Latest news with #ManitobaMétisFederation
Winnipeg Free Press
17 hours ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba trade representative to U.S. ‘hit the ground running'
Indigenous, agriculture and labour leaders who have met Manitoba's new trade representative to the U.S. say they're optimistic Richard Madan is the right person for the job at a critical time. 'It's only his fourth day on the job, but he's a thoroughbred,' Renee Greyeyes, president and CEO of Indigenous Chamber of Commerce Manitoba, said Friday. 'The starter pistol sounded and he hit the ground running.' Greyeyes said she met Madan at two events after he arrived in Winnipeg on June 23 for a week of meetings with Manitoba business sector leaders. 'I think he's a good choice,' said Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand, who recalled being interviewed by Madan in his former role as a Washington, D.C., bureau reporter. Chartrand said he was impressed by the provincial trade rep as Manitoba deals with tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Madan, an American-born, Alberta-raised dual citizen who covered politics in the U.S. capital for nearly a decade, shared his insight on the states that Manitoba trades with and how they're being hurt by tariffs, Chartrand added. 'For example, he said in a lot of the farming areas … there's an outcry right now and it's causing a lot of pressure on Trump,' and there's opportunity to forge alliances with those states that will benefit both sides. It is a stance Keystone Agricultural Producers president Jill Verwey agrees with. 'It is their legislators and state representatives that are carrying that strong message on how important the relationship with Manitoba and Canada is,' she said. Verwey and other commodity association representatives met with Madan on Wednesday at Manitoba Agriculture's Food Development Centre in Portage la Prairie. Verwey applauded Premier Wab Kinew for establishing a business and jobs council ahead of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement on trade being renegotiated, leading a Manitoba mission to Washington in early 2024 and hiring Madan to his new role. 'He knows who to talk to … he knows what phone calls to make and has those relationships. I really did find that he was here to listen.'– Manitoba Pork general manager Cam Dahl She said Trump's tariff threats that change 'from hour to hour, day to day' emphasize how important it is for Manitoba to strengthen its trade ties with individual U.S. states. 'The greatest value is having that strong relationship and building on that,' said Verwey, who wants to see a co-ordinated, Prairies-wide approach to domestic and international trade for the agriculture sector. Manitoba Pork general manager Cam Dahl said Madan seemed knowledgeable about working with the states and the value of strengthening relationships. 'He knows who to talk to … he knows what phone calls to make and has those relationships,' said Dahl. 'I really did find that he was here to listen.' At the Manitoba legislature, Madan heard from labour leaders about the worries and concerns caused by tariff threats. 'Different unions talked about some layoffs that they're facing, the impact some of these things are having on workers and the uncertainty that they're causing our economy,' Manitoba Federation of Labour president Kevin Rebeck said Friday. 'That's the story that needs to be told in Washington… that there's a trained, skilled workforce here that can partner and do things together.'– Manitoba Federation of Labour president Kevin Rebeck 'We also talked about how proud we are to be Manitobans and that this is a great place to live and to work,' Rebeck said. 'That's the story that needs to be told in Washington — that there's a trained, skilled workforce here that can partner and do things together.' Meantime, Madan will need more than a week of hearing from Manitoba stakeholders to advocate on their behalf, said trade and supply chain expert Robert Parsons. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. 'My only concern is: does he get it about what is going on here?' said the Asper School of Business instructor and researcher with a PhD in engineering. Madan worked as a reporter in Winnipeg more than 20 years ago (2000-04). Before Madan's hiring was announced, Parsons had said he hoped Manitoba's trade representative to the U.S. would be someone from the province with extensive industry or trade experience. 'You have to really be in tune with what's going on here and, if there's a challenge, I think that's the one.' The provincial budget includes $800,000 for the Washington office, which includes funding for office space, salaries and administrative support. Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
140 years later: Artifacts from the North-West Resistance
