The Metis in Alberta
13 Settlements
- Metis Pop. Betterment Act, 1938
-Only Metis in Canada to have own
land base. (Imp. For Self-Govt.)
Population Size: 51K (1996 census)
More than in any other prov.
(c.f.
Sask @ 37K; Man. @ 46K; BC @ 26K)
More assimilated & integrated than First
Nation individuals – e.g., more urban
Less nationalistic ideology
Political Representation


Metis Nation of Alberta
Much intense politicking
1990Statutes
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$310 million for econ. dvlpm.t. & self-govt., in
lieu of a land claim ( raids by govt in 1982)
Establishes a base for self-government on 8
settlements.
No mineral rights granted.
The 1990 Legislation
for the Metis
Bill 33
Metis Settlemts Accord Implementn Act
Bill 34
Metis Settlements Land Protection Act
Bill 35
Metis Settlements Act
Bill 36
Constit’n of Alta. Amendment Act (1990)
The 8 Metis Settlements covered by the legislation are:
Settlement
Area Population
Buffalo Lake & Kikino
4417
East Prairie, Gift Lake, & Peavine
5845
Paddle Prairie
4217
Elizabeth & Fishing Lake
9473
Bill 33: Metis Settlements
Accord Implementation Act
5 Principles
co-operation; self-sufficiency;
local govt autonomy; equity with
other local govts; political respect
Transfers $309 million over next 17
years to implement the Metis
Settlements Act
Bill 34: Metis Settlements Land
Protection Act
Purpose:
To prevent another scrip fiasco (scrip
exchangeable for cash or land was bought
up by unscrupulous traders), by specifying
conditions for Metis land tenure
Alienation of Settlement Land (Fee Simple title)
- Only with permission of the Crown and by
majority vote of all members of that
settlement and of all Metis settlements
- Settlement land may not be mortgaged.
Mineral Exploration Permitted
- Only with consent of the settlement
council and the General Council
Bill 36: Constitution of Alberta
Amendment Act, 1990
Entrenches aspects of the other 3
statutes in the constitution of
Alberta and thereby in the
Constitution of Canada
e.g., the Legislature may not amend
or repeal the Metis Settlements
Land Protection Act without the
agreement of the Metis Settlements
General Council
and
Any bill to amend or repeal this
statute requires a plebiscite of Metis
settlement members and majority
approval must be obtained in each
settlement
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