Métis Nation of Ontario Rejects New “Expert” Report Paid for by Wabun First Nations Report Ignores Basic Facts of History and the Actual Text of Treaty 9

Métis Nation of Ontario Rejects New “Expert” Report Paid for by Wabun First Nations Report Ignores Basic Facts of History and the Actual Text of Treaty 9

“It’s Time to Talk, Not Waste More Money on Denying the Reality of Métis in Ontario”

“[T]hat they will maintain peace between each other and between themselves and other tribes of Indians, and between themselves and others of His Majesty’s subjects, whether Indians, half-breeds or whites, this year inhabiting and hereafter to inhabit any part of the said ceded territory…” – Text of Treaty 9

This is the actual text of Treaty 9 that was agreed to and signed by First Nations in 1905, and in subsequent adhesions to Treaty 9. The First Nations that make up the Wabun Tribal Council are signatories to Treaty 9.

During the period leading up to the signing of Treaty 9, “Half-Breeds” (now known as Métis1) in the Abitibi Inland region petitioned to be recognized as a distinct group and to be provided Métis Scrip, similar to what their relations in Western Canada were being provided.

These Halfbreed petitions from the Abitibi Inland region, like those signed by Halfbreeds at Penetanguishene, Sault Ste. Marie and elsewhere in Ontario were ignored by the Crown. Notably, government officials of the day repeatedly recognized the injustice “Halfbreeds” in Ontario faced:

• The Halfbreed Claims Commissions of 1885 … recognized the Halfbreeds of the ceded portion of Keewatin as North West Halfbreeds. There was therefore no course open for me but to do likewise. The consequence is that Halfbreeds living on the Keewatin side of the English River are recognized as having territorial rights and get scrip, scrip which they may locate in Manitoba or any part of the North West Territories, while the Halfbreeds on the Ontario side who naturally comes and makes claims has to be told that he has no territorial rights. We must take care to avoid the perpetuation of this. Therefore I would at once say that the suggested extinguishment of Indian title should stand until the settlement of Halfbreed claims is completed.” — Indian Commissioner McKenna (1902)

These are the facts of history. As such, these are some of the questions that need to be asked in the face of the absurdity of the conclusions in this new “expert” report and Wabun’s claims that there are no Métis in Treaty 9 territory whatsoever:

• If there were no “Half-Breeds” in the Abitibi Inland region at the time of treaty-making, who signed these petitions?
• If there were no “Half-Breeds” in Treaty 9, who was Indian Commissioner McKenna referring to?
• If “Half-Breeds” were simply members of First Nation Bands in 1905, why would they petition separately from the Chiefs?
• If there were no Métis whatsoever in the Treaty 9 territory, why would Treaty 9 expressly acknowledge “Half-Breeds” as distinct from “Indians” and “Whites”?

If treaties are sacred and solemn documents signed by Indigenous Peoples and the Crown, which the MNO acknowledges they are, why are some First Nations choosing to ignore some of the words in their treaties as well as parts of the history that led to the making of their treaties in Ontario? This convenient denial of the basic facts of history to support Métis denialism in Ontario needs to end.

The leadership of the Wabun First Nations has already acknowledged they had spent over $250,000 on a previous report written by Darryl Leroux, a self-appointed “expert” on Métis history, who now conveniently rejects any existence of Métis in Ontario (after he previously indicated otherwise).

After spending all of that money and after years of attempting to discredit the MNO, nothing has changed. The facts of history will not change because a new “expert” has been paid to peddle the same Métis denialism. The MNO’s negotiated agreements with Canada and Ontario remain in place. Métis communities in Ontario—and the MNO as a federally recognized Métis government—aren’t going anywhere.

Instead of wasting more money and time on trying to deny the irrefutable existence of Métis communities in Ontario, it’s well past time for the Wabun First Nations to sit down and talk with the MNO and the rights-bearing Métis communities it represents in what is now known as northern Ontario. That is what would honour the words, spirit, and intent of Treaty 9 as set out above. The MNO’s door is always open for this dialogue.

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The Abitibi Inland Métis Community is one of the Métis communities in Ontario that was recognized by the provincial Crown in 2017. The MNO, as a federally recognized Métis government, represents this rights-bearing Métis community and others located in what is now northern Ontario. In addition, the MNO represents its citizens in other parts of Ontario who live in the traditional territories of First Nations where Métis do not claim land related rights.

For more on the MNO and the history of the Abitibi Inland Métis Community read the following letter written by the leadership of this Métis community, the Submissions of the Abitibi-Inland Métis Community to the Métis National Council’s Expert Panel and visit Ontario Métis Facts.