2015 AGA to Take Place in Hay River Agreement-In-Principle Signed
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2015 AGA to take place in Hay River This year, Northwest Territory Tuesday, November 17th to Topics for Discussion language revitalization, the Métis Nation will be hosting Saturday, November 21st. This upcoming AGA, the Métis Cultural Institute, land our Annual General Assembly The NWTMN AGA is open NWTMN Executive is and resources management, encouraging our membership to property taxation of traditional in Hay River, at the Hay to all Northwest Territory discuss implementation of the use cabins, and our Land and River Community Hall. The Métis Nation membership. Devolution Agreement, issues Resources Final Agreement AGA will take place from Refreshments will be provided. related to self-government negotiations. negotiations, culture and Fall 2015 Vol. 16, Issue 1 NWT Métis Nation Annual General Assembly Edition Agreement-in-Principle signed: The NWTMN will commence Final Agreement negotiations with Government On July 31, 2015, the AIP has been signed. Northwest Territory Métis Workshops will be held Nation Agreement-in- for NWTMN members Principle was signed to inform the Métis Land at separate locations and Métis Community by Bernard Valcourt, Land selection. the former Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Premier Bob McLeod Northern Development also recognized Canada (AANDC), the significance and President Garry Bailey, importance of the AIP for Northwest Territory Métis Northwest Territory Métis Nation President, the Nation, and confirms the Métis Council Presidents commitment made by the and the Honourable GNWT to develop a fair Robert R. McLeod, Final Agreement. Premier and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs “This Agreement-in- and Intergovernmental Principle is an important Relations for the GNWT. step towards clarifying Unfortunately, a signing land and resource ceremony was not ownership and wildlife possible due to the lack harvesting rights for of time before the federal the Métis of the South election was called. Slave region,” says Premier McLeod. “The “I am proud of the Government of the milestone we have Northwest Territories is accomplished,” says committed to working President Bailey. “It with Northwest Territory has been a long time Land representative SideRon Table Yaworsky, Métis Nation and coming, as we have Canada to conclude a been in negotiations Photo: Final Agreement that since 1996. It is a great balances the interests of day for the Indigenous President Garry Bailey (left) stands with Vice-President FRMC Kara King, Chief Negotiator Jake Heron, HRMGC President all parties, protects Métis Métis North of 60. We Karen Lafferty and FSMC President Ken Hudson. The red document held by Jake Heron is the Agreement-in-Principle. culture and promotes look forward to a Final a more stable, positive Agreement which will “The Northwest of the Northwest Economic opportunities of resource royalties from climate for investment give us recognition of our Territory Métis Nation is Territories’ commitment and benefits the Mackenzie Valley, and development.” rights to self-governance, committed to achieving to concluding a Final Former AANDC Minister, together with recognition and land, water and a Final Agreement in a Bernard Valcourt, of harvesting rights. To prepare for land resource capital, and, timely manner for the Agreement with the was supportive of our selection negotiations, at the same time, define interests of Indigenous Northwest Territory Métis Agreement-in-Principle, Land Withdrawal the NWTMN will start our comparable Section Métis of the Northwest Nation. This Agreement- and views opportunities On the Effective Date our internal land selection 35 rights within the Territories and future in-Principle provides for investment and of the Final Agreement, discussions through Northwest Territories.” generations,” says a sound basis toward economic growth. the fee simple land that workshops between the President Bailey. advancing the interests will be transferred to the Métis Local Councils and The Northwest of Indigenous Métis of Former Minister NWTMN will become Nation, as well as our Territory Métis Nation We will be involved as the NWT. Furthermore, Valcourt made the Métis Community Land membership. anticipates commencing equal partners in any it provides a solid following statement, “This (land within communities) the negotiation of our Parks Canada proposals Northwest Territory Métis and Métis Land (rural Negotiations with foundation upon which Nation Agreement-in- Land and Resources for any new national our Government can land). Overlapping Aboriginal Final Agreement with the parks. The negotiation Principle on Land and Groups Government of Canada team is ensuring the build upon equitable Resources is a concrete