Draft:Fort McKay Métis Nation

The Fort McKay Métis Nation, formerly the Fort McKay Métis Community Association represents the indigenous Métis people in and near the hamlet of Fort McKay, Alberta.

This body was created in 2010, separately from Local 63 of the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) but with overlapping leadership. The FMMCA set up it's own business arm, a social enterprise called the McKay Métis Group around this time.[1] This is not to be confused with the older First Nations-owned Fort McKay Group of Companies started in 1986.[2] Ron Quintal was the president of both Local 63 and the FMMCA for many years.

In 2016 the MNA added an oath to it's bylaws that would bind its members to recognize the MNA as having the power to negotiate on their behalf before government. The resolutions related to the oath were challenged in court. In August of 2018 Justice Feehan ruled that the MNA was within it's rights to introduce the oath but that it remained a "private voluntary body" and not a government with sovereignty over its members. Quintal criticized the oath for not being strong enough to assert Métis nationhood and the MNA head office for the outcome of the case.[3]

In July of 2018 Ron Quintal was already president of both MNA Local 63 and the FMMCA when at that time he ran for the provincial presidency of the MNA and finished second with 38.6% of the votes counted. At this time, Quintal accused the administration of the MNA of negotiating directly with resource companies and cutting out local leaders.[4] Under Quintal's leadership Local 63 then voted to dissolve itself, but MNA suspended the local instead and rescinded Quintal's membership.[4]

In 2019 the FMMCA brought a suit against the MNA saying that it should regarded as the legal representative of the Metis in the area and not the MNA. However the judge ruled that FMMCA had to seek recognition from the Crown (government) and not via lawsuit against it's rival.[5]

In 2020 the Government of Alberta recognized the FMMCA holders of a "credible assertion" (a legal term of art) for Aboriginal land rights. Also in that year the FMMCA joined with six other community associations which wished to break away from the MNA to form the Alberta Métis Federation.

In 2023 the FMMN launched a legal challenge to the agreement between the MNA and the Government of Canada, which saw the Canadian Crown recognize the MNA as a government with the power to speak for Métis.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Nelson, Chris. "Fort McKay Metis Nation builds booming business in oilsands sector". Calgary Herald.
  2. ^ Cryderman, Kelly. "The dispute the entire oil industry is watching". The Globe and Mail.
  3. ^ "Court decision faces appeal: Metis Nation of Alberta 'just a club' only until formal recognition as a government". Windspeaker.com. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  4. ^ a b McDermott, Vincent. "Quintal rejects MNA's claims of 'abandoning his post' as McKay Métis president".
  5. ^ "FORT MCKAY METIS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION V METIS NATION OF ALBERTA ASSOCIATION". JSS Barristers. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  6. ^ McDermott, Vincent. "Fort McKay Métis Nation launches legal challenge against Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister". Fort McMurray Today.