The Chiefs of Ontario reject the Métis Nation of Ontario’s ongoing efforts to rewrite history

(Toronto, Ont. – May 31, 2024) Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare issued the following statement regarding a “fact-checking” document being circulated by the Métis Nation of Ontario to First Nation Leadership:

“It has come to my attention that the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) is sending out individual emails to First Nation Leadership with a document which purports to debunk the resolution denouncing the MNO and Bill C-53 passed at the Summit on Indigenous Identity Fraud,” said Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare.

“Red River Métis saying these alleged MNO communities never existed in Ontario and that the MNO is appropriating actual Métis culture—I think that speaks for itself. The MNO continues to invent facts to create a history that never happened as part of its attempts to divert resources away from legitimate Indigenous groups. First Nations in Ontario stand united with all legitimate Indigenous peoples against the MNO’s false claims,” said Ontario Regional Chief Hare.

Extensive expert academic research looked at the MNO’s own documentation and determined that none of the so-called communities represented by the MNO meet the criteria set out in Powley in order to be recognized as a legitimate historic, rights-bearing Nation. The MNO’s “facts” are actually inventions and wild distortions of history: The MNO is quite literally stealing First Nations Ancestors and re-writing their stories and appropriating the existence of mixed heritage individuals living in a common geographic to attempt to “create” a nation that never existed.

The truth is that no one has ever verified that MNO’s “new historic communities” existed—not Ontario, not Canada, not the courts, and not even MNO’s own “independent review.” The “independent review” that the MNO touts expressly states: “It is also understood in the scope of work that the Independent Reviewer should not provide conclusions or opinions regarding whether or not the Powley criteria have been met in the Study Areas.” The MNO’s continued misrepresentation of its own research is just part of its PR campaign to mislead the public and decision-makers.

The MNO is not interested in “dialogue,” actual facts, history, or evidence. As with everything else, the MNO only cares about appearances. “It is not reasonable to ask First Nations to have a dialogue with a group that is not honest about who it represents or what its intentions are, and we will continue to refrain from doing so. It is, frankly, ironic and laughable that the MNO claims to ‘condemn Indigenous Identity Fraud in all its forms’ when it continues to push their false narratives and claims,” said Regional Chief Hare. “The call is coming from inside the house.”

Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare (Gwiingos)

Further Reading:

1. Robinson-Huron Waawiindamaagewin – “An Exploratory Study of the Métis Nation of Ontario’s ‘Historic Métis Communities’ in Robinson-Huron Treaty Territory” – March 2023
2. Wabun Tribal Council – “The ‘Historic Abitibi-Inland Métis Community’ – Final Report” – Sept 2022
3. Manitoba Métis Federation – “Historic Métis Communities of Ontario: An Evaluation of Evidence” – October 2020
4. Manitoba Métis Federation – “An Analysis of the MNO’s Recognition of Six New Historic Metis Communities: A Final Report” – March 2020

Declan Keogh
Communications Officer
Chiefs of Ontario
Mobile: 416-522-4518
Email: declan.keogh@coo.org