The leader of Manitoba's Metis Nation is not holding back his disappointment in the new Minister of Indigenous and Northern Relations' comments on residential schools.

Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) President David Chartrand says he was not surprised to hear that a Manitoba PC member falsely said residential schools were designed to give skills and abilities to Indigenous children but is disappointed it came from a Metis person, Minister Dr. Alan Lagimodiere.

"It is very disappointing for me to see one of my Metis citizens really bow down to somebody else's (way of) how they see the world. That is completely opposite of what we see, and for Lagimodiere to give up on his people, abandon his people, sit silent all these years hoping he is going to be appointed to minister, shutting down his principles, and definitely shutting down his nation," Chartrand says.

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Lagimodiere released a statement shortly afterward he made the comments in a media conference, saying he misspoke.

"As an Indigenous Manitoban, I sincerely believe that residential schools were tragic and were designed to assimilate Indigenous children and eradicate Indigenous culture. That was wrong then, and it is wrong now," Lagimodiere says in a statement.

Chartrand says Lagamodiere is "towing the Pallister line."

"Mr. Lagimodiere can play his game with Pallister, and at the end of the day he will be judged differently." 

In a now-deleted tweet, the Manitoba PC Caucus tweeted in response to Opposition Leader Wab Kinew interrupting Lagamodiere's residential school statements.

manitoba pc caucous july 15 tweet sc(Screenshot: Manitoba PC Caucus/Twitter)

"We are all committed to meaningful progress on reconciliation. The political showmanship of storming into someone else's press conference to bully a Minister who was sworn in only 10 minutes earlier does nothing to advance that reconciliation," the party tweeted.

The president found the Minister's comments disturbing and insulting. Chartrand says he will "waste no time" setting up a meeting with Lagimodiere.

 

Future of relations

Chartrand says the MMF and Metis community welcomed Lagimodiere, excited to see a Metis person in provincial politics and to have conversations about his Metis heritage. Now, Chartrand is disappointed his Metis voice is silent, especially on Metis political issues.

"I am quite saddened by the fact that Lagimodiere did not take the opportunity to be a real leader."

Chartrand thinks Lagimodiere has walked away from his Metis culture, saying "he was definitely born Metis, but now he has now been born to the Conservative family."

The MMF President is confident that nothing will change for the Metis with Lagimodiere's appointment.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs' Grand Chief Arlen Dumas tweets "it is unacceptable to continually disparage First Nations in the most hurtful ways during these times of grieving and suffering over the IRS system and the graves of our children." Dumas is standing with Kinew and him correcting Lagamodiere.

“It is unacceptable to continually disparage First Nations in the most hurtful ways during these times of grieving and suffering over the IRS system and the graves of our children. I stand with @WabKinew in calling out residential school denialism.”
~GC Dumas pic.twitter.com/bNeR3k9B5d

— AMC (@AMCMBChiefs) July 15, 2021

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. (MKO) Chief Garrison Settee is equally disappointed.

“I find it appalling and reprehensible for the new Minister of Reconciliation and Northern Relations to misrepresent the intent of residential schools. It has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that the intent of the institutions was that of ‘cultural genocide’ and to ‘kill the Indian in the child,’” he says in a statement.

Settee says that while Lagimodiere encouraged reporters to find the truth about residential schools, the Chief is encouraging the Minister, and the Premier, to educate themselves on the "the documented proof of the genocidal intent of these institutions."

Settee says Eileen Clarke's sudden resignation "should send a strong message to the government and public," asking the government to recognize the truth of the genocidal intent of residential schools.

 

An earlier edit said Chartrand was a residential school Survivor. He attended a day school that employed nuns. This has since been corrected.

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