Central Registry Reaches Key Métis Citizenship Milestone

Press Release
Date: Monday, December 17th, 2007
For Immediate Release

Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) continues to objectively verify Métis citizenship in British Columbia as a result of funding provided by the Federal Government through the Office of the Federal Interlocutor and Federal Minister Honourable Chuck Strahl. MNBC has established a Central Registry that is working with the thirty-seven (37) Métis Chartered Communities to implement a standardized Métis citizenship card that represents Métis citizens throughout British Columbia.Métis Nation leaders from across British Columbia ratified a Métis definition in 2003. Métis leaders accepted the Métis Nation British Columbia Constitution that included the Métis definition that would be implemented throughout British Columbia. The development of the Métis definition was consistent with a national Métis definition that had been accepted in 2002 by Métis leaders from Ontario to British Columbia. Therefore MNBC defines Métis citizenship as follows:

“Métis means a person who self-identifies as Métis, is of historic Métis Nation Ancestry, is distinct from other Aboriginal Peoples and is accepted by the Métis Nation.”

Shortly after the MNBC Constitution was ratified MNBC began the development of a Centralized Registry. In 2005 MNBC designed an operational plan that would support Métis individual citizenship applications throughout British Columbia and include investments in a sophisticated Central Registry database. Currently MNBC employs four (4) staff to support the Central Registry in the Vancouver office and seven Regional Registry Clerks located in the MNBC’s seven (7) regions. The Regional Registry Clerks provide support services to Métis applicants in their homes, at community meetings and many other venues.

Presently MNBC citizenship application forms are forwarded to the Central Registry in Vancouver where trained staff validate and verify ancestral Métis genealogical information. MNBC continues to promote public awareness throughout British Columbia utilizing public relation strategies such as television commercials on Global, Central Registry pamphlets, and other mediums.

MNBC’s Central Registry reached a key milestone by issuing the Métis citizenship card number three thousand (3000) on December 17th, 2007. It is estimated that there are over 40 000 Métis people in British Columbia and MNBC seeks to validate and verify this figure over the next few years. MNBC citizenship is important for the future of the Métis Nation in British Columbia. Métis rights are still to be determined and until recent years there was no objectively verifiable Métis identification process. MNBC leaders and the Métis Chartered Communities continue to address this in terms of natural resources, programs and services, etc. In the future MNBC plans to utilize the Métis citizenship card for all elections, programs and services eligibility, and other new initiatives.

MNBC President Dumont stated, “I commend the Central Registry and am very excited we reached this benchmark. Our staff and Métis Community leaders have maintained the vision that citizenship is fundamental to who we are. We must define our Nation and ensure our identity is consistent throughout British Columbia. We have to maintain our support for this process and ensure that the Métis Nation is responsible for who we are as a Nation.”

MNBC and Métis community leaders across British Columbia recognize this is a period of evolution but must encourage all Métis individuals to complete the objectively verifiable process. The future of the Métis Nation will be based on the identification process.

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Media Contact:
Keith Henry
Chief Executive Officer
Métis Nation British Columbia
Ph:(604) 801-5853

Background

MNBC was created in 1996 and was formally incorporated as the Métis Provincial Council of British Columbia (MPCBC). In 2003 the Métis leadership ratified the Métis Nation British Columbia Constitution thereby establishing a new Métis Nation governance structure. Since 2003, the Métis Nation British Columbia leadership has implemented a number of institutions of governance such as the Senate, Métis Nation Governing Assembly, Youth representation, Women’s representation, an Electoral Act, and an objectively verifiable citizenship process. MNBC represents thirty-seven (37) Métis Chartered Communities in British Columbia and is mandated to develop and enhance opportunities for Métis communities by implementing culturally relevant social and economic programs and services.