Latest news with #CrownIndigenousRelations
CTV News
05-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Brokenhead Ojibway Nation creates new reserve land in East St. Paul
Sign for the economic development zone of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation is shown. (Scott Anderson/CTV News Winnipeg) More than 60 acres of land in East St. Paul has officially become reserve land for Brokenhead Ojibway Nation (BON). On Friday, July 4, 2025, BON announced the creation of a new reserve on 60.76 acres east of Highway 59 and south of the Perimeter Highway, near the boundary of Winnipeg. BON said it is exploring a range of potential uses for the land, including residential and commercial development, recreation and wellness facilities. 'This site has incredible potential to create jobs, expand services, and support our ongoing work to build a stronger economic future for our Nation,' said Chief Gord Bluesky in a news release. 'It reflects our Nation's commitment to growth, self-reliance, and working in true partnership with our neighbours.' The reserve designation follows 20 years of negotiations with the federal government. BON said the land acquisition will help unlock new economic development opportunities. 'Through the expansion of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation's land base, we are not only advancing reconciliation and fulfilling past obligations under the Treaty Land Entitlement process, we're also creating new opportunities for growth and development,' said Rebecca Alty, federal minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations.
CBC
25-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Canada says lawsuit by group claiming to represent B.C. Métis should be dismissed
Social Sharing The Government of Canada says a lawsuit filed by an organization claiming to represent Métis in B.C. should be dismissed as there is insufficient evidence of Métis rights-holding communities in the province, according to documents filled in B.C. Supreme Court. The B.C. Métis Federation (BCMF) sued the federal government in July 2024 for its refusal to recognize the organization as a representative of Métis people in the province. The lawsuit was filed by the BCMF and three of its members who claim to have ancestral ties to B.C. First Nations or what it claims as historic Métis settlements within the province. BCMF says it has 6,000 members "who trace their genealogy back to a historic Métis community in British Columbia or to a Métis community elsewhere in Canada." The lawsuit refers to these B.C. communities as "Pacific Northwest Métis." The lawsuit says BCMF previously received funding from federal organizations such as Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, Natural Resources Canada, and the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians Contribution Program. The documents list nine examples where BCMF applied for programs or funding and was refused for not holding section 35 rights, or because the Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) is the recognized service delivery organization for Métis in the province. Powley criteria A spokesperson for Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada said the department cannot comment on the case because it is before the court. Canada's response to the lawsuit, filed in court May 16, says the courts have not recognized a Section 35 rights-bearing Métis community in B.C., and that BCMF represents people with and without Métis ancestry. The Supreme Court of Canada's 2003 Powley decision laid out criteria for rights recognition of Métis communities. In court documents, Canada says the Powley definition says "Métis" means more than individuals with mixed Indigenous and European heritage, and "'refers to a distinctive people who, in addition to their mixed ancestry, developed their own customs, way of life, and recognizable group identity' separate from their Indigenous and European ancestors prior to the time of effective European control." In Canada's response, it says the courts have not recognized any Métis rights-holding communities in B.C. because there is "insufficient evidence of an historic Métis community in British Columbia at the time of effective European control." It acknowledges there are people in the province who are members of historic Métis communities in other provinces. Keith Henry, president of BCMF, called the response from the Attorney General of Canada "disappointing." "I was actually quite surprised by the tone and the sort of condescending views of the attorney general," said Henry. Canada says MNBC is representative for B.C. Métis In its filing, Canada says MNBC is the representative organization for Métis people in B.C. who are members of historic Métis communities in other provinces. This is partly because Canada entered the Canada-Métis Nation Accord in 2017, in which the Métis National Council (MNC) and its provincial governing members would be the authorized representatives of the Métis Nation to the federal government. MNBC has since left the MNC in November, but was part of the MNC at the time of the agreement. BCMF called the government's agreement with MNBC prejudice because its members can't access MNBC services because they are not members, and said MNBC's definition of Métis requires an ancestral connection to the Red River Métis. In its filing, Canada says it does not control eligibility criteria by MNBC for its membership, and thus is not liable if BCMF members can't meet the requirements. Further, the document says Canada is also not liable if BCMF members who meet the criteria choose not to apply for MNBC membership. Henry said if the only way to be recognized as a Métis person in B.C. is through MNBC, "that would eliminate thousands of Métis people that freely choose not to want MNBC to represent them." Colette Trudeau, chief executive officer of MNBC, said the organization applauds the attorney general's response to the lawsuit as it upholds the "National Definition" of Métis created by the MNC general assembly in 2002 to define its citizenship criteria. "Those who seek to redefine who we are or create another version of our story, only diminish us all," said Trudeau. A statement from MNBC said it does not impede its citizens from registering with other organizations and they will still maintain MNBC membership if they choose to do so. MNBC said some of its members are also registered with BCMF.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MNC President Victoria Pruden Welcomes Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Canada
