The Grand Chief of a Metis organization in South Western Nova Scotia says she’ll fight for her people’s recognition until her last breath.
Mary Lou Parker of Yarmouth says it’s been nearly 20 years and still neither the provincial or federal governments will officially recognize
the Metis people of the Atlantic provinces.
The ‘Eastern Woodland Metis Nation Nova Scotia’ group has nearly 24 thousand members.
Grand Chief Parker says there is a small degree of recognition but it needs to go much farther.
“We are still striving for recognition. It’s our identity. It’s who we are. One thing that never ceases to amaze me is that when someone from Nova Scotia calls Ottawa about joining a Metis association, Ottawa refers them to us.”
Metis negotiator Charles Crosby says the feds and the province keep passing the issue back and forth.
“When the province says we are a federal responsibility, yes we are but there are things the province can do. The Prime Minister has spoken about Metis on at least five separate occasions saying he was speaking to all Metis in Canada. The last time I looked, Nova Scotia was still part of Canada.”
An interview with Grand Chief Parker and Charles Crosby will air on the Y-95 CJLS Weekender Sunday June 4th at 9:04am
