I am a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, an officially recognized Nation comprised of Western-Canadian Metis. It is a distinct Nation that does not base membership enrollment upon blood-quantum; it is based upon who you are related to in your genealogy and family tree. You must provide specific documentation that PROVES your family is associated with the founding-families of Red River, Jasper, Lac Ste. Anne etc (true Métis families).
Documentation to provide Métis ancestry generally requires Vital Statistics documents (birth, marriage, death certs) and scrip records. Virtually ALL Métis families took scrip, even those who would often wander into the United States. It is well known that the Métis (not mixed-bloods, we are a distinct cultural peoples) traveled as far as west of the Great Lakes, down to the Missouri (prior to the Louisiana Purchase) and all the way to the Rocky mountains of Alberta, Montana, and further southeast into the Dakotas. Many of our extended families did indeed end up in places outside of Canada. However, if you can't show that you are DIRECTLY related to these people, then you are not Métis by any stretch. You need to prove you are related directly to someone who took out scrip. Eastern mixed-blooded people have zero association with the Western Métis. Métis identity is not based upon blood, it is a cultural identity you are born into.
For those who do not know what scrip is: Section 31 of Manitoba Act 1870 refers to the need to extinguish Métis rights and title yet provides for the families of the "half-breed residents".
31. And whereas, it is expedient, towards the extinguishment of the Indian Title to the lands in the Province, to appropriate a portion of such ungranted lands, to the extent of one million four hundred thousand acres thereof, for the benefit of the families of the half-breed residents, it is hereby enacted, that, under regulations to be from time to time made by the Governor General in Council, the Lieutenant-Governor shall select such lots or tracts in such parts of the Province as he may deem expedient, to the extent aforesaid, and divide the same among the children of the half-breed heads of families residing in the Province at the time of the said transfer to Canada, and the same shall be granted to the said children respectively, in such mode and on such conditions as to settlement and otherwise, as the Governor General in Council may from time to time determine."
These were also called the Northwest Halfbreed Commissions. Many people were oppressed or forced to sign. You could trade away your Indigenous ancestry and land rights for money. Other people were actually impersonated by White colonialists and WASPS (white-anglo-saxon-protestants) by committing fraud and illegally signing X's in the place of their names (most of us could not read or write.) You gave up your rights as a distinct Métis and became an enfranchised Canadian. It nearly destroyed our collective identities and communities. The reason why we are a distinct Nation is because we have our own unique culture, languages (Michif & Bungee), history, heroes, politicians, dances, music etc. It isn't about blood or having one ancestor. It is about who you are related to.
Here is an example of my great-great grandma's scrip. It was actually bought by Richard Secord, a well-known land-speculator who made a fortune off Metis land.
Notice her name is signed with an X (that means she didn't even sign it.)
The Una Nation is completely fraudulent. It is an off-shoot of Eastern mixed-blooded peoples trying to claim Indigenous cultural identity. This has been a huge issue for the Metis Nation of Alberta and the Metis Federation of Manitoba. One genetic ancestor is NOT what gets you into the MNA or the MNF, even legitimate Metis people cannot get away with this. I only just became a member and it has taken me over 5 years just to get all my documentation and research together to apply.
"The Una Nation has been recognized, establishing diplomacy, by the Eastern Woodland Metis Nation Nova Scotia and the Nation of Canada via treaties of Peace and Friendship, as well as being recognized by Mayor Christine Lundberg of Springfield, Oregon, Mayor Kitty Piercy of Eugene, Oregon and Mayor Lucy Vinis of Eugene, Oregon in the form of Proclamations." These recognitions are completely made-up. Canada only recognizes the MNA and the MNF and we are actually about to take Canada to the Supreme Court over scrip.
I would really like to take this guy down.
