MN-S president says Daniels decision “heightens” need for united front

The President of the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan says now is the time for the organization to put forward a united front.

MN-S President Robert Doucette made the comments in response to Thursday’s historic Supreme Court decision, which says Metis and non-status Indians have the same rights as First Nations under the constitution.

Doucette says this decision will require years of negotiation and he says ideas around Metis land claims, self-governance and healthcare will be big talking points going forward. He hopes the MN-S can come together to ensure they are represented during these important discussions.

“What this Daniels ruling does is it heightens the need for an earlier Metis Nation Legislative Assembly, it heightens the need for our community based leaders to give the elected leadership currently there their marching orders.”

Interim funding to the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan was recently halted because the organizations leadership failed to unanimously agree on a location for their upcoming legislative assembly.

The MN-S is still planning to hold the assembly on July 30th and 31st and an election sometime in August.

Doucette says the organization is at a “stand still” and a new group of elected leaders can’t come soon enough.

He says they will need to bring a more united front to the table.

“So when the federal government and the Metis begin discussions the Metis people can have those people they want negotiating on their behalf.”

Doucette has previously gone on record declaring he will not be seeking re-election as MN-S president.