Introduction

• Author: Frederica Wilson; Melanie Mallet
• Pages: 13-18

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  

Métis– Crown Relat ions : Ri ghts, Identity,

Jurisdiction, and Governance

e years  to  represented a watershed period for the Métis

people of Canada, both in terms of armat ion of their constitutionally

protected rights and the willingness of government to engage in dialogue

needed to move their relationship forward. e paramount development

was the  Supreme Court of Canada decision in R. v. Powley, widely

regarded as a landmark ruling for its armation of Métis r ights in sec-

tion  of the Constitution Act, . In that sa me year, the federal gov-

ernment announced its commitment to Métis issues in the Speech from

the rone and in  joined the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and

Non-Status Indians with the Indian and Northern Aairs portfolio. Less

than a year later, the Métis National Council and the federal government

entered into the Métis Nation Framework Agreement, detailing their

commitment to a process to address the outstanding issues between

them. ese milestones indicated a place of prominence for the agenda

of a long-neglected people a nd created optim ism for an improved and

claried relationship between the Métis a nd government.

Although these developments i ndicated momentum in t he eld of

Métis rights, the Powle y decision, in par ticular, highlighted se veral im-

portant issues that require resolution. For instance, how should a historic

 []  S.C.R.  [Powley].

 Constitution Act, , s. , being Schedu le B to the Canada Act  (U.K.), ,

c. .