(February 6, 2023) The Board of Directors of Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) wants to shut down any future challenges to Métis citizenship by removing that provision in the MNBC Citizenship Act. In a proposed resolution going to the Métis Nation Governing Assembly (MNGA) in early March, the MNBC Board of Directors is proposing to completely remove Article 11 from the Citizenship Act.
Article 11 states (in part), “Challenges concerning the Métis ancestry of Citizens currently on MNBC citizenship/membership list(s) may be made by Métis Citizens, Métis Communities, or on behalf of the MNBC by written notice to the Registrar” and then lays out the procedure to be followed.
This provision has been in the MNBC Citizenship Act for many years, and while not often used, it has always provided an option for MNBC Citizens or Métis Communities to challenge the ancestry of someone claiming to be Métis, if they have information that suggests otherwise. With more and more individuals claiming to be Métis, it has provided Citizens and Communities the ability to submit a challenge and have the Registrar review the Métis ancestry of a Métis Citizen. The provision in the Citizenship Act was one of the few ways that Métis Citizens and Métis Communities could help to ensure only real Métis who meet the nationally approved definition of Métis are granted Citizenship. If this resolution is approved at the MNGA, and then at the AGM this Fall, that ability to challenge will be lost forever.
Last year, an MNBC Citizen challenged the Métis ancestry of the President of MNBC Lissa Smith. The challenge was not successful.
BC Métis Leader and former MNBC President Clara Morin Dal Col calls the move by the Board to end the ability to challenge an individual’s Métis ancestry very misguided and regrettable.
She said, “Métis Communities should oppose this move because what happens if new information about a person’s ancestry comes to light at the community level that indicates that a person who has been issued a card by the Registrar may not actually be Métis. If this resolution is approved, the Métis Community or any Métis Citizen will never be able to submit a challenge”.
Ms. Morin Dal Col also asked, “Now why would the MNBC Board propose such a resolution as this? It has never been an issue.”
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For further information:
Contact Clara Morin Dal Col
BC Métis Leader
Email: cmdalcol@gmail.com
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