The provincial government through the Trillium Foundation has committed $245,000 to the Metis Nation of Ontario for the Frontier Literacy project. The two-year project will enhance English literacy skills in Metis communities, affecting more than 350 children. The funding announcement was made at the opening ceremony Monday of the Metis Nation of Ontario's 14th annual General Assembly taking place at Chippewa Park.
Aboriginal delegates from across the country are in the city all week to take part in the annual meetings aimed at furthering the Metis people. The session is designed to allow Metis citizens a chance to voice growing concerns within their community and allow the Metis Nation of Ontario a chance to grow among Canada's aboriginal communities. Politicians and members of the Metis Nation of Ontario arrived by canoe to kick off the assembly.
Bill Smith, president of the Thunder Bay Metis Council says the event allows each of the 300 delegates participating to have a voice in some of the key issues affecting them. ''It's an opportunity for the citizens to voice their concerns on issues they would like to see dealt with which would have priority.'' The priorities this year will center around building on the recent harvesting ruling involving three Metis people.
President of the Metis Nation of Ontario, Tony Belcourt, says he sees the Metis people making progress as a recognized aboriginal identity saying that was a main issue in the past but now its time to discuss more pressing issues, like getting a portion of Casino revenue. He cites health care, suicide rates, education and jobs as other problems the Metis Nation of Ontario continue to deal with. He calls the quest for a Metis identity coming through court decisions, a waste of resources however.
''We have to be spending about a million or more of our own dollars. We have to raise that money. The government of Ontario and the federal government also spend at least that amount or more, I would assume, fighting us in court.
That's a tremendous waste of financial resources.'' Building financial momentum, Belcourt says, will be the net result of the annual General Assembly. He sees the Metis Nation of Ontario going forward in resource development to improve economic conditions in the community.
''The Metis Nation will be at the table where it concerns resource development. Particularly hydro, forestry industry is something we're particularly concerned about, and as is mining. So we'll be at the table with industry as well as government.
'' Belcourt adds having the assembly in Nishnawbe territory will be an opportunity to build relations with the First Nation and he'd like to see further partnerships between Metis and First Nations.
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