B.C. Métis Nation votes to withdraw from Métis National Council

Members of the Métis Nation British Columbia voted Saturday to leave the national organization, the Métis National Council, effective immediately.

The vote was held virtually during the B.C. group's governance assembly and follows similar moves by Métis groups in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

A statement from Métis Nation B.C. said the decision comes after "careful consideration and deliberation" by its elected board of directors and community leaders, who voted with a "strong majority" in favour of leaving the national council.

President Walter Mineault said in a statement that despite 40 years of "good work," the governance structure of the Métis National Council is no longer equitable.

The current structure affords "absolute control" to the remaining founding member of the national council, the statement said.

The Métis National Council's bylaws state that board meetings will include the president and two of the founding members — Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta.

But only the Alberta group remains among the founders after the Manitoba Métis Federation pulled out in 2021, citing concerns with membership in the Métis Nation of Ontario, and the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan left this fall over similar reasons.

The decision in B.C. comes after "many failed attempts" to change the structure of the national council, the statement from Métis Nation B.C. said.

B.C. vice-president Melanie Allard said she was dismayed the groups could not find a way to continue together, but the B.C. organization must directly advocate for priorities that matter to Métis people in the province.

The Métis National Council said in a statement in late October that more time was needed to reform the organization and its bylaws.

In a separate statement, the Métis Nation of Alberta, now known as the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, said the group is "committed to fundamental reform at the Métis National Council."