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Otipemisiwak Métis Government accuses Manitoba Métis Federation of divisive politics

May 16, 2024

APTN News: The president of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government – formerly known as the Métis Nation of Alberta – says the Manitoba Métis Federation [MMF] needs to stop playing divisive politics.

“The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is disappointed in the repeated attempts by the Manitoba Métis Federation to divide the Métis nation,” Andrea Sandmaier said. “We’re all related. To be fighting against each other is harmful to our citizens. We need to come together and work together the way that we were intended to do.”

Along with the Chiefs of Ontario, the MMF is co-hosting an Indigenous Identity Fraud Summit in Winnipeg this week which takes direct aim at organizations like the Métis Nation of Ontario, or MNO.

The MMF says the MNO is not a legitimate Métis government because its communities are not directly tied to the Red River area.

Both the MMF and COO are opposed to the federal government’s proposed Bill C-53 which formally recognizes the Métis Nation of Ontario.

First Nations in Ontario have rallied against the legislation because they say it could be used to infringe on their inherent treaty and land rights.

Both the Otipemisiwak Métis Government and MNO have voiced their displeasure at not being invited to the summit.

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Author(s) 

Fraser Needham, fneedham@aptn.ca