Controversy Surrounds Indigenous Identity of Group Behind “The Métis Place” in Ottawa Mall

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Inside “The Métis Place,” a cultural centre and shop located in an east Ottawa mall, visitors are greeted with an impressive display of Indigenous artifacts and artwork. The exhibit features tanned pelts, fringed buckskin moccasins, woven birch-bark baskets, and a collage of old pictures showcasing the Red River Métis of western Canada. The shop also offers art for sale, including pieces done in the recognizable Woodland painting style created by Anishinaabe artist Norval Morisseau. However, despite the visual appeal, critics argue that the group behind the store is not Indigenous at all.

The Métis Nation of Canada (MNOC), a self-proclaimed Indigenous group not recognized by the federal government, Métis, or First Nations, operates “The Métis Place.” They allow anyone with a single Indigenous ancestor to join, regardless of how distant the connection may be. This has sparked debate and controversy, especially within the Métis community. Will Goodon, housing minister with the Manitoba Métis Federation in Winnipeg, has labeled them as “fakes” and “frauds.”

The MNOC has accessed provincial and federal public funding, including applying for Indigenous-only federal funding in 2017, which they were unsuccessful in obtaining. Additionally, the group is affiliated with a former white rights activist who generated public controversy in the early 2000s by making derogatory remarks about First Nations people.

The Métis National Council, representing recognized Métis political associations in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and B.C., has criticized the opening of “The Métis Place” and called for urgent investments in Métis business verification. They argue that the use of “Métis” in the store’s name is misleading and appropriates Métis identity.

Karole Dumont, the national chief of MNOC, rejects these allegations and asserts the group’s right to exist. Dumont, a former public servant, highlights the contributions of their ancestors and their desire to claim an identity they believe is their birthright. While MNOC has received some public funding, Dumont states they are not interested in federal funding, considering it a road to corruption.

Critics argue that claiming Métis identity based on mixed marriages in the 1600s, as MNOC does, is problematic and goes against the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2003 Powley ruling. The court ruled that the term “Métis” in Canada’s Constitution does not encompass all individuals with mixed Indigenous and European heritage.

Veldon Coburn, an associate professor at McGill University and member of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn, criticizes MNOC for appropriating Indigenous peoples’ identity and attempting to displace them on their own territories. He urges Canadians to research before supporting such groups, describing them as charlatans selling snake oil.

Meanwhile, MNOC’s founder, Bryce Fequet, is currently in Federal Court seeking recognition as an Indigenous person, access to services and programs available to Indigenous people, and financial compensation for past refusal of recognition. The Canadian government opposes Fequet, arguing that his self-identification as “Inuit Métis” is of recent vintage and made belatedly.

Fequet, a stonemason by trade, founded MNOC in 2009 and later served as the mayor of Bonne-Espérance in Quebec. He identifies as Inuit-Métis and traces his lineage back to Louis L’Esquimau, his Inuit ancestor. Fequet advocates for a single central registry to unite all Indigenous people under one tent, a proposal the Canadian government has not embraced.

The controversy surrounding “The Métis Place” highlights the ongoing debates and complexities surrounding Indigenous identity and the importance of recognizing legitimate Indigenous groups and organizations..