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Métis are more than Schmoes

Posted: 01/11/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

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MMF president David Chartrand speaks in Brandon in September 2011. (BRUCE BUMSTEAD/BRANDON SUN)

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So back in the 18th century, Joe Schmoe's ancestor married an aboriginal women, and my ancestor married an Irish woman. Today, Joe is considered a member of a distinct society and entitled to benefits that I and the rest of Canadians are not, even though our common ancestors worked side by side for generations.

Does anyone else see the lunacy in this? Regarding the Jan. 10 headline Officials expect flood of Métis applications, I wonder how many applications would be received if it was discovered that Métis actually owed retribution to the federal government for past overpayments.

ROBYN GRIFFITH

Stonewall

The Métis are responsible for the Métis -- not the province and not the federal government. And we need to get away from asking for help for this and that. We can be self-supporting as a nation.

We need to stop talking about the Métis nation and become the Métis Nation, in actuality, within the Confederation of Canada. That means having a tax base to pay for the services we need.

I and many other Métis pay taxes. I pay business tax, federal income tax, provincial income tax, city property tax, school tax, PST and GST. Part of these taxes should go to support my nation.

Manitoba Metis Federation president David Chartrand has an opportunity to leave a legacy. So does Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Instead of dependence, let's try nation-building.

KELLY CHARTRAND

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 11, 2013 A11

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