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"Harry Daniels will share with Louis Riel the honor of having introduced the rights of the Métis people in the Constitution of Canada: Riel in s. 31 of the Manitoba Act, 1870, and Harry in S. 35 of the Constitution Act of 1982" [1]

The late Harry Daniels was a “force majeure”. Born on Sept. 16, 1940, in Regina Beach, Saskatchewan, Daniels worked tirelessly on behalf of Métis and non-status Indians at the local, national and international levels for over 40 years. He was also an author, an instructor at the University of Saskatchewan, a staunch practitioner of the Michif language, an actor and, according to family and friends, a man who embraced every opportunity to express his Métis heritage via jigging.

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There are a lot of questions and some confusion out there about the April 14, 2016, Supreme Court of Canada ruling on Daniels v. Canada (Indian Affairs and Northern Development) (Daniels) and I’ve received quite a number of “what does this mean?” emails so figured a blog post on the topic would be timely. What follows are some notable legal perspectives from Indigenous law legal experts along with my not legal comments.

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Fern Perkins coordinates the Métis Education Enhancement Program for the Métis Nation of Greater Victoria and has taught Indigenous Education at UVic.

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Ottawa (June 6, 2013) – A report on Métis identity released today by the Senate Aboriginal Peoples Committee calls on the federal government to develop a coherent and comprehensive approach to relations between Canada and the Métis through continued support of bilateral and tripartite negotiations with parties including the relevant national Aboriginal organizations. Additionally, the report suggests efforts to begin engagement with local and regional groups representing Métis constituencies across Canada are necessary.

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The Métis flag or flag of the Métis Nation features a white infinity sign on a blue background. The infinity symbol represents the mixing of two distinct cultures, European and First Nations, to create a unique and distinct culture, that of the Métis (which means “to mix” in Latin). The infinity symbol, which refers to a quantity without end, in this situation symbolizes the faith that the Métis culture will exist forever.

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During the 1600s, France began establishing settlements along the St. Lawrence River to advance its fur trade interests. The prevailing “seigneurial” landholding system was a legacy of the feudal age: rigid and restrictive. So, enterprising Frenchmen, soon to be known as “coureurs des bois” (runners in the woods) sought to improve their prospects by venturing into the wilderness, despite restrictions imposed on them by King Louis XIV. The coureurs des bois began establishing homes for themselves within, or beside, Indian communities, marrying Aboriginal women, and starting families. The birth of their children marked the birth of the Métis Nation.

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