Inventory of Aboriginal Services, Issues and Initiatives in Vancouver: Métis

Relevant Details

Métis people are one of three groups that the Canadian government recognizes as Aboriginal people. The other two are First Nations and Inuit people.

• Of the 976,305 people who identified themselves as Aboriginal, 30%, or 292,310, reported that they were Métis. 44,265 were in BC, with 12,505 in Vancouver (Stats Canada, 2001).
• There is an ongoing debate over who is an actual Métis person. Some say that a person must be a direct descendant of the original Red River Métis people, while others who are not, but have Aboriginal heritage and no ‘Indian Status’ now identify themselves as Métis. Please visit www.mnbc.ca/citizenship/citizenship.html to find out more.
• BC and the Métis Nations BC signed the Métis Nation Relationship Accord in May 2006 as a way to work together to achieve results in areas such as health care, housing, education, employment opportunities, Métis identification and data collection.
• In recent years, Métis organizations have been successful in lobbying the Government of Canada in regards to Métis fishing, hunting, and land rights.

Who’s Involved?

Vancouver Métis Association (744 West Hastings Street)

• Works towards developing stronger Métis communities and families through advocacy, education, partnerships, and an online “History of the Métis” document for visitors to read.
• Only program is Walk Bravely Forward which helps to reintegrate incarcerated federal offenders back into their families and communities.
• Hosts the Celebration Métis Annual Festival at the Vancouver Art Gallery since 2005.

Métis Provincial Council of British Columbia

• “Métis Nation British Columbia develops and enhances opportunities for our Métis communities by implementing culturally relevant social and economic programs and services.”

Partnerships

• None

Committees

• None

Trends

• Many more people are identifying themselves as Métis, Aboriginal or Inuit in the Canadian Census now that this is an option. More individuals recognizing their Aboriginal heritage has dramatically increased the official census count of Aboriginal people in Canada.
• Métis people are becoming much more vocal in relation to Métis rights with the Federal government, including the areas of hunting, fishing, and land rights.

Gaps

• There is only one Métis association in Vancouver, despite many Métis people living here. Most Métis organizations are in the Surrey area as there is a large Métis population there. The Vancouver Métis Association is mostly a volunteer run organization without the infrastructure needed to provide programs and services to Vancouver Métis people.

Contact Information
Addresses, phone, fax, email, and website information for any of the organizations above can be found in the Contact Information section of this manual.

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