What is the Métis National Council?

The Métis National Council (MNC) is the national representative organisation of the Métis Nation, founded on March 8, 1983 to represent Métis interests in constitutional, political, and policy matters. The MNC's six provincial-level governing members are the Métis Nation of Ontario, Métis Nation Saskatchewan, Métis Nation of Alberta, Manitoba Métis Federation, Métis Nation British Columbia, and the Métis Settlements General Council of Alberta (representing the eight Métis Settlements that operate under the Alberta Métis Settlements Act of 1990). The MNC represents about 350,000 to 400,000 Métis people who are members of its provincial governing members.

The MNC was founded in the run-up to the 1983 First Ministers' Conference on Aboriginal Constitutional Matters. The Constitution Act, 1982 had recognised the Métis as one of three Aboriginal peoples of Canada under section 35(2), but the implementation of Métis-specific constitutional rights required organised national representation. The Native Council of Canada (founded 1971, representing both non-status Indians and Métis) had previously claimed national Métis representation, but Métis leaders argued for separate organisation reflecting the Métis Nation's distinct identity.

Founding members of the MNC included Jim Sinclair (Saskatchewan), Audrey Poitras (Alberta), Yvon Dumont (Manitoba), Tony Belcourt (Ontario), and others. The MNC's first President was Clem Chartier (Saskatchewan, who later served multiple terms including 1986 to 1988 and 2003 to 2021). Other MNC Presidents have included Yvon Dumont (1988 to 1993), Gerald Morin (1993 to 1996), Tony Belcourt (1998 to 2002), and Cassidy Caron (2021 to 2024).

The MNC's accomplishments include representation at the four First Ministers' Conferences on Aboriginal Constitutional Matters of 1983 to 1987 (producing constitutional clarifications to section 35); R. v. Powley (Supreme Court of Canada, September 19, 2003, recognising Métis hunting rights and the test for Métis rights claims); Manitoba Métis Federation Inc. v. Canada (Supreme Court of Canada, March 8, 2013, finding the federal government had breached its duty under the Manitoba Act of 1870); the Daniels v. Canada decision (April 14, 2016, ruling that Métis fall within section 91(24) of the Constitution Act, 1867); the federal Métis Nation Accord of April 13, 2017 (establishing a framework for ongoing Métis-Crown relations); and Métis self-government negotiations with the federal government for the Métis Nation of Alberta, the Métis Nation Saskatchewan, and the Métis Nation of Ontario (negotiated 2019 to 2024). The Manitoba Métis Federation withdrew from the MNC in 2021 over policy disputes; the MNF subsequently signed a separate self-government recognition agreement with the federal government in July 2021. The MNC continues to represent Métis interests with the remaining provincial-level members.