(AGENPARL) – ven 19 luglio 2024 News Release
July 19, 2024
MANITOBA GOVERNMENT AND MANITOBA MÉTIS FEDERATION SIGN
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOLLOWING HISTORIC JOINT CABINET
MEETING
–MOU Establishes Process to Transfer Culturally Significant
Land Back to Red River Métis: Kinew, Chartrand
The Manitoba government and Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) have signed a memorandum
of understanding (MOU) to guide the proposed transfer of approximately 100 acres of culturally
significant lands at the site of the former community of Ste. Madeleine back to the Red River
Métis, Premier Wab Kinew, minister responsible for Indigenous reconciliation, and Manitoba
Métis Federation President David Chartrand announced today.
“Less than 100 years ago, 250 Métis people were driven out of the community of Ste. Madeleine
when their homes were burned,” said Kinew. “Today is a step toward righting that historic
wrong. The Manitoba Métis Federation has long called for the return of this land and we are
beginning a nation-to-nation collaboration that will establish a process to transfer land that was
unjustly taken back to Red River Métis citizens.”
The MOU establishes a joint collaborative working group to facilitate discussions and progress
on issues of common interest or concern with respect of the historic community of Ste.
Madeleine and the Spy Hill Ellice community pasture, in adherence with the Crown’s treaty land
entitlement and duty to consult obligations. The Manitoba government will also consult with
First Nations and stakeholders in Treaty 4 and the surrounding areas as part of the process, the
premier said.
“This is not just about returning land or preserving the graves of our Ste. Madeleine relatives, it’s
about righting this historic wrong and signalling to all Manitobans and Canadians that the Red
River Métis and our families will no longer be treated as less important than cattle,” said David
Chartrand, president, MMF, the national government of the Red River Métis. “This eases a
heartache that has existed at the core of our Nation for generations. Manitobans should be proud
to have a premier who truly understands what reconciliation looks like and is actively moving
forward with government-to-government engagement, to the benefit of all.”
– more –
-2The premier noted the homes of approximately 250 Métis residents of the former community of
Ste. Madeleine were burned by Canada to create community pastures in 1939. This community
existed along the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border, west of the Assiniboine River in Treaty 4
territory. The Spy Hill Ellice community pastures were operated by Canada until 2013 when they
were dissolved over a three-year period and transferred to Manitoba.
The lands at the former Ste. Madeleine community hold historic and cultural significance to the
Red River Métis. The community once had a school, church and cemetery, which continues to be
maintained. The site is important to the families and descendants of the Métis community, who
attend the site regularly to care for ancestral graves and host an annual Ste. Madeleine Days
festival in July.
The MOU signing followed a joint cabinet meeting held yesterday at the Manitoba Legislative
Building, attended by cabinet ministers from both the Manitoba government and Manitoba Métis
Federation.
Today’s announcement was made at the Ste. Madeleine Heritage Local Métis Days, an annual
event commemorating the former community. The event runs throughout the weekend and
features a Red River Métis market and family activities, as well as horseshoe, slingshot,
cribbage, jigging, Bannock making, Bingo and closest-to-the-pin competitions.