Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  What we said, within our correspondence with the federal government, was very clear. There needs to be conversation. There needs to be a conversation with Métis communities that are not a part of the Métis Nation of Alberta. There needs to be a conversation, so that protections are built in.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. I'm going to speak more specifically about Alberta. I believe there's a major discussion going on within the Métis Nation of Ontario. I want to make sure that I speak to where my strength is and that is my province. What I will speak to is this: I was part of the negotiations and discussion in terms of how we, as Métis people, can have representation within Ottawa.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. The quick and easy answer is absolutely. Throughout the entirety of the process to reach this draft of the bill, we sent multiple letters to the federal government opposing and requesting consultation in relation to what this bill could look like. Throughout the entirety of that process, up until February of this year, that was the only time that the federal government actually reached out to have a discussion, after they had signed the agreement.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, we have.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That is correct. Throughout the process we wrote letters. We tried to contact the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and, unfortunately, there was just no reciprocation throughout the process.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The biggest issue for us in relation to this is that the Métis Nation of Alberta, under their constitution.... The Otipemisiwak Métis government held a referendum for that last year, and Bill C-53 will bring that constitution into force. They basically claim all Métis in Alberta.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's correct. We've declared self-government. We have a constitution. We own all of our own lands. We bought them, fee simple, from the government. We had to go out and get mortgages to do so. We own all of our own homes. We deliver all of our programs. We deliver all of our own employment and social services, 100% through the dollars that we've been able to generate from the energy industry.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. [Witness spoke in Cree] [English] My name is Ron Quintal. Since 2005 I have been president of the Fort McKay Métis Nation, the authorized government of the Fort McKay Métis community. I am also the elected chairperson of the Alberta Métis Federation, a collective of eight independent Métis communities.