The first cannon fired by the North-West Field Forces at Batoche, Saskatchewan. 1885. James Peters, Library and Archives Canada, based on e011156617_s1; C-03464. Among the armed conflicts that have involved the Canadian government, the 1885 North-West Resistance may not be the most well-known, but preserved artifacts from across the prairies serve as a reminder of the fatal conflict. The North-West Resistance was fought between the Canadian government and the Métis along with First Nations, triggered by concerns over land rights, starvation and other grievances stemming from westward expansion. 'This was a huge mistake,' said Will Goodon, Manitoba Métis Federation Minister of Housing and Identity Protection, 'when [Canada] went to war against its own citizens.' Between March and June of 1885, concerns escalated into armed resistance centred across modern-day Saskatchewan and part of Alberta—then the North-West Territories. 95th Manitoba Grenadiers at Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan 95th Manitoba Grenadiers at Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, 1885. University of Winnipeg Archives, Western Canada Pictorial Index, Gerry Dupont and Carla Davidson Collection (North-West Resistance Photographs) (uw_21-004_001_0001_005). Leading up to the conflict Before the conflict, petitions and letters were sent to Ottawa addressing these grievances in hopes of a resolution. 'These people were Canadian citizens by now, and they looked to their country to protect them. And if their country is not going to protect them, who will? And so, the outlook was more and more bleak,' said Goodon. The Métis eventually brought Louis Riel—founder of the province of Manitoba and central figure in the 1869-70 Red River Resistance—back to the Canadian prairies in 1884. Portrait of Louis David Riel, taken between 1870-1873. H. Noverre, Library and Archives Canada, Jean Riel fonds, based on e011156648. Portrait of Louis David Riel, taken between 1870-1873. H. Noverre, Library and Archives Canada, Jean Riel fonds, based on e011156648. Riel would later state at his trial that upon his return to the Northwest, he viewed the Métis as 'deprived of their public liberties,' getting further malnourished by the day and that they were 'deprived of responsible government.' On March 19, 1885, the Provisional Government of Saskatchewan was established with Riel as leader and Gabriel Dumont as adjutant general. Crossfire began one week later between the Métis and the North-West Mounted Police near Duck Lake, approximately 80 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, Sask. Over 5,000 troops sent by the federal government Prime Minister John A. MacDonald would respond publicly that week in the House of Commons, saying that troops would be called upon and dispatched by the Canadian Pacific Railway. 95th Manitoba Grenadiers at Portage la Prairie, Man. 95th Manitoba Grenadiers at Portage la Prairie, Man., 1885. Archives of Manitoba, Guards Association in Canada fonds, PR1977-63, P5255/6. More than 5,000 troops are documented to have served on the federal government's side during the conflict from across the country. Battalions were also raised in Winnipeg, including the 92nd Winnipeg Light Infantry, the 90th Winnipeg Rifles, and the Winnipeg Field Battery of Artillery. Several battles ensued over the following months, including the Battle of Fish Creek, the Battle of Cut Knife, the Frog Lake Massacre, and the Battle of Batoche, which ultimately led to the collapse of the provisional government. One hundred and forty years later, the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) Museum in Shilo, Man., still holds a gun that was used at the time by Canadian government forces. The nine-pounder rifled muzzle loading (RML) gun was one of four used by 'A' Battery at the Battle of Fish Creek and the Battle of Batoche, according to Andrew Oakden, RCA Museum director. Nine-pounder rifled muzzle loading gun Nine-pounder rifled muzzle loading gun at the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum in Shilo, Man. (RCA Museum) On loan from the RCMP, the RML gun has a range of approximately three kilometres and lacks a recoil mechanism—requiring repositioning after each shot. 'They were outmatched at the end, just on the sheer modernity of the weaponry,' said Goodon, adding that a Gatling gun from the U.S. was also used on the government's side. 'Near the end, the Métis had no bullets. They were melting down cutlery, putting rocks in their muskets.' Meanwhile, in Saskatchewan, the Gabriel Dumont Institute has a rusted 12-gauge double-barreled shotgun, pistol fragments, and a knife fragment among their collection of Métis artifacts, which were recovered from the battlefields. Images courtesy of the Gabriel Dumont Institute / Dennis and Jean Fisher Collection A double-barreled shotgun (left), pistol fragments and a knife fragment retrieved from battlefields of the North-West Resistance in Sask. Images courtesy of the Gabriel Dumont Institute / Dennis and Jean Fisher Collection. ( The institute also has a nine-pound projectile which may have come from the RML gun now at the RCA Museum. The cannon projectile was retrieved from a battlefield at Batoche in 1968, prior to Parks Canada acquiring the land for the present-day historic site. Nine-pound cannon projectile Nine-pound cannon projectile retrieved from a battlefield in Batoche, Sask. Image courtesy of the Gabriel Dumont Institute / Dennis and Jean Fisher Collection. ( Over 100 people died during the conflict, according to the Canadian War Museum. 