The Definition of "Métis"

Article 10 of the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan Constitution defines "Métis" as:

'Métis' means an Aboriginal person who self-identifies as Métis, who is distinct from Indian and Inuit, and:

  • is a descendant of those Métis who received or were entitled to receive land grants and/or Scrip under the provision of the Manitoba Act, 1870 or the Dominion Lands Act, as enacted from time to time; or

  • a person of Aboriginal descent who is accepted by the Métis Nation and/or Métis Community.(Amended Dec. 13/97)

DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION

METIS NATIONAL COUNCIL DEFINITION OF "METIS"

  1. Definitions

    1. "Metis" means a person who self-identifies as Metis, is of Historic Metis Nation ancestry, and is accepted by the Metis Nation through the Acceptance Process.
    2. "Acceptance Process" means the process to accept applications for registration on the Metis Nation Register, as established herein, and administered by the respective MNC provincial governing member jointly with the MNC, all as amended from time to time.
    3. "Historic Metis Nation" means the Aboriginal people then known as Metis or Half-breeds who resided in the Historic Metis Nation Homeland
    4. "Historic Metis Nation Homeland" means the area of land in west central North America used and occupied as the traditional territory of the Metis, or Half-breeds as they were then known.
    5. "MNC" or "Metis National Council" means the governing body that represents the Metis Nation.
    6. "MNC provincial governing member" means the provincial or territorial entities who jointly form the MNC.
    7. "Metis Nation" means the Aboriginal people descended from the Historic Metis Nation which is now comprised of all Metis Nation Citizens and is one of the ”aboriginal peoples of Canada” within the meaning of s.35 of the Constitution Act 1982.
    8. "Metis Nation Citizen" means a person whose name is on the Metis Nation Register.
    9. "Metis Nation Register" means the national list of Metis Nation Citizens and includes the lists maintained by the MNC governing members, all as amended from time to time.
    10. "Registrar" means a person appointed by an MNC provincial governing member who is responsible for maintaining the Metis Nation Register within its respective jurisdiction and includes any person appointed by the MNC as national Registrar.

  2. Metis Nation Registry - Enrolment Criteria

    1. A person is eligible to be enrolled as a Metis Nation Citizen on the Metis Nation Register if that person:
      1. is Metis within the meaning of 1.1; or
      2. was adopted as a child, under the laws of any jurisdiction or under any Metis custom, by a Metis within the meaning 1.1.
    2. An application for enrolment on the Metis Nation Register must include the following:
      1. a signed and witnessed written declaration that he or she self- identifies as Metis and is not registered on another Aboriginal register; and
      2. evidence that he or she is Metis; or
      3. evidence that he or she was adopted by a Metis within the meaning 1.1.
    3. A parent, guardian or legal representative who provides proof of his or her lawful authority to represent a minor or a person who is legally incompetent, may submit an application for that minor or legally incompetent person.
    4. A person is not eligible to be enrolled as a Metis Nation Citizen while that person is enrolled under another Aboriginal registry.

  3. Acceptance Process

    1. Each MNC provincial governing member shall establish an Acceptance Process which shall operate according to the principles and rules set out herein and any procedural rules including the appeal process shall be in accordance with the principles of natural justice.
    2. Notwithstanding 3.1, efforts should be made to have the Acceptance Process as uniform as possible by all provincial governing members.
    3. A copy of each application and declaration shall be provided to the MNC Registrar, along with that person's name for the national register.
    4. Registration on the Metis Nation Register constitutes acceptance by the Metis Nation that the person is a Metis Nation Citizen and shall be accepted by all MNC provincial governing members.
    5. Evidence for the purposes of 2.2(b) and (c) may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following:
      1. vital statistics records issued by governments such as birth certificates, marriage, divorce and death certificates, adoption records or census rolls;
      2. scrip or land grants issued to an ancestor pursuant to the Manitoba Act, 1870 or the Dominion Lands Acts or entitlement to such scrip or land grants;
      3. memorials, addenda or other such documents associated with the scrip or treaty process which identified Metis communities in the Historic Metis Nation Homeland and the Metis members of those communities;
      4. proof in the form of diaries, notes or other documents that a Metis ancestor participated in activities of the Historic Metis Nation;
      5. church records in the form of baptism, confirmation, marriage, annulment or death records;
      6. a written or oral statement by an Elder who is a Metis Nation Citizen; and
      7. any other proof which the Registrar may consider valuable in assisting an applicant to prove his or her Metis ancestry or adoption by a Metis within the meaning of 1.1.
    6. The Registrar shall give notice in writing of the reasons for any decision to refuse enrolment or to remove a name from the Register and of the right to appeal, including the period for making an appeal. Any person whose application for enrolment on the Metis Nation Register is refused or whose name is removed may, within 60 days of notice of such decision, appeal in writing to the Registrar.
    7. Each Metis Nation Citizen shall be provided proof of enrolment on the Metis Nation Register.

June 11, 2000