OTTAWA, ON, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ - The Métis National Council (MNC) proudly joins in welcoming Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla as they arrive in Canada. His Majesty will deliver the Speech from the Throne to formally open the First Session of the 45th Parliament of Canada tomorrow. President Victoria Pruden, alongside her son Kwennis, was honoured to be present at the airport to greet Their Majesties. "It was a privilege to welcome Their Majesties and extend a warm welcome on behalf of the Métis Nation in this historic moment," said President Pruden. "The presence of my son, Kwennis, was especially meaningful as we look to future generations of Métis leadership and continue our journey of truth, reconciliation, and Nation-to-Nation relationships." This visit offers an important opportunity to reflect on the shared history between the Crown and Indigenous Peoples in Canada. The MNC looks forward to ongoing dialogue and collaboration with the Crown and all levels of government to advance the rights and well-being of Métis in Canada. ''My priority as President of the Métis National Council is to work with all levels of Government and partners to enhance the lives of all Métis, but especially our most vulnerable," said President Pruden. SOURCE Métis National Council View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBC
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
N.W.T. MP Rebecca Alty on her cabinet appointment, and how she'll work to advance land claims in riding
As the new federal cabinet minister responsible for Crown-Indigenous Relations, the N.W.T.'s MP Rebecca Alty will be navigating key issues within her riding. That includes both land claim and self-government negotiations, which Alty said she plans to advance with all available resources. This is the first time in nearly 20 years that the N.W.T. has a representative sitting in cabinet. The last was former MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew, who served as a minister until 2006. Alty spoke to CBC News on Thursday for the first time since she was appointed minister, about her role and how she will balance her position in cabinet with representing her constituents. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. I'm curious, did you push for this ministerial role? No. I was, you know, elected as an MP and that was a big honour — and a big thanks to residents across the Northwest Territories. And then the prime minister's office reached out and asked if I'd consider cabinet. The prime minister called to offer me Crown-Indigenous Relations, which I'm really happy. It's a huge file, but so relevant in our home territory, and so I'm looking forward to the work ahead. How do you think that your background and past experience on Yellowknife city council and as mayor equips you for this role? Yeah, I think those are the relevant skills, and as well as my time at Diavik and being the manager of community and Indigenous relations. As mayor, it was working with eight colleagues to advance issues. So now it's at that bigger scale in Parliament. And then it is continuing to work with Indigenous partners, and now it's not just in the Yellowknife region or the Northwest Territories, but now across Canada. So I do think my background on council as well as at Diavik will be helpful in this portfolio. As minister now responsible for overseeing the land claims negotiations, how are you going to work to progress them here in the territory? I had great discussions with the [Dehcho First Nations] Grand Chief [Herb] Norwegian during the campaign, as well as with his team after the campaign but before I was minister. So I do look forward to, now that I am minister, being able to engage with the leadership. And you know, it sounds super promising with the Grand Chief [Norwegian] looking to finalize an agreement by the end of the year. Now it is working with my department to find the resources to see how possible that is. Because again, there's so many different negotiations happening across the territory, across the country, and so how do we balance that? But it is definitely one of the things that I'm looking most forward to in this role, is land claims and self-government agreements. I'm curious to hear a little more about what your strategy will be. How will you work to push them forward? So at the department level, it is about, you know, finding out our resources available and strategies on how to maximize those resources. It is working with the department as well as partners to see how we can expedite these processes. How will you balance being a minister and serving your constituents? I think it's one and the same. So having that seat at the cabinet table, I am able to to bring that northern perspective and being able to to champion the issues, week in, week out. And as the minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, a lot of the important work in the Northwest Territories is resolving the land claims and self-government agreements, continuing to honour and implement treaty, expanding capacity for modern treaty holders. So I think it is one and the same. It will be a challenge to make it into the Northwest Territories as much as when I was mayor. I was living there every week, and so I was able to go to more and more community events. So I think that will be the one challenge.
