{"id":506517,"date":"2026-03-01T02:55:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T02:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/506517\/"},"modified":"2026-03-01T02:55:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T02:55:13","slug":"canada-formally-recognizes-north-slave-metis-aboriginal-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/506517\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada formally recognizes North Slave M\u00e9tis Aboriginal rights"},"content":{"rendered":"

The federal government has formally recognized the Aboriginal rights of the North Slave M\u00e9tis Alliance under section 35 of the Constitution Act.<\/p>\n

Ottawa, announcing that recognition<\/a> on Saturday, said doing so \u201ccreates the conditions for clear and constructive communication, respectful partnerships, and real progress and prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith this milestone, Canada and the North Slave M\u00e9tis Alliance can now engage in collaborative dialogue to clarify how these rights are implemented and exercised going forward,\u201d a news release stated.<\/p>\n

\"NorthNorth Slave M\u00e9tis Alliance vice-president Alan Harman Jr. Ollie Williams\/Cabin Radio<\/p>\n

The announcement \u201cconfirms the legitimacy of our community,\u201d said Alan Harman Jr, the vice-president of the North Slave M\u00e9tis Alliance, at a press conference in downtown Yellowknife.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur leaders fought for recognition when few doors were open. Today, we honour their perseverance.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Harman said this was \u201cthe beginning of a new chapter\u201d advancing shared priorities like protecting land and water, strengthening culture, and creating opportunities for youth.<\/p>\n

Recognition took place in December last year but was made public on Saturday.<\/p>\n

It had been \u201cdecades in the making,\u201d said NWT MP and Crown-Indigenous relations minister Rebecca Alty, paying tribute to past leaders of the North Slave M\u00e9tis Alliance.<\/p>\n

\"NWTNWT MP Rebecca Alty. Ollie Williams\/Cabin Radio<\/p>\n

\"NorthNorth Slave M\u00e9tis Alliance President Marc Whitford. Ollie Williams\/Cabin Radio<\/p>\n

NSMA President Marc Whitford said reaching this point had taken numerous attempts. <\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s not like we were in negotiations forever \u2026 but rather it took some time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whitford said the practical consequences of recognition are still being explored.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing out of the chute right now, so to speak, we are spreading the word among our membership [and] working with other governments, the GNWT etc, in light of these new developments. We\u2019re a lot better off than we were two or three years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whitford said NSMA, incorporated in 1996, will now look toward \u201cself-government in some areas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not all going to come as one big bag of tricks from Santa,\u201d he said. \u201cWe will take each piece and see if it fits and works for us and the Crown. That\u2019s what the negotiations are going to be about, and I\u2019m looking forward to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regarding the Akaitcho Process<\/a> and how this recognition interacts with the rights of other Indigenous peoples, Whitford said the North Slave M\u00e9tis Alliance and other Indigenous governments in the region must now find a way to work together.<\/p>\n

He said he hopes to \u201cbring together all of us on an accommodation and respect for each other\u2019s right, where we sit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not going to be easy,\u201d he said. \u201cAt the same time, it\u2019s not hopeless either \u2026 we want to move forward, that\u2019s what it\u2019s about. We want to cooperate with everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The NWT government, in a statement, said it \u201cwelcomed\u201d Saturday\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n

\u201cM\u00e9tis people have a long and important history in the North Slave region and across the Northwest Territories. This recognition reflects that history, and the voices of those who have worked for many years to be heard, including North Slave M\u00e9tis Alliance members,\u201d Premier RJ Simpson stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecognition matters. It is an important step toward reconciliation, and it underscores the importance of continued progress on the recognition and resolution of Indigenous rights and land claims across the Northwest Territories.\u201d<\/p>\n

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