As most of you should know, we have now completed our first round of consultations on the Crown’s duty to consult and accommodate Métis rights. The turn out for and interest generated from these community meetings was impressive. We are currently in the process of finalizing the ‘what we heard’ report from these consultations and the report will be formally released soon.

What was clear from these consultation meetings is that Métis citizens and communities want to know what is going on around them, as it relates to and impacts our rights, our way of life and our traditional territories. Our communities want to have an opportunity to assess and have a say in what governments and proponents are doing or planning on doing on lands Métis have relied on for generations. Moreover, our communities want to share in the benefits flowing from economic development occurring on Métis traditional territories.

Without question, developing and implementing a MNO Consultation Framework will assist us in achieving what Métis citizens desire. However, we also heard from Métis citizens that we need to take our time in developing a consultation framework so it is community-driven, collaborative and strengthens Métis rights for generations to come. Similar to what we did in developing our MNO Harvesting Policy, we need to take time and ensure our citizens understand and support what we are putting into place. Over the next few months, we will continue to consult with Métis citizens and communities with a view to adopting a MNO Consultation Framework that will be discussed and debated at our upcoming Special Presidents’ Assembly and Annual General Assembly in November.

While we continue to consult on developing a MNO Consultation Framework, the MNO is also doing what it can to ensure Métis rights and interests are being respected by governments and industry in relation to development that is going on – right now. Over the last few months, some of this work has included:

• Working with the Timmins, Northern Lights and Temiskaming Community Councils in order to develop a Consultation Protocol, which sets out a collaborative process for these three Councils to work together in order to ensure Métis rights are respected in the James Bay and Abitibi/Temiskaming traditional harvesting territories. Additional information about the Protocol signing and the English and French copies of the Protocol are available here.
• Organizing a regional Métis community meeting in Sault Ste. Marie to discuss forestry opportunities in the region. Based on this meeting, a working group, consisting of regional Métis community representatives, has been established, in order to engage with the Ministry of Natural Resources on forestry opportunities for the Métis.
• The MNO is actively participating in hearings before the Ontario Energy Board on the Integrated Power Supply Plan (IPSP) as well as the Bruce to Milton Transmission Line, in order to ensure Métis rights and interests are protected. In the upcoming edition of the Métis Voyager, additional information on the Bruce to Milton Transmission Line will be provided to MNO citizens.

What has become very clear from the work that we have done to date is that funding and capacity is desperately needed at the local, regional and provincial levels in order to ensure our citizens and communities can effectively participate in consultation and accommodation processes. Right now, we are simply unable to do all we need to do in order to protect Métis rights and participate in consultation processes effectively.

The MNO’s leadership continues to work with the Government of Ontario in order to ensure there is a Métis-specific allocation within the recently announced Relationship Fund for MNO Community Councils to start accessing. As well, the MNO is attempting to assist MNO Community Councils as much as possible, but the MNO head office also has very limited capacity and resources in this area. However, in true Métis spirit, we are trying to do our best to manage the demands by working together.

Based on requests from MNO Community Councils, we have developed a standard letter for Councils to use in responding to consultation requests from government and industry. A copy of this standard letter can be downloaded here. As well, MNO Community Councils interested in developing their own consultation protocols, similar to the one developed by the Timmins, Northern Lights and Temiskaming Community Councils, should contact Doug Wilson, MNO’s Chief Operating Officer at the MNO’s office in Ottawa.

I look forward to continuing to provide update and to work – together – on this important topic for the Métis people.

Gary Lipinski is the President of the MNO and the portfolio holder for natural resources and consultation.