MN-S disappointed in exclusion of Métis in 60's scoop settlement
- EFN Staff | October 13, 2017
The Métis Nation of Saskatchewan (MN-S) President Glen McCallum expressed his disappointment in response to the recent news from the federal government regarding the 60's Scoop where only First Nations and Inuit were included in the financial settlement – excluding the Métis people.
“I am heartened for our First Nations and Inuit brothers and sisters who were successful in achieving recognition through a settlement,” said McCallum in a press release. “On the other hand, I am deeply saddened, confused, and extremely disappointed that our Métis citizens who were no less part of this painful and cruel action known as the 60's Scoop, are not included nor acknowledged in the federal announcement.”
McCallum added that "no human being born with a God given heart and spirit has any less pain and loss especially when it comes to being heartlessly torn from his or her birth family and then pushed into a foreign colonial culture with strange families and in some instances into another country."
He said the Métis continue to be the convenient forgotten Indigenous group recognized in the Constitution of Canada. McCallum is looking forward to working on a serious reconciliation process with Canada through the Trudeau government. He added the 60's Scoop with Métis is a matter which must be reconciled.
“This federal government has repeatedly asserted the prioritization and importance of Canada’s relationship with indigenous people,” he said. “I am confused and frustrated because our Métis leadership have been a part of discussions to determine a solution to this painful past but there was no acknowledgement of Métis at all in the settlement announcement.”