SASKATOON – A number of Saskatchewan Métis leaders say they hope a general assembly later this month in Saskatoon will help rebuild their provincial government, which is currently without federal funding.
“We the grassroots people are taking steps to ensure the collective voices of our nation are being heard and respected,” said Kelvin Roy, president of the Métis Nation of Green Lake.
Roy was one of two Métis local presidents who announced a general assembly will take place on Sept. 26 in Saskatoon. They are calling on all Métis people in Saskatchewan to attend and say one of their goals is to establish the date for a Métis Nation Legislative Assembly.
“For five years now the provincial Métis council has been in non-compliance with our constitution,” said Bryan Lee, president of the Fish Lake Métis Local, who joined Roy Friday.
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The issue has led to the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) losing its federal funding, since its constitution states two legislative assembles are to be held yearly.
The battle has been both political and legal. Vice-president Gerald Morin and president Robert Doucette are at odds over a number of issues, including financial transparency.
Morin leads the Provincial Métis Council, which is tasked with calling a legislative assembly. He says the action cannot happen at a general assembly.
“A general assembly under our constitution has no legal powers,” said Morin.
“The only legal power it has is to ratify constitutional amendments and also to ratify the election date.”
Morin says he doesn’t plan on attending the general assembly as he suspects it will include posturing by Doucette. It’s a notion the president of the MN-S rejects.
“I think it’s important for us to go and listen to what our people have to say and then act on it,” said Doucette.
“It’s Métis people, saying, look, we want to meet, don’t put any road blocks in the way, just set a day and a place, and we’ll show up,” he added.
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