Metis Nation Saskatchewan is in Ottawa for a two day conference with their counterparts from Alberta and Ontario. The subject is self-government. Collectively, the three governments represent more than 200 thousand Metis in Canada. In addition to Metis leaders, the conference brings together citizens, federal government representatives, legal experts, academics, and First Nations. The conference builds on the signings of the Metis Government Recognition and Self-Government Agreements last June. The agreements recognize the Metis inherent right of self-government based on Metis rights recognition and implementation.

At the same time, the Metis National Council is hosting a conference in Saskatoon which the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan is not attending. In a release, the council says this conference was called in response to the Saskatchewan group’s request for a debate on the council’s suspension of the Metis Nation of Ontario. The suspension was triggered by the Ontario group’s failure to comply with a resolution of the council’s General Assembly requiring a review of Ontario’s registry. Council Spokesperson David Chartrand says his group was surprised and disappointed that the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan withdrew its attendance at the Saskatoon event and went so far as to organize the competing meeting.