You have got to love the Metis Grassroots People

There is much a foot and many things at work – but my admiration of the Métis community never waivers. People with hearts – people with a beliefs - people with the passion and commitment to fight for the rights that our forefathers and foremothers gave us.

We received a report that on February 9, 2008 – there was a community grassroots meeting in Edmonton. A meeting that in -44 degree weather – Métis people gathered to come and talk about their concerns and to hear the issues of the people. As it was reported to Métis Mama – the people paid for the meeting. They gathered, came at their expense from all across Alberta – shared tears, shared stories and identified issues that were present today. They came to tell the leaders of their disillusion with the in fighting that has us being embarrassed by the individuals who are going to government to undermine our leadership.

Ron Jones and about 12 – 15 Métis hunters came to share their experiences. They have been out with the traditional hunts and encampments practicing their traditional hunting rights. They have gone at their own risk and their own expense. They talked about how many of the hunts have cost them as individuals $1,000 each to prepare, travel, set up camp and to ensure that they work towards challenging the Alberta governments stand on Métis hunting rights. They work with the existing leadership and set up the statistics and data necessary to challenge our impact on the number of animals that are taken in comparison to the sport hunting that is present in today’s Alberta.

Remember now – we have an American born Minister for Sustainable Resource Development in Alberta that wants Métis people to bring in our genealogy and our annual taxable income documents to determine if we are poor enough to qualify as hunters. In fact, one hunter reported that Fish and Game denied him his rights because he owns a truck with a camper – so that assessed him as he can afford to buy meat at the store. It is a scary process when the government that has attempted to assimilate us wants to start looking at blood quantum to determine our Métis heritage. Some hunters have been told if they want to traditionally hunt they should return to Manitoba - even though they have lived in Alberta most of their lives!

Based on what the hunters reported – if you are poor you can not afford to hunt. The hunters have started a legal defense fund. Many of them have donated their own money to this cause. They are working at setting up the proper protocols to challenge the issues and to work towards fighting the parameters of policies and legislation so that all Métis can assert their inherent rights in this country. They are an admirable group – who we should all be proud of.

The people talked about the importance of working with the Leader of the Métis Nation of Alberta in moving the agenda forward that benefits all Métis people. In fact, many identified that it is time to eliminate the dissidents that are only working for themselves and have forgotten why they were put there.

We will keep you posted as to the events and grassroots movement – they are planning another town hall meeting – at their own expense on March 8, 2008.