Fort Smith Métis walk out of N.W.T. Métis Nation AGM

A controversial resolution adopted by the N.W.T. Métis Nation forced the Fort Smith Métis Council to walk out of a meeting last week, highlighting the tension within the Métis Nation, which is still trying to finalize a land claim with the federal government.

During the N.W.T. Métis Nation's annual general meeting in Hay River on Nov. 21, a vote narrowly passed 19 to 18 in favour of excluding Métis from outside of the territory from the group.

Ken Hudson, president of the Fort Smith Métis Council, said the resolution was strategic to cut the local group's membership, which includes close relatives from Fort Fitzgerald, Alta.

"The straw that broke the camel's back," Hudson says of the vote.

He says the decision to walk was a culmination of ongoing issues between Fort Smith, Hay River, and Fort Resolution member groups of the N.W.T. Métis Nation, which is made up of members who can trace their ancestry in the Northwest Territories back to 1921.

At issue is how decision-making power and resources will be divided among the three groups after self governance and land claims are settled with the federal government.

Hudson says Fort Resolution and Hay River have wanted an equal number of votes, but he calls that undemocratic.

"To us, it's unacceptable because we represent 1,400 people in Fort Smith and there's less than 400 in [Fort Resolution] and Hay River."

Hudson says there are talks of dividing the money and land equally once their negotiations are finalized — something the local groups also disagree over.

"Any government that has a tail wagging the dog scenario where the smallest group of people get to rule is just unacceptable," Hudson says. "It's not a democratic way."

'Heartbreaking'

The president of the N.W.T. Métis Nation, Gary Bailey, says it was "heartbreaking" to see the Fort Smith group walk away from the meeting.

He says some of Hudson's concerns about voting, resources and land allocation could be better addressed if the federal government provided a breakdown of its offer to the N.W.T. Métis Nation.

Bailey wants to know if the offer includes money for members and land from outside of the territory.

"They haven't come up with the formula to why the offer is what it is," Bailey said. "Like how much land are you getting and how much cash. Is it based off of per capita?  We don't know that."

Arthur Beck, the president of the Fort Resolution Métis, says the resolution was necessary. Beck says negotiations are for members North of the 60th parallel, and the Métis don't get money for negotiating for members from outside of the N.W.T.

Beck says proper enumeration is needed before the membership list is finalized.

"Enumeration has not been completed," Beck said. "Out of that 13 to 1,400 members we don't know how many [are] indigenous to the Northwest Territories prior to December 21, 1921."

The president of the Hay River Métis, Karen Lafferty, declined to comment on the matter, only saying that Fort Smith's concerns will be addressed as self-government talks and land claims negotiations move closer to being finalized.

Meeting next month

Hudson admits that, in the end, the resolution may not even impact Fort Smith's membership, as most of its members can trace their ancestry to the N.W.T. prior to 1921.  

He also says they don't plan to leave the N.W.T. Métis Nation, but he says they need to come up with a better solution going forward.

Hudson plans on presenting some options at the main negotiating table with the federal and territorial governments next month in Edmonton.

"It just makes sense that more people require more money and more land for the betterment of our people," Hudson said. "In [Fort] Smith we're only protecting our interest."

The president of the Métis Nation also plans on attending the meetings.

"We are going to work these issues out and nobody's quit yet," Bailey says. "Our goal is to make history for Métis people. And make sure we get our agreement so we can move forward.

"We can't negotiate forever."