FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 3, 2023
TEMAGAMI FIRST NATION AND THE TEME-AUGAMA ANISHNABAI OPPOSE
PROPOSED MNO SELF-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION
Bear Island, Lake Temagami, May 3, 2023: The leadership of the Teme-Augama Anishnabai and the Temagami First Nation are calling upon the Federal Government to halt its plan to proceed with implementing the Metis Government Recognition and Self-Government Agreement, citing numerous concerns related to the flawed research and an opaque process that led to the eventual 2017 recognition of six (6) new “historic metis” communities in the Province of Ontario.
“Teme-Augama Anishnabai people have and will continue to exercise our inherent jurisdiction and stewardship over the land, waters and life throughout N’Dakimenan,” said Teme-Augama Anishnabai Ogimaa (Chief) Leanna Farr. “We have learned that the Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) is recognizing Metis citizens based on claims that historic and contemporary metis communities have existed and continue to exist within N’Dakimenan (Our Homeland). They are also asserting that their member citizens are now entitled to specific Aboriginal rights within our territory. This is concerning given that there have never been distinct metis communities within N’Dakimenan.”
In 2017 the MNO was able to convince the Province of Ontario that a number of historic metis communities existed prior to effective control. This process involved detailing what the MNO refers to as, “verified metis family lines”, each line identifying one or more, “Metis root ancestors.” Yet, Teme-Augama Anishnabai, including members of the Temagami First Nation, have thoroughly documented their history through oral tradition, fur trade records, and church records. There is clear evidence that the MNO is often recasting well known Teme-Augama Anishinabai as, “Metis ancestors” for the purpose of political gain and Indigenous credibility.
“If you look at their official verified metis family lines from its so-called Abitibi-Inland historic community, you will find that the MNO has claimed not just one, but several of my own direct ancestors as metis,” stated Temagami First Nation Chief Moore-Frappier. “In their Polson verified family line, they claim my great-grandfather Thomas McBride as a documented metis, and in their Saunders-Leblanc line, they claim another set of my great-grandparents, Ellen Friday and Joseph Turner as documented metis. This is absurd. I have old family photos of some of these people hanging in my living room. I wouldn’t be here almost 100 years later, still Teme-Augama Anishnabai, if they were not, also, Teme-Augama Anishinabai.”
“The MNO’s historical research legitimizing the so-called Abitibi-Inland historic metis community is deeply offensive and there is evidence of it throughout key MNO documents” added Teme-Augama Anishnabai Aanike-Ogimaa (2nd Chief) John (Mitiginaabe) Turner. “Look at the August 2019 issue of the Metis Voyaguer, where the MNO announces their so-called self-government agreement. There is a picture of my family, all Timiiaagamiing Anishinaabeg! It includes my great-great grandparents, John (Ootchim) and Mary Turner, their son Joseph and his wife Ellen Friday (my great grandparents), and their children and son-in-law. All of these families were stewards of traditional Teme-Augama Anishnabai hunting grounds at some point under Teme-Augama Anishnabai sanction. The family even added their signatures to a 1907 petition of Teme-Augama Anishnabai, delivered to the Government, seeking a reserve!”
In 1976, the Teme-Augama Anishnabai exercised its inherent right to determine its “citizens” and all known descendants of the Teme-Augama Anishnabai were recognized and confirmed as citizens under Teme-Augama Anishnabai law and governance.
“It is important that any Metis “citizen” claims via Teme-Augama Anishnabai descendancy, and claims of Metis rights to use and occupy N’Dakimenan, be resolved immediately,” added Chief Moore-Frappier. “To date, there has been no consultation with First Nations on proposed self-government agreements that are linked to our people and our lands and this is unacceptable. We are presently receiving notifications from “North Channel Metis” individuals who claim to exercising their metis Aboriginal rights to erect cabins within our territory with the permission of the MNRF (Ontario). The MNO has suggested that we address this through dialogue and yet they refuse to answer our correspondence sent a year ago. What we would really like to know is who these new metis citizens really are.”
Metis Nation of Ontario uses this historical photo of members of Teme-Augama Anishnabai on their website and promotional material. Top L-R: George (Kiijik) Turner Sr., Joseph Turner, and Charles Moore Sr., Bottom L-R: Mary Turner (nee McLean), John (Ootchim) Turner Sr., Ellen Turner (nee Friday) Emma Moore (nee Turner) at Bear Island, circa 1896
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For more information:
Heidi Jobson, Temagami First Nation Communications Officer
communication@temagamifirstnation.ca
Tel: 705-237-8943 ext. 107
www.temagamifirstnation.ca