“We believe this review is a step in the right direction. What we have heard from Métis communities is that the status quo in the mining sector is unacceptable. Presently, the current system is not adequately addressing the Crown’s duty to consult Métis communities, but we believe that by working together we can strike the right balance to address this,” said President Lipinski.

The MNO also released its report from consultations held on the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) discussion paper, entitled, Towards Developing an Aboriginal Consultation Approach for Mineral Sector Activities, which was released in the Winter of 2007. Consultations on this discussion paper occurred in early 2008, as a part of MNO’s province-wide community consultations on developing an Ontario Métis consultation framework. Over 17 community meetings were held throughout the province and well over 700 Métis participated in the consultations. Some of the key recommendations in the report include:

• Sustained capacity support for MNO regional consultation protocols in areas with existing or potential mining development, which can be used by industry and government department to effectively consult with rights-bearing Métis communities,
• funding for a provincial Métis traditional land use studies initiative, which can establish base line data on Métis land use in areas with existing or potential mining development,
• Métis involvement in regional land use planning,
• increasing government and industry awareness on the Métis people in the province,
• MNDM participation in MNO-Ontario Framework Agreement process,
• providing notice of mining staking and claims to Métis communities,
• making it mandatory for industry to enter into relationship protocols and impacts and benefits agreements with Métis communities, and
• implementing revenue resource sharing arrangements with Métis communities,

MNO Chair France Picotte added, “This report outlines the feedback we received and some recommendations on how we can change the status quo and begin to ensure the duty is being fulfilled by working constructively with government and industry.”

“The report also recommends a series of next steps for addressing what we heard, including, holding more focused consultations in regions and areas with existing or potential mining operations, undertaking a legal analysis of the current Mining Act and its effects on Métis rights and improved coordination between government Ministries on ensuring the Crown’s duty is fulfilled. I have recently written to Minister Gravelle in order to start this collaborative work between MNDM and the Métis Nation,” concluded President Lipinski.

The Métis are a distinct Aboriginal people with a unique culture, language and heritage, with an ancestral Homeland that centres around Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and extends into the Northwest Territories and the northwestern United States. The Métis played an instrumental role in the shaping of Canada, and work tirelessly to share their culture, traditions and knowledge of the environment with their fellow Canadians. Today, the Métis live, work, raise their families and pay taxes in communities all across Canada.