Assembly of First Nations endorses fight against Ontario Métis self-government bill

Standing in front of Centre Block on Parliament Hill on Wednesday, John Turner pointed to an old black-and-white picture of his ancestors featured in a 2019 edition of the Métis Voyageur newsletter.

The family, said Turner, were members of the Teme-Augama Anishnabai (Temagami First Nation) in northern Ontario — and not Métis, as their presence in the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) publication might suggest.

"When you talk about identity theft, this is such a clear-cut case," said Turner, who is second chief of the Teme-Augama Anishnabai council, in an interview.

"On one hand, it's disturbing. On the other hand, if they have tens of thousands of members, surely to God they can find pictures of their own ancestors. No descendants of these people are Métis."

Turner was one man in a crowd of about 200 that bused into Ottawa to protest against proposed federal legislation that would confirm the MNO's internal Indigenous self-government rights.

In choosing to recognize the MNO, the First Nations leaders say Canada failed to consult them and failed to properly verify the MNO's citizens are truly Métis.

The Métis Nation emerged as distinct people of mixed First Nations and European origins in the Prairies in the late 18th century. But the roots of today's battle are in the Ontario's government's 2017 decision to recognize six new historic Métis communities in the province.

The decision stretched the Métis homeland as far east as the Ottawa river on the Quebec border — an area where First Nations maintain their elders never spoke of a Métis presence.

"This is a pure fabrication of the federal government and the provincial government," said Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod, a spokesman for the Chiefs of Ontario umbrella group on the issue.

The Canadian government signed an updated self-government agreement with the MNO earlier this year, promising to ratify it through legislation. The First Nations want that legislation — Bill C-53 — cancelled.

The Assembly of First Nations, representing more than 600 First Nations countrywide, backed the cause on Wednesday.

"Bill C-53 was advanced without proper consultation with First Nations," said interim National Chief Joanna Bernard.

In prepared remarks to the crowd, Bernard said she had written to the prime minister urging the bill be halted until that consultation happens, while several other First Nations groups issued statements supporting the Ontario chiefs.

The MNO, however, accuses First Nations of denialism and disingenuousness.