CBC
11-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Nisga'a Nation celebrates 25 years of self-governance under 1st modern-day treaty in B.C.
It's been 25 years since the first modern-day treaty in B.C. came into effect, releasing the Nisga'a Nation from the bounds of the Indian Act and allowing it to make its own decisions for its land and people. Brought into force on May 11, 2000, the landmark Nisga'a Treaty has been seen by many as a major milestone on the path to reconciliation in B.C. It was also the first treaty in Canada to directly recognize a First Nation's inherent right to self-government. Andrew Robinson, CEO of the Nisga'a Lisims government, remembers that May day as one of joy and celebration. "Our nation gathered together and sang a song that the Nisga'a canoe has landed," he told On The Coast host Gloria Makarenko. "[It] was fitting for that moment in time to pay respect and homage to all of those that spent 113 years fighting for our right to self-governance — hence the number of the Nisga'a Highway that our treaty partners, British Columbia and Canada, had agreed to: Highway 113." WATCH | The day the Nisga'a Treaty came into effect: Nisga'a Nation makes history with treaty vote 7 years ago Duration 3:03 Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Gary Anandasangaree said in a news release Friday that "this milestone represents not only the strength and vision of Nisga'a leadership but also the lasting impact of treaty partnerships rooted in respect, recognition and self-determination." Impact of the treaty, 25 years later The treaty included land title to about 2,000 square kilometers of land in B.C.'s Nass Valley, northwest of Terrace, and almost $200 million in compensation. It also opened the door to joint economic initiatives and development between the nation and the province. Robinson says if the impact were calculated, it would probably amount to billions of dollars contributed to the local, national and global economies. The nation created Canada's first Indigenous-owned mining royalty company, which brings together various Indigenous communities and investors. They're also one of three partners on the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG project. Beyond control of their own land and resources, the treaty also allowed the nation to run their own schools and health services. And, it freed them from the rules of the Indian Act. Robinson says many young people in their community today have never experienced life under the Indian Act. "They only know what Nisga'a Lisims government is, the government for their people," he said. Self-governance provides certainty Robinson says the treaty has provided certainty and clarity for their nation, but also for others. "We're making the nation and making the region stronger," he said. "It doesn't only provide certainty to British Columbians and Canadians, it provides certainty to the global community that the relationship is actually healing through these self-government agreements." B.C. Premier David Eby said in a news release Friday that the treaty marked a turning point in B.C.'s history, calling it a foundational, future-forward document. "Reflecting on the past 25 years, we have achieved so much as treaty partners, and we will continue working collaboratively to realize our goals with the treaty as our guide — partnerships are the path to progress," he said. "I thank the Nisg̱a'a Lisims Government for their leadership and congratulate all Nisg̱a'a citizens on this anniversary." Robinson says the economic, social development and educational opportunities provided through self-governance have made space for a clear path forward, and helped maintain relationships between the Nisga'a Nation and the neighbouring communities of Terrace, Prince Rupert, Kitimat and Smithers.
