In an effort to bring summary to the year's many events and achievements, I provide you with this President's Report and know that any achievements we have made, we have made collectively. More specific details on many of these and other initiatives are covered by the other Executive and PMC Members/Portfolio-holders.

Governance: Governance is one of those concepts that has an unlimited number of interpretations and encompasses all that one can imagine. As the Metis in Saskatchewan struggle to take control over the issues that affect our daily lives and, more importantly, strive toward a future when our children know the history of their families and their communities and their nation, we move toward governance. Each community approaches it in a slightly different way. Each family carries forward the teachings and the stories of the past, bringing history into the day, interpreting and judging the laws and rules of the society in which they live. Each person brings their individual and unique personality and each day, one Metis at a time, we begin to understand more fully our culture and history. Governance encompasses all of these concepts. It is far more than government departments. It is the way we live and think and the way we choose to live as a self-determining people. And we are not alone in this struggle. There are Metis all across the homeland that are striving for the same, and when we come together to talk, we find that when we struggle together, all things are possible.

The Metis Nation of Saskatchewan is the collective voice of the Metis in this province and as a governing voice, strives to build relations with existing federal, provincial, municipal and Indian governments. The Metis Nation of Saskatchewan is empowered to speak on a government-to-government level and develops intergovernmental relationships on behalf of the Metis. The authority to speak as a government is granted by the wishes of the people through our Metis Nation of Saskatchewan Constitution. Our department of Intergovernmental Affairs interacts with existing governments through two processes: tripartite and bilateral negotiations. Tripartite negotiations are those between three (tri) governments: federal, provincial and Metis. Bilateral negotiations are those discussions between two (bi) governments, in our case, the Government of Saskatchewan and the Metis Nation. The Metis Nation has undertaken a number of initiatives under these two processes.

In North West Saskatchewan, the Northern Project is a process where both the federal and provincial governments sit at a common table with the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan to develop governance in that region. The process began in 1996 and has gradually brought positive change in the way decisions are made regarding the issues that affect the lives of those who live in that region. There are twenty communities in North West Saskatchewan, the majority of which are primarily Metis communities. The North West Saskatchewan Metis Council, under the authority of the MNS Constitution is the collective political voice of the Metis and the North West Saskatchewan Municipalities Association under the authority of provincial legislation is the collective municipal services voice of all the persons who reside within the region. Through the Protocol Agreement that was signed in 1996 between the mayors and the Metis Local Presidents, a process was established that brought both representatives to a common table to make decisions that affect those communities.

The Northern Project employs two half-time staff members who do the work of the committee, as laid out in the tripartite process. The Project Executive met recently in Prince Albert to examine the possibilities for joint initiatives in economic development and targeting the employment for northerners in these initiatives. The Northern Project is a specific governance initiative for North West Saskatchewan that has two goals in mind: governance and devolution of programs and services. Over time, the balance of developing both of these goals will hopefully bring increased opportunities for all involved.

In the urban centers in Saskatchewan, the Metis Urban Council of Saskatchewan is developing itself as the collective voice of the Metis in these centers. Currently the Metis Local Presidents of Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina and North Battleford are represented on this Council. Through the support of the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan Intergovernmental Affairs Unit, the Metis Urban Council is given administrative support and staff to carry the development forward. As a tripartite process, the federal and provincial governments are informed of the urban governance process and are encouraged to support such developments within the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan. It is our hope that as government programs and services are introduced, the Metis Nation organizations are consulted in their design and delivery. Further, as many government departments are involved in the various programs and services, the Metis Nation organizations can be seen as the channel of communication between Metis citizens and the governments. The process is often slower than we would like, however, we have seen the positive outcomes of these processes.

Metis Employment and Training of Saskatchewan (METSI) has accepted the employment and training dollars that are part of a federal government initiatives to address the increased employment disparity for Metis in the urban centers. METSI works closely with the urban Local Presidents in the decision-making process for these funds. The urban employment and training allocation is an additional $1.97 million to be spent in the cities of Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert as a special three year project of which we are currently in year two. Of this amount, in 1998-99, $800,000 was set aside specifically for youth initiatives. With this allotment, METSI, in consultation with the urban Local Presidents, trained 164 youth in various programs. Many of these programs were run by the Metis Locals, as well, and employed Metis people as coordinators and such. The Local Metis Management Boards (LMMBs) were also partners in some urban centers and this relationship will have to be developed further as the Metis Nation governance settles into the urban centers. It is my hope that other centers like North Battleford, Lloydminister, Yorkton, Meadow Lake and such, will eventually find a place in this process.

