12 the georgia straight January 31 February 7 / 2013

> By Stephen hui

K
eith Henry says the
6,300-strong B.C. Mtis
Federation is tired of be-
ing ignored by the fed-
eral and provincial governments.
Henry, the president of the
BCMF, told the Georgia Straight
that his nonprofit society has re-
peatedly tried to gain recognition
from both levels of government
since its founding in 2011. However,
cabinet ministers have responded
by stating that the rival Mtis Na-
tion British Columbia represents
all Mtis people in the province.
According to Henry, the MNBC
which dates back to 1996, has 7,500
members, and is affiliated with the
Mtis National Councildoesnt
represent most BCMF members
and only speaks for a small portion
of the more than 60,000 B.C. resi-
dents who identify as Mtis.
He argues that, much like the
MNBC, the BCMF deserves to be
consulted by governments and in-
dustry and receive access to pub-
licly funded programs.
I dont know why governments are
continuing to use this one-window
approach, Henry said by phone from
a Vancouver cofee shop. Tey dont
do that with First Nations, so I dont
know why they seem to think thats
okay to do with Mtis. Its completely
discriminatory and unacceptable.
Henry spoke to the Straight on
January 28, the day he fled separate
human-rights complaints alleging
ongoing discrimination by both the
Canadian and B.C. governments
against the BCMF and Mtis people
in the province.
In a letter to the Canadian Hu-
man Rights Commission, Henry
names John Duncan, the minister
of aboriginal affairs and northern
development, and the MNBC as
respondents. Many Mtis people
cant take advantage of federally
funded employment and training
services delivered by the MNBC,
Henry claims, because they dont
meet the MNBCs narrow defin-
ition of Mtis identity.
Te MNBC defnes the Mtis as
the aboriginal people descended
from the historic Mtis Nation
based in Western Canada. However,
the Federal Courts landmark rul-
ing on January 8 that Mtis are In-
dians under the Constitution Act
confrms that the Mtis defnition
should be applied more broadly,
Henry writes in his complaint.
Trough an assistant, MNBC
president Bruce Dumont declined
to be interviewed. Duncan was un-
available to comment, according to
his press secretary.
In an October 2011 letter, David
McArthur, Duncans former chief of
staf, told Henry that the MNBC is the
representative organization for M-
tis people in B.C. Aboriginal Afairs
and Northern Development Canada
will not be funding a separate organ-
ization representing the same popula-
tion, McArthur concluded.
Henry actually served as the
MNBCs CEO from 2003 to 2008. Te
BCMF came out of the Coalition of
Concerned Mtis Citizens, which was
formed in 2009 by MNBC members
concerned about their organizations
debt load and lack of transparency.
Our position isnt, Get rid of
MNBC, Henry said. Our position
is you have to fnally admit that theres
another organization thats repre-
senting a large number of Mtis people,
communities, and organizations.
Henrys provincial complaint
names Minister of Aboriginal Rela-
tions and Reconciliation Ida Chong
and Minister of Children and Family
Development Stephanie Cadieux as
respondents. Representatives of the
two told the Straight the ministers
hadnt seen the complaint and were
unable to comment.
In the complaint fled with the
B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, Henry
claims that the ministers have denied
the BCMF representation in policy-
making decisions afecting Mtis
people. He also alleges that a provin-
cial consultation guide titled Build-
ing Relationships With First Nations
discriminates against Mtis com-
munities with rights protected by the
Constitution Act.
Te Government of British Col-
umbia does not consult with the M-
tis because it is of the view that no
Mtis community is capable of suc-
cessfully asserting site specifc Sec-
tion 35 rights in British Columbia,
the guide states.
Henry told the Straight that one of
the BCMFs partner communities,
Kelly Lake in northeast B.C., is a M-
tis settlement that was established
before Canada had efective con-
trol of the area and continues to as-
sert aboriginal title to its territory.
According to Henry, the BCMF
doesnt want to destroy the govern-
ments and would welcome media-
tion to resolve its complaints. He
maintains the goal is for the federa-
tion and its members to take their
rightful place.
We represent legitimate com-
munities, legitimate members, and
were doing things, Henry said. We
have no money. Were doing it all on
our own with our own volunteers,
our own donations, and were proud
of that fact. Were not asking for a
handout. We want a better way for-
ward, with real, tangible results. -
B.C. Mtis Federation president Keith Henry participated in the Idle No More
#J11 march and rally in Vancouver on January 11. Stephen Hui photo.
newS
b.C. Mtis Federation is
tired of being ignored
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