'We lost a lot of young people who were just fighting for their homes, fighting for their families,' said Goodon. One of the medical equipment kits that was used by an assistant surgeon with the 92nd Winnipeg Light Infantry is on display at the Fort Battleford National Historic Site. Medical equipment of Stephen Thomas Macadam Medical equipment of assistant surgeon Stephen Thomas Macadam with the 92nd Winnipeg Light Infantry. (Fort Battleford National Historic Site) The Métis forces were eventually defeated by government troops, with Riel being arrested and put on trial for high treason. He was found guilty by a jury and hanged in Regina, Sask., on Nov. 16, 1885. 'We all know that we have one of the best countries in the world, but it has made mistakes in the past,' said Goodon.
Hamilton Spectator
23-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Indigenous identity misuse: Manitoba Métis minister Will Goodon slams court ruling on Oshawa fraudster's sentencing
A Métis cabinet minister has criticized the sentencing of a convicted fraudster after she received time off her sentence by claiming Métis heritage, despite there being 'no Indigenous identifiers for any known ancestors'. 'We're the ones who get to decide who's us,' said Will Goodon, the minister of housing and property management for the Manitoba Métis Federation. '(Being Indigenous is) not about just standing up in the middle of a crowd and saying 'I'm Métis.'' His comments come after Ashley Gallie was sentenced to a combined six years in two separate cases — including 18 months for trafficking and gun crimes, plus four years and six months for fraud and possession for the purpose of trafficking. Gallie, 40, originally of Oshawa, was nabbed by Toronto police on Oct. 15, 2022 after they conducted a search warrant in a motel room. During the search, investigators allegedly discovered Gallie with drugs, including crack and fentanyl, along with a gun, ammunition and more than $10,000 in cash. In the other case, she was accused of stealing thousands worth of OxyContin pills from two Toronto pharmacies, totalling a street value of up to $194,000, court documents state. In the aftermath of her multiple arrests, the mother of three lost the custody of her child who is under three years old. During her first trial, in regards to fraud and theft from the pharmacies, Gallie said she was of Indigenous descent, claiming Mi'kmaq heritage. She told the author of her pre-sentence report she had her Métis status card, of The Painted Feather of the Woodland Tribe. However, the court indicated the tribe was a 'for-profit organization' in Bancroft and not recognized by the Manitoba Métis Foundation, the Métis Nation of Ontario or the Government of Canada. 'The letter indicates that payment of a fee is required to be a member of that organization,' court documents read. 'There is no requirement of supporting documents to demonstrate any Indigenous ancestry of any family members. The cards are available to anyone who requests one.' A letter from Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) explained they were unable to produce a Gladue report — a presentencing document intended to shed light on an offender's background and unique circumstances — as there 'were no Indigenous identifiers for any of the known ancestors in Gallie's family tree.' 'While there is no proof that Gallie is not Indigenous, there is no information before the court … to assist the court in how it could use her … background as a factor … on sentencing,' Justice Beverly Brown told the court in her reasons. However, in her second case, involving the alleged drug dealing and possession of a firearm and ammunition, the lack of a Gladue report did not stop Justice Brock Jones from deeming Gallie's background as a mitigating factor. 'Gallie considers herself Métis … While the letter from (ALS) indicates that the author is unable to complete a formal Gladue report, it does not question Gallie's Indigenous heritage,' the court heard. He went on to reiterate Gallie's claims that her grandfather informed her of her heritage before he passed away, not wanting to share it earlier due to his fear that his true identity would be discovered. 'That Gallie's connection to her culture was severed in the past is tragic, but sadly it is not uncommon,' he told the court. 'Her recent efforts to reconnect with that culture are meaningful and admirable.' Later in the mitigating factor section, Jones said Gallie's difficult life and 'Indigenous heritage' diminished her moral culpability to some extent. Goodon went on to say that he felt many in this day and age are trying to 'scam the system', including musicians like Buffy St. Marie and former Manitoba environment minister Kevin Klein , who was also a member of The Painted Feather of the Woodland Tribe. 'The suffering that's happened from our grandparents and their parents through the years of colonialism from actual Indigenous people gets diluted when there's folks … who try to use things like Gladue in order to give themselves a leg up,' he added. 'If you want to know who is Métis, why don't you ask the legitimate Métis governments that are out there? That's where we should be trying to end up — if you want to know who's us, ask us.' Gallie also faces a 10-year weapons prohibition and a DNA sample. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
