Experts weigh in on upcoming MN-S election

This spring, as many as 30,000 eligible Métis voters will head to the polls for the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) general election, taking place on May 24.

Citizens will vote on President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary roles, as well as regional representatives in 12 provincial regions.

An online president and vice president forum is scheduled for May 1st at 7 p.m.

With nearly 50 candidates across all positions, voters will have no shortage of choices, or issues to vote on, when casting their vote.

“The Métis Nation has grown a lot in the last seven or eight years, and I think they need to keep that momentum going in working with provincial and federal government, Treaty rights, the municipalities, and the RMs,” said Paul Merriman, senior council at Prairie Sky Strategy, and former Saskatchewan MLA. “If you have the right people in there to be able to move it forward, I think there’s some huge opportunities for the Métis Nation in working with all levels of government. They’re really starting to come into their own.”

Some of the main issues impacting this election include Treaty negotiation, self governance, housing, hunting, and fishing. Issues of which the MN-S has already built a significant amount of momentum, said Merriman.

“If you look at the Métis Nation 10 to 12 years ago, they were having challenges federally and provincially,” he said. “There were irregularities in funding. There was defunding of the Métis Nation government. Now, they’re on a whole new movement forward.”

The MN-S today is in a much different position.

“There’s pride and trust coming back,” said Merriman. “It’s working for the Métis people and building not just economic but social partnerships with all levels of government.”

Bronte Prosser, senior strategy advisor with Prairie Sky Strategy, believes the top campaign priority will be sovereignty.

“When the Métis citizens go to vote, the big question they’ll have to ask themselves is – who do they want to lead them into modern treaty?”, said Prosser.

The modern treaty – named by Elders ‘Kishchi Mashinaayikun Ooshchi Michif’ is based on a nation-to-nation agreement, bound by the Crown and the Canadian constitution, which recognizes Métis citizens’ right to self government in Saskatchewan. It will obligate the federal government to recognize the Métis right to self determination.

“I really see this election being around the right to self-government and self-determination, especially with the last campaign around self-government that the Métis Nation has been sharing to citizens,” said Prosser. “I think that’s the number one issue.”

The MN-S has also recently signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) concerning health, firearm safety, education, addictions, and Reconciliation.

Despite the progress, the Métis Nation remains fractured at a national level, with the MN-S deciding to withdraw from the Métis National Council (MNC) in September, citing concerns that some of the Métis Nation of Ontario aren’t Métis, as well as citing the relevance of the MNC.

“I think unity is a key issue,” said Merriman. “Unity always presents a better voice when you’re talking to governments and decision makers. But on a federal level, there still has to be some nuance for regional representation and differences.”

Ongoing differences withstanding, Merriman said the MN-S has strong relations with the provincial and federal governments, making progress in several files.

“I think it goes to show the government of Saskatchewan, and the federal government, is recognizing the government of the MN-S,” said Merriman. “It’s a challenge to get meetings with ministers, so that tells me there is a validation of the MN-S at both levels.”

This April, the MN-S and Métis Nation British Columbia mutual cooperation agreement recognized their respective inherent rights, and committed to improving the health and wellbeing of Métis people in both provinces.

“The Métis in each province have their unique and diverse challenges, and it’s critical they stay respected and heard,” said Prosser.

Another key issue could be Bill C-53, an act respecting the recognition of certain Métis governments in Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan to give effect to treaties with those governments and make consequential amendments to other Acts. The MN-S withdrew support from the bill in April, citing a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach that did not recognize the unique context of the MN-S.

“I think it ties into how the negotiations are now centred on a Saskatchewan-Métis made agreement that reflects the unique values of the Métis communities here,” said Prosser. “I think they’ll move forward in a way that reflects identity, culture, and values of the MN-S.”

With the Liberal government winning the recent federal election, the Prairie Sky Solutions experts say they don’t believe any ongoing land and treaty negotiations, or programs will be disrupted by new federal leadership. However, they do believe the MN-S, once their election is over, will need to re-establish itself with the Prime Minster’s office and any new ministers.

“(Now that the federal election is over), I hope the Métis Nation will get more visibility in their elections,” said Merriman. “When you have approximately 33,000 eligible voters, that’s a big voice.”

As with any election, the voters need to get out and vote. What sets the MN-S elections apart from any other election is the age requirement. Anyone member of the MN-S who is at least 16 years of age on May 24th is eligible to cast a ballot. In municipal, provincial and federal elections a person must be 18 years of age on Election Day to vote.

“This election is about the younger people getting engaged,” said Merriman. “You don’t think the issues are relevant to you at a young age, but they are because what is being done now is setting the foundation for what’s to come.”

A full list of candidates is available online at https://mnselection.ca/home.