The Government of Saskatchewan has tabled a draft document entitled the Framework for Cooperation. This document is attempting to put into policy the way that the Government of Saskatchewan does business with the Metis in Saskatchewan. The Executive met with the past Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, along with the various Ministers and Deputy Ministers of ten provincial government departments in Regina to discuss the proposed document. The Metis Nation of Saskatchewan is working on a response to this document and will continue to meet with the province on this topic. Unlike the Federal government policy and the Gathering Strength response to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the province is only beginning to formulate their policy on the Metis. This is an important process that will impact on all future negotiations in the bilateral process. Employment and training is but one of the items discussed within this document.

Michif Language Initiatives: We are currently into our second year of the four year Aboriginal languages program of the federal government's Heritage Canada initiative. The Board of Governors of the Métis National Council has allocated the MNC's Michif language funding which will se the MNS share increased to $150,000 for this fiscal year. It is my hope that this initiative, amongst others, will lead to the establishment of a Métis Heritage and Language Institute.

Education, Employment and Training: Through METSI we have just entered into a new five (5) year agreement on training and employment with Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC). This has enabled us to continue offering training and employment services to our people through our Local Metis Management Boards (LMMBs) under our preferred approach of local control and involvement.

In partnership with GDI, we have also been engaged in negotiations over the past year with HRDC and Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training (PSEST), government of Saskatchewan on the creation of a common table to negotiate increased access to fiscal resources for education, training and employment. We have now successfully negotiated a final draft terms of reference document for a "Common Labour Market Planning Forum". This will now enable our LMMBs, METSI central, and GDI/DTI to begin negotiations with both the provincial and federal governments, to access existing program dollars within PSEST (43.5 million of which is currently spent on Aboriginal peoples). To begin this process we agreed to three target areas: health, apprenticeships and forestry. For the three urban centers of Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert, whose arrangement is part of the terms of reference covered by Appendix B, it was agreed that they could identify their own target areas to meet the needs of their situations.

GDI has also been actively lobbying the provincial government for increased funding to establish parity for their staff in line with what other educational institutions are paying their staff. It is important that we give support to this matter whenever we have a chance to speak to our MLAs, the Premier or Cabinet Ministers. Letters of support should also be written and sent to the Premier and Minister of PSEST.

It has been several years since we have had a GDI annual assembly. The basic reason for this is the financial constraints which have plagued GDI over the past number of years. This has not enabled our citizens to keep up to date with the difficulties currently facing our education affiliate. It has also not allowed us to make the necessary changes to the GDI Constitution and Bylaws which are required as we move forward with governance developments. I will be presenting a resolution which will propose a combined sitting of the MNS General Assembly and the GDI General Assembly. It is the same membership or delegates which comprise both Assemblies. In the 1980s it was common practice to hold our MNS (AMNSIS) General Assembly and then turn it into a General Assembly of GDI. It will be proposed that we hold our special spring sitting of the MNLA sometime in March 2000, followed by the MNS General Assembly to review constitutional amendments, which will then be turned into a GDI General Assembly, followed by an Education, Training and Employment Conference. This would all take place over a three day timeframe.

Rights: To date no new major developments have occurred in the courts which will impact on Metis hunting and fishing rights in this province. However, there has been some movement between the MNS and the province with respect to addressing these issues.

Since the last President's report, (December 1998), the Court of Queen's Bench has sent the Laliberte case of Green Lake back for a new trial, based on the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal decision in the Grumbo case out of Yorkton. The Crown is still deciding whether to proceed with a new trial in Laliberte. As reported last year, the Crown chose not to proceed with a new trial in Grumbo.

As I reported last time, the Crown is waiting for the outcome of the Blais case in Manitoba which is before the Manitoba Court of Appeal. The argument/hearing date for the Blais case has still not been set. The Metis National Council (MNC) will be seeking intervenor status in that case, to argue on behalf of Metis hunting rights. That decision will have a direct impact on the Metis of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

In Ontario, the Metis of the Sault Ste. Marie area have won a major s. 35 Aboriginal right to hunt case in provincial court. That case was appealed by the Crown and argument was heard in early October in the Ontario Provincial Court – General Division (which is the same as our Court of Queen's Bench). That case (Powley) may eventually have a bearing on how s.35 Aboriginal hunting rights of Métis must be established for purposes of court cases. The decision in Powley will likely be handed down within the next several weeks.

The MNS continues to support the Metis communities of Jans Bay, Cole Bay, Beauval and Ile a la Crosse which are seeking proper compensation for their displacement from the Primrose Lake Air Weapons Range in 1954. While the Negotiating Committee has been in place since 1995, the federal government has continued to deny their request for compensation. The federal government has finally come to the table, by attending a meeting with the Committee and the province in early October. So far they are only willing to address economic development, staying clear of the compensation issue.

