THE HISTORY OF MÉTIS GOVERNANCE

Métis people and communities have a long history of self-government, from the Great Lakes communities to Red River to Batoche and beyond. Métis governments were also very democratic, whether they were designed to govern the buffalo hunt or created as provisional governments.

In Saskatchewan, the first Métis organization/government was created in 1935 under Joe Ross. This organization was called the Half-breeds of Saskatchewan and was created to help Métis people deal with issues stemming from the Great Depression. In 1937, the organization drew up their first constitution and became officially known as the Saskatchewan Métis Society.

Throughout the years, there have been several Métis governance organizations in Saskatchewan including: the Métis Association of Saskatchewan (1964), which represented northern Métis interests; the Métis Society of Saskatchewan (1965), which represented southern interests and was amalgamated in 1967 with the Métis organization representing the North; the Association of Métis and Non-Status Indians of Saskatchewan (1975); the Métis Society of Saskatchewan (1988); and finally the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (2000). These organizations have been led by many capable leaders including Joe Larocque, Jim Brady, Malcolm Norris, Howard Adams, Jim Sinclair, and Jimmy Durocher.

Métis Nation—Saskatchewan represents the political, socioeconomic, cultural and educational interests of the province’s some 80,000 Métis citizens through a representative system based on 12 regions and approximately 130 Locals.

The fundamental principles which guide the governance of Métis Nation-Saskatchewan are based on the MN-S Constitution, The Métis Act, The Citizens Act, The Boundaries Act, The Senate Act, The MNLA Act, and The Wildlife and Conservation Action.

The governance structure includes the MN-S Senate, and a Cabinet—the Provincial Métis Council—which is composed of the four-member executive, as well as of elected officials from the 12 regions and appointees for women and youth.

MN-S was incorporated in 2000 and since then has worked towards implementing Métis self-government through litigation and strategic partnerships with government.