At the annual MNC assembly of October 16, 1988 the boards of the member affiliates elected W. Yvon Dumont from Manitoba as MNC president. However, they could not solve the issue of structure, but agreed to formalize an alliance called the Métis Constitutional Conference (MCC) for the purposes of representation at the constitutional talks. Dumont served as president until 1993; successor presidents are Gerald Morin (1993-2003, suspended, January 12, 2003), Audrey Poitras (January 12, 2003 interim President and National spokesperson), Clément Chartier (October 2003 to present). We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. The pan-Aboriginal structures of the Native Council of Canada (now known as the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples) and its affiliates did not allow the Métis Nation to effectively represent itself. The assembly also eliminated the position of national representative but continued with a small lobby office in Ottawa. The MNC’s office is based in Ottawa.Carolyn Bennett, speaking on behalf of the federal government, considers the accords the beginning of a new and better relationship between Canada and the three Métis nations involved: “What we’re signing today is a true acknowledgement of the Métis Nation and the relationship we will have going forward — government to government. "This is about the very essence of protecting our nation," Chartrand said.
The National Council is governed by a Board of Governors made up of the presidents of the provincial Métis organizations, and the national president. In 2008, the dispute ended with Chartier’s re-election as president.According to Chartier, the founding of the MNC began to crystallize the shift in Métis identity “not as off-reserve mixed-bloods, but as a distinct people and nation with a common history, culture, territory, language and political will to be self-governing.”A national president is elected every three years by delegates from each of the five member associations during the MNC’s general assembly. Notably, Federation of Metis Settlements (FMS) had been left out. Prior to the holding of the constitutionally guaranteed First Minister Conference to further identify and define the rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, it became apparent that the Métis Nation needed to be able to represent itself at a national level through its own voice – a Métis voice. The rift again briefly threatened Chartier’s presidency. In 2003, President Chartier was elected President of the Métis National Council and is currently serving his fourth-term.
Prior to the holding of the constitutionally guaranteed First Minister Conference (1983) to further identify and define the rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, it became apparent that the Métis Nation needed to be able to once again represent itself at a national level through its own voice - a Métis voice.
In more recent years, the MNC has been hindered by controversy, infighting and lawsuits.In 2003, then-president Gerald Morin was suspended after he was charged with assaulting a woman and acknowledged an alcohol addiction. The Métis wanted both NCC seats at the conference and NCC offered to split them.
—Clément Chartier, President of the Métis National Council “Today’s meeting with the Prime Minister and key federal ministers was a very valuable exchange between the leadership of the Métis Nation and Canada. The MCA proclamation was signed by Elmer Ghostkeeper on behalf of FMS and Don McIvor on behalf of MMF. The presidents of NCC up to the MNC split were; Tony Belcourt (1971-1972), Kermit Moore (1972-1973), Gloria George (1973-1975), and Smokey Bruyere (1981-1983). The Native Council of Canada continued its operations until 1994, when it changed its name to the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. As a result, in March 1983, the Métis Nation separated from the Native Council of Canada to form the Métis National Council (MNC) – its own Métis-specific national representative body. As a result Jim Sinclair resigned as chairman of the NCC Constitutional Committee and Sinclair along with Elmer Ghostkeeper, Don McIvor and Sam Sinclair left the NCC meeting.
The prairie Métis associations were then part of the Native Council of Canada (now known as the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples). These meetings are helping us to make a difference in the lives of all Métis people in British Columbia and throughout the Métis Nation.