First Nations Voice

PAGE 18 • FEBRUARY 2013 President's Message I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and hope that each and every one of you had a warm and cheery Christmas with family, friends, and neighbours. It is always important to check on shut-in family, friends and neighbours all year round, but David Chartrand especially during the cold of winter Manitoba Metis and to offer assistance in clearing Federation President snow, chopping wood, and offering a hand for whatever needs to be done around the house, farm, or trapline. As a tight-knit community we depend so much on each other. This past year the Métis Nation's Manitoba Métis Community harvesting rights were recognized throughout much of the province. What is truly significant is the acceptance of our home-grown Métis management practices including our harvester cards. This is an important Métis self-government initiative. This was a community endeavor developed through intensive consultation and support from our Harvesters, our Elders, and our People. A year has gone by since we were in front of the Supreme Court of Canada and we are awaiting a decision on our MMF v Canada & Manitoba court case. We are optimistic a decision will come sometime in the New Year. We can afford to be patient after being in and out of the courts on this issue for over twenty years. We are confident that our legal arguments will carry the day and that the DAVID CHARTRAND historic facts will speak for themselves. In the news recently there was a federal court decision that for the purposes of interpreting section 91(24) of the Canadian Constitution that the Métis are Indians. This does not mean that the Métis are Indians in the way we normally use the term. Think of this term, in this specific part of the Constitution, as having a more general meaning like native, aborigine, aboriginal or indigenous people. Although in the distant past the Métis were sometimes described as Indians or a tribe, we called ourselves Otepayemsuak or the independent ones, Michif, Métif, Métis, Métisse, the New Nation, and the Métis Nation. We continue to assert our separate identity as one of the distinct and unique Aboriginal Peoples of Canada. But we have always known who we were then and who we are today: We are the Métis. The new decision does not mean that the Métis are now under the Indian Act. We would oppose any suggestion or action towards the Métis becoming subject to this unwanted, out-of-date, and arbitrary government legislation. The Métis are Canada's negotiating partners in Confederation. We expect to be recognized and treated as equal partners by both the federal and provincial governments. Never will we accept being dealt with as second-class citizens. I offer my best wishes to everyone. I offer prayers and my condolences for those of us who have recently lost a family member or friend. Meeqwetch! Believe in Yourself. Believe in Métis. Working with First Nations in Industry Talk to Your Pharmacist A Healthy Choice Training Pills can look like candy to a child. Teenagers can be tempted to experiment. Bring your unused and expired medication to a pharmacy for disposal. It's safe and better for the environment. • Trained, equipped, licensed security guards • Static/Mobile security service • Industrial first aid • Confined-space rescue • Health and safety professionals- consulting/auditing • Labour dispute/strike security solutions • And more Manitoba Society of Pharmacists Kids are curious. We can help. • BST(security), first aid (various levels) • Confined-space training • Fall-arrest training • Managing challenging behaviour • Traffic control/ flagging • And more 1-800-636-6267 www.domcor.ca Pharmacist Awareness Month • March 2013 Visit msp.mb.ca for events in your area. Canadian Red Cross opens satellite office in Moose Cree First Nation This is the first Red Cross office in an Ontario First Nation community and only the second in Canada. Working together with the community, we will build capacity, programs and volunteer teams in disaster management and violence and abuse prevention. We are currently recruiting volunteers to support these programs from the Moosonee and Moose Factory areas. For more information, please call 705-267-4900 x 203

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