Government has When the NWTMN and the Government proposed East Arm and fair government-to- step toward realizing withdrawn from land and resource final of the Northwest National Park will not government relationships economic growth and disposition 39,000 square agreement negotiations Territories in December impact our aboriginal with the Government investment opportunities kilometres of rural land — reach an appropriate 2015 after the federal harvesting rights. of Canada and the for the benefit of or 1.5 times the NWTMN stage, Government will and territorial elections. Government of the Aboriginal groups…” Final Agreement land undertake consultations President Bailey Northwest Territories. quantum. Government with aboriginal groups Rights and rewards made the following The Northwest Territory On the Effective Date of has also withdrawn from with overlapping interests Our AIP sets the stage statement upon the Métis Nation is committed the Final Agreement, the disposition the following as part of Final Agreement for negotiation of the signing of the NWTMN NWTMN will receive $73.3 amounts of land within negotiations. When Final Northwest Territory Métis AIP, “The signing of the to achieving a Final million (Q3 2015), 25,194 communities: 739 ha in Agreement negotiations Nation Final Agreement. Land and Resources Agreement in a timely square kilometres of Fort Resolution, 292 ha are concluded, members There are approximately, Agreement-in-Principle manner for the interest Métis Land, 1,133 square in Fort Smith, and 384 of NWTMN will vote to 50 outstanding issues to is an important milestone of Indigenous Métis of kilometres of subsurface ha in Hay River. Land ratify the Final Agreement. be negotiated including the and demonstrates the the Northwest Territories land, Métis Community selection negotiations timing of impact and benefit Government of Canada and future generations.” Land (quantum to be with Government will agreement negotiations. and the Government negotiated) and a share commence now that the Page 1 Fall 2015 Wings New additions to the Métis membership list As of March 31, 2015, more than 2000 individuals have been enumerated as members of the The Métis membership list must be kept up to date as the population is required for the purpose Northwest Territory Métis Nation. As we are preparing for the Effective Date of our Final of ratification of the anticipated NWTMN land and resources final agreement. The population of Agreement, we are also strengthening the Northwest Territory Métis Nation with a stronger the NWTMN must be submitted to GNWT and the Aboriginal groups annually for the purpose and verified membership list. of calculation of devolution resource royalties. Métis membership As “every member counts,” we are reviewing new applicants to the NWTMN every day — including this generation of Métis newborns. In our land and resource negotiations, a Métis member is defined to be an Aboriginal person of Cree, Slavey or Chipewyan ancestry who resided in, used or occupied any part of the Agreement Area on or before December 31, 1921, or a descendent of such a person. The Agreement Area is identified within the Land and Resources Agreement-in-Principle and consists of the South Slave region. To be a beneficiary of the anticipated NWTMN land and resources final agreement, you cannot be on an Indian band list, receive benefits or exercise rights under a Treaty or be enrolled under a land claims agreement. If you are a beneficiary of a land claims agreement and would like to enroll in the anticipated NWTMN land and resources final agreement, you must withdraw from any other land claims agreement you are enrolled in. Applying for enumeration Applicants must provide documentation to verify genealogy information to support an application for Indigenous Métis Membership including the following: • copy of government issued photo identification; Courtesy Jim of Green. • baptismal certificates; • long form birth certificate on which the names of the applicant’s parents are indicated; Photo: • adoption certificate; Young Métis sash dancers in the South Slave. • custody court order for permanent custody; or • birth certificate, baptismal certificate; marriage certificate or death certificate of a parent, grandparent great-grandparent. If you would like an enumeration application for Northwest Territory Métis Nation: Enumeration Clerk Northwest Territory Métis Nation [email protected] #138 Simpson St. Ph: (867) 872-4044 Box 720 F: (867) 872-2404 Fort Smith, NT X0E 0P0 François Beaulieu, “Le Patriarche,” honoured by Heritage Canada Member of Parliament “As Aboriginal people, The plaque that is being Colin Carrie also we’re all related,” says provided by the Historic appreciated Francois Chief Martselos. Sites and Monuments Beaulieu II’s “economic Board of Canada will be acumen,” identifying