‘The foundation of the future’: MMF signs 1st modern Métis treaty with federal government

The federal government signed its first-ever modern treaty with a Métis government during a ceremony with the Manitoba Métis Federation in Winnipeg on Saturday, in what leaders hailed as a pivotal moment for Canada and the Métis people.

David Chartrand, the president of the Manitoba Métis Federation, was overcome with emotion as spoke to dozens of people in attendance during Saturday’s ceremony, before the treaty was officially signed as a fiddler played.

“When you start looking at what it is and why it is this treaty means so much, it sets the stage of what the future will look like,” said Chartrand. “It will be the foundation of the future for the next generation.” 

Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree was also in the city to sign the agreement, which formally recognizes the Manitoba Métis Federation as the government of the Red River Métis.

“This is a significant event,” he said. “It affirms your inherent rights to self-government as well as law-making powers over citizenship, elections and internal operations.

“Though I want to be clear, for over two centuries the Métis have established their own governance structure, made and enforced their own laws and followed their own transitions and customs.” 

The agreement will be “a turning point for our country,” Chartrand previously said.  “We can’t change history but we can change the future.”

It commits Canada to working with the Manitoba Métis Federation on a government-to-government basis — no matter which party holds power in Ottawa.

“This treaty sets the stone solid — it carves the pathway to ensure and enshrine that our government will be recognized,” Chartrand said Saturday.

The Red River Métis actually negotiated a treaty with Canada back in 1870 — the Manitoba Act — which led to Manitoba joining Confederation. It was supposed to provide Métis with land and economic opportunities, but the federal government didn’t follow through on those commitments.

At the time, the federal government didn’t want to recognize the existence of a provisional government under Métis leader Louis Riel. Ottawa saw Riel as a traitor.

Riel, who led the Red River Resistance, was executed by hanging at the Northwest Mounted Police barracks in Regina in 1885. The government of Manitoba named him the province’s honorary first premier this past February.

Speaking Saturday, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, who had long fought for the recognition for Riel, said the signing of the treaty is a “tremendous victory” that was a long time coming.

“As we move forward together, the idea that Métis citizens will always know that their rightful place in our society, in our country, is acknowledged and honoured in the proper way, that can only mean good things for the future generations,” he said.

The Manitoba Métis Federation began discussions with Ottawa on the agreement in 2021. An estimated 4,000 MMF delegates unanimously approved the treaty in a June 2023 vote.

The agreement doesn’t come with a list of benefits for the Red River Métis. Anandasangaree previously said it opens the door to future agreements with the federal government on fishing and harvesting rights, education, child welfare, land claims and health coverage.

Anandasangaree also acknowledged Saturday that the work won’t be done until “Parliament recognizes this by way of a bill” to bring the treaty into law. 

“I hope to advance this in the coming days,” he said. “And I call upon all Parliamentarians to support this initiative and ensure that we have swift passage of this bill.” 

The Métis are the only distinct Indigenous people excluded from the federal health benefits provided to Inuit and First Nations.Chartrand said he wants to see that change soon.