course quite a long period of suppression of the Métis Nation and Métis rights. I would think projects that enable aboriginal nations or peoples to deal with thei