the majority metis live in alberta, canada.
the majority metis live in alberta, canada.
where do the majority metis live in canada?
alberta
métis in alberta are métis people, descendants of mixed first nations/native indian and white/european families, who live in the canadian province of alberta. the métis are considered an aboriginal group under canada's constitution act 1982 and make up a separate and distinct from the first nations (though they live in the same regions and have cultural similarities), and have different legal rights. in alberta, unlike in the rest of canada, métis people have negotiated certain lands to be reserved for them, known today as the eight metis settlements (metis betterment act 1938). these metis settlements federated in 1975 to protect existing metis settlement lands following the alberta governments dissolution, by order-in-council of four metis settlements from 1950-1960. following legal challenges by the federation of metis settlements in 1975 for the lose of natural resource against alberta, the crown in right of alberta settled out of court for a suite of legislation that would see self-government, land, and money transferred to the newly formed government of the metis settlements general council (msgc), canada’s only metis self-govenernment. the metis settlements general council is the legislator of the federation of metis settlements. msgc is the second largest land owner in the province of alberta.
métis in alberta
the issue regarding metis land claims and entitlement had been a topic of discussion for many years prior to the outbreak of rebellion. louis riel’s return to canada caught the attention of the canadian government, which motivated the efforts of communities along the saskatchewan river to advance political demands. the federal government was not willing to negotiate with the metis on the matter. metis leader, louis riel and the metis forwarded their demands to ottawa in 1884. dewdney, as lieutenant governor, stated that the government would investigate the claims of those who did not receive land or script in manitoba, but made no other promises. riel wanted “land titles and government by the people” instead of dewdney holding absolute power in the region. the issue had been brought up to prime minister sir john a. macdonald many times, but had always been pushed aside to prioritize other issues occurring within the dominion. many settlers in the region were becoming anxious and feared the outbreak of a rebellion, so in february 1885, dewdney urged the prime minister to respond to their demands from the metis. this request was once again ignored. later that month, officials in saskatchewan began sending reports to dewdney regarding metis military action that had begun in the area. it had been reported that the metis had obtained weapons and ammunition from colonial traders, which was considered illegal. this was alarming for dewdney, who believed that action needed to be taken to control the metis and suppress tensions. as a result, dewdney prepared to send police to the area if conditions worsened. when riel and his followers began to take prisoners and recruit support from individuals on nearby reserves, dewdney allowed one hundred mounted police to intervene. dewdney was devoted to preventing other indigenous peoples on reserves from joining riel in the north-west rebellion as an attempt to keep settlers in the area at ease. land was prioritized by riel and the metis in order to secure their future prosperity and survival in the area. their demands were not recognized by the government of canada and prompted some metis communities to prepare for military action.
edgar dewdney