Métis Leaders Condemn AFN Chief’s ‘Pretendians’ Remarks, Defend Nation’s Identity

The Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) has condemned statements made by Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak suggesting that Métis people are ‘pretendians’.

“Comments made yesterday by (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak regarding Métis people are unacceptable and we reject the characterization that our race and our Nation is non-existent,” said MN-S President Glen McCallum in a statement.

“Suggesting that Métis people are simply pretendians or First Nations people who have been misidentified is harmful, ignores generations of Métis history, governance, resistance, and self-determination.

At a First Minister’s meeting in Ottawa, AFN Chief Woodhouse Nepinak said the following statement:

“The federal government has been telling us who we are and who we aren’t for a long time, and it’s creating a group in this country (…) a lot of pretendians that don’t know who they are because the government says you don’t belong to that band, when in fact many of them do. And you’re creating this big group of Métis people across this country that probably have First Nations roots and are not some new group that are being created in this country. I know that they’re uncomfortable conversations but they’re the truth. I mean, First Nations, we’re the only group, along with the Inuit to being with.”

In his statement, McCallum pointed out that Métis people are rights holders under Section 35 of the Constitution, alongside First Nations and Inuit.

“No government or national organization defines who we are. Our identity is rooted in our own history, culture, value, language, and nationhood, and our self government work builds a Métis government by Métis people, for Métis people,” said McCallum.

McCallum went on to state that there is no hierarchy of Indigenous people under Section 35, and too often Métis voices are excluded from conversations or expected to fit within processes built for others.

“Indigenous people should lift one another up, and leaders must speak with accuracy and respect about the rights and histories of distinct Nations,” said McCallum.

The recent remarks from AFN Chief Woodhouse Nepinak has sparked condemnation from several Métis leaders across the country, including the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), the National Government of the Red River Métis, the Métis Nation of Ontario, and the Otipemisiwak Métis Government in Alberta.

“I want to be clear: Canada did not create the Métis Nation, and our existence is not up for debate,” said Andrea Sandmaier, President of Otipemisiwak Métis Government.

“We are not ‘some new group’ and we most certainly are not confused about who we are. I call on National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak to recognize the harm caused by questioning the legitimacy of an entire Indigenous people.”

In his statement, MMF President David Chartrand responded to Chief Woodhouse Nepinak’s comments with “disgust”, labeling them as “prejudiced and inaccurate”.

Chartrand added in a statement:

“We are saddened by National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak’s uninformed views, but there can be no doubt that I will not stand by and let anyone abuse the Red River Métis or dismiss our existence.”