The North Slave Metis Alliance represents Indigenous rights-bearing Metis people of the Northwest Territories who primarily exercise their Indigenous rights north and east of Great Slave Lake. The NSMA's mandate includes the assertion, protection, and implementation of the Aboriginal rights of the North Slave Metis people, and the exercise of Metis responsibility to protect the environment and promote and enhance economic, social, and cultural development.
Mr. Speaker, the NSMA is located in my riding of Kam Lake, and today I rise to address the ongoing concerns they have brought to my attention.
In Tom Isaac's report, A Path to Reconciliation, released in March of 2017, recommendation number 5 states that Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories, and I quote: "Reconsider their positions on section 2.5.1(b) of the NWT Metis Nation Agreement in principle, and in particular, the use of the words 'eligible to be' set out in the last clause therein, so not to have any final agreement with the Northwest Territories Metis Nation automatically affect any Aboriginal and Treaty rights of the North Slave Metis Alliance and its members."
This recommendation is almost identical to a Federal Court judgment from October 2017 that rules that the NSMA's submission were reasonable and should have been reviewed once submitted.
It is disappointing to know that the government of the Northwest Territories and the federal government have not attempted to respect this ruling, nor the ruling of Mr. Isaac's report when it was released in March.
It is time for both governments to clearly recognize that the North Slave Metis Alliance does not want to be in the same claim as the NWT Metis Nation and instead wants to assert and be given respect for their individual Indigenous identity as per their constitutional rights under section 35.
Mr. Speaker, the Powley test lays out the criteria to not only define what might constitute a Metis right, but who is entitled to those rights. Every member of the NSMA meets the Powley test, and they have a history in this territory for being Metis for over a century, thereby establishing a unique culture and identity, the same as any other First Nations group.
There is a strong argument that the NSMA be given the same consideration and accommodation. I cannot understand why this government has not undertaken a strength-of-claim assessment for the NSMA. They produced membership lists for over 290 members to be vetted by the Crown and its governments, where the Metis nation has neither been asked or required to do so.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Premier on why we are still asking questions about strength of claim instead of moving on with reconciliation for the NSMA. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.