Moving toward Metis 'Recognition' -- Article 1

EDITOR'S NOTE: Recent topics of discussion across the nation have included dialog on the methods the Metis (mixed bloods) in the U.S. may use to gain recognition on the world stage. This article is the first in a periodic series addressing those efforts.

During recents talks on Metis recognition, Ken Nadreau, National Director of the Metis Nation in New England, mentioned the importance of Metis keeping themselves separate from First Nations. The word "separate" sparked either a healthy debate or a heated discussion, depending on one's point of view. Nadreau clarifies his comments below.

"The only separation I was speaking about was on how the Metis should set themselves up politically," Nadreau said. "I am a firm opposer to the Metis seeking Federal Recognition for many reasons. We need a fresh new way of unification and acceptance from the world. The U.S. government wants only to control, and any negotiations with them will result in our being lumped in with the government's view of Indian Sovereignty," Nadreau said.

"My hopes is that, through our efforts, we can live in peace with both our European and Indian relations in the old ways," Nadreau said. "To do so, we need to make sure that our course of action doesn't allow the U.S. government to create problems for the native people or allow them to inflict more harm to the reserves by grouping us in with them and taking funding away."

Nadreau then addressed the issue of how the U.S. government could create problems for our First Nations brothers and sisters.

"They can accomplish this in two ways," Nadreau said. "One,we can get them to recognize us (through the BIA) which would allow them to take funds from the Indian and give it to us."

Funding for U.S. natives is limited through federal budgets.

"Two," Nadreau said," is that they could use the Metis as leverage to disband the reserves claiming that most indian are mixed bloods so there is no reason to keep funding them at all."

"My words were meant to raise a cautionary flag in regards to how the (U.S.) government will stoop to nothing in order to assimilate the native people. I would not want anything we do as Metis to in any way effect the Indian People at all. So staying separate from a political development standpoint is a safety precaution I think we should consider," Nadreau said.