Canada to Sign Historic Modern Treaty with Red River Métis

The agreement formally recognizes the Manitoba Métis Federation as the government of the Red River Métis, marking a significant step in reconciliation.

The federal government will sign its first modern treaty with a Métis government on Saturday in Winnipeg, recognizing the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) as the government of the Red River Métis.
The treaty is seen as a response to unfulfilled promises from the 1870 Manitoba Act, which was meant to provide land and opportunities to the Métis but was not honored by Canada.
Negotiations for the treaty began in 2021, and the agreement was unanimously approved by MMF delegates in June 2023.
The treaty establishes a government-to-government relationship between Canada and the MMF, opening the door for future agreements on issues such as land claims, child welfare, and health coverage.
MMF President David Chartrand and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree have emphasized the treaty's importance for reconciliation and called for cross-party support to respect the agreement.