With respect to the Northwest Saskatchewan Metis land rights test case, the research initiative we reported on last time has now been in place for the past six months. Professor Frank Tough, who acted as an expert witness in the Grumbo and Morin & Daigneault court cases is heading up this archival research. This historical/archival research will take place over a two year period. It is also important to note that the federal and provincial grant ($300,000) can only be spent on historical/archival research and is held in trust by the law firm working on this case. Any modern research and interviews of Elders is not covered. Legal expenses are also not covered. It is therefore important that fundraising and donations be undertaken so that we can take this test case forward.

Youth: Significant developments have taken place with respect to youth involvement and participation within the MNS. The process of youth involvement began in January 1999 through a provincial workshop sponsored by the LMMBs/METSI held in Regina. Following this, in February, the youth met in North Battleford and established a Provincial Metis Youth Council. Their Executive attended the MNLA session in March as observors, as well as the economic development conference as full participants. Several youth have also been sitting on some of our Affiliate boards and MNS committees. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Provincial Metis Youth Council also sit on the national Executive of the Metis Nation Youth Advisory Council of the MNC.

This development is a positive one, and shows the benefits of cooperation between Affiliates and the PMC to enable important initiatives such as this one to take place. I encourage all Affiliates to fully involve the youth. There are also several constitutional changes being introduced by Mr. Ralph Kennedy, MNS Minister responsible for Youth at this session, which I firmly believe should be supported.

Several youth programs have also been instituted by the federal government through Heritage Canada and HRDC. Mr. Ralph Kennedy will be able to provide details on the Heritage Canada program.

National Initiatives: We have continued to be active on the national level, through participation in the Métis National Council. The MNC held a Métis Rights Conference in March, along with a general assembly which saw Gerald Morin get re-elected as President of the MNC. The MNC also held a Board of Governors and Métis Rights Panel retreat in July. A number of issues were addressed, including the need to come up with a national definition of Métis.

There was also a motion passed at the August 1998 MNC Assembly which called for a review of the MNC Constitution. This task has been assigned to the Métis Rights Panel which is in the process of looking at the Constitution.

Work on the Métis Nation Agenda is continuing. A Final Report for year one was presented to the Hon. Ralph Goodale at Batoche in July, along with a paper entitled "Moving Forward" which contained agenda items which MNC has requested Mr. Goodale to take to Cabinet for approval. We are still waiting for a response from Mr. Goodale on this initiative.

As a member of the Board of Governors, I have been assigned the responsibility of dealing with the Métis Rights Agenda, as well as Chairing the Métis Rights Panel. Vice-President, Murray Hamilton has sat on a national labour market committee on behalf of the MNC, while Treasurer Allan Morin has been representing the MNC on environmental issues.

Future needs: While the above has highlighted some of the important developments over the past year, it has not dealt with everything. Hopefully those developments will be covered in the reports of the other Executive and Ministerial reports. In closing I would like to emphasize the following. As mandated by the MNLA in December 1998, we have two more special sittings of the MNLA to deal with future legislation. This future legislation must deal with our Affiliates, Local and Regional Governance, Urban Governance and so forth. Of particular importance, there is a need to enact a taxation act which will form the basis of a fund to deal with Metis rights issues. This will likely be in the form of a voluntary tax, as opposed to an imposed tax and/or monthly donations.

There is also a need to strengthen the involvement of our Senate, women and youth in our governance system. Through cooperative action, we should be able to achieve this objective. While the Senate and women have a role to play through provisions in our Constitution, the youth do not. This MNLA gives us an opportunity to include the youth.

As we move into the 21st century, we must keep within our vision, the need to take bold steps to push forward based on our right of self-determination as a people. We are members of the Metis Nation. We have the inherent right of self-government. We must take steps wherever possible to promote and implement that right. Our internal governance provides adequate space to begin self-government. Our MNLA has the authority to steer and develop our internal governance. This includes all aspects of our governance, institutions and affiliates. As we develop an internal capacity to be self-governing, other opportunities will surely arise, as the federal and provincial governments slowly begin to recognize our rights, along with the devolution of programs and services. However, we can not and must not, wait for those governments to recognize our self-government rights. We must move forward.

Conclusion: This summarizes in a general way some of the initiatives being undertaken at the provincial and national levels by the MNS. If you require further information on any of these intiatives we would be pleased to supply it. Alternatively, you may wish to consult directly with the Affiliate involved, or with the Métis National Council.