18-06-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Métis federation asks court to throw out CFS wage parity
Weeks after Métis and Michif child and family services workers won wage parity with their provincial counterparts through binding arbitration, their employers are headed to court to overturn the decision. The Manitoba Métis Federation announced, in a news release, that both the Métis Child, Family and Community Services Agency and the Michif Child and Family Services Agency have filed notice in Manitoba Court of King's Bench asking for 'an urgent hearing' for a judicial review of the arbitrator's May 20 decision. No one from the federation responded to interview requests on Tuesday. In the news release, it said increasing the pay for 220 workers with Metis CFCS and 110 employees with Michif CFS was 'unreasonable' and the agencies 'cannot manage due to lack of adequate funding from the Province of Manitoba.' Mona Buors, the federation's CFS minister, said in a statement a judicial review is being sought 'in hopes of a more stable outcome for our children, families and employees.' Kyle Ross, president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union, which represents the workers, said both sides agreed to binding arbitration and accepted the choice of Michael Werier as arbitrator. 'Now, because one side is not happy with the results, it is a little frustrating,' Ross said. 'I'm sure our members are frustrated, because I know I am.' 'They ended their strike, with an agreement from the employer, that we would go to binding arbitration and they assumed, as did we, that the arbitrator, when the made a fair ruling, that it would get implemented and they would receive what the deal was settled on.' As for whether the workers could soon be back on the picket line, Ross said 'we believe it is binding arbitration and we made the choice with our members to go to binding arbitration and end that strike so we will have to wait and see how this plays out. 'I struggle to believe they are going to be able to make a case to prove that there was something untoward happening at this arbitration.' A total of 330 workers ended their two-week strike and returned to work on April 8 after an arbitration hearing was scheduled for April 22. Werier later ordered 'fair and reasonable' wage increases for wage parity for both agencies. A spokesperson said the province wouldn't comment on the legal action. Adam King, an assistant professor in the labour studies program at the University of Manitoba, said he has been following the case because it was the first under Bill 37, Manitoba's new labour legislation. 'I was disappointed to hear this has happened,' King said. 'This was a good first example of the law and how it would work. The employer did agree to go to arbitration… it seems now the employer has sat down with their lawyers and decided to get a judicial review.' King said persuading a judge to overturn an arbitrator's decision will be tough. 'It's very rare for this to happen,' he said. 'Generally, the courts give quite a bit of latitude to arbitrators. Overturning a decision only happens under limited circumstances. 'I think this is just an unfortunate delay procedure.' Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Indigenous leaders tell Senate major projects bill moving too fast, call for consults
OTTAWA – The president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami says 'Canada's weakness' is publicly saying reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is of top priority then acting like it isn't when it introduces legislation like the major projects bill. The legislation is being widely criticized by Indigenous leaders and community members across the country. Bill C-5 would give the federal cabinet the ability to set aside various statutes to push forward approvals for a small number of major industrial products, such as mines, pipelines and ports. Natan Obed was one of three Indigenous leaders speaking in the Senate chamber today who all said their rights were not properly considered in the legislation. Obed, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak and Manitoba Métis Federation President David Chartrand all want the government to allow more time for Indigenous groups to express their concerns. Chartrand says he'll support the legislation, but worries Métis won't be fully included in the benefits it promises. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
