For the first time in nearly twenty years, the Ralliement national des Métis has changed its president. And for the first time in its history, it will be a woman.
Cassidy Caron, who was previously Minister of Youth on the Métis Council of British Columbia, became the first woman to assume the leadership of the National Council, at a special meeting of the organization’s general assembly, in Saskatoon.
According to the Ralliement, Ms. Caron obtained the support of 25 out of 40 delegates, facing her opponents Gérald Morin and Dean Gladue. The new president is from the historic Métis communities of Batoche and Saint-Louis, Saskatchewan.
The former president of the Ralliement national des Métis, Clément Chartier, had held the post since 2003, but in recent years he had to face the discontent of regional leaders, who even demanded his resignation.
Earlier this week, the Manitoba Métis Federation announced it was withdrawing from the National Council, due to differences of opinion over “Métis identity”. President David Chartrand said the Manitoba federation was concerned that the Ontario organization agreed to register non-Métis citizens.
During its general assembly this week, the National Council adopted a resolution to set up a committee of experts to examine the registration process of the Ontario federation.
With the departure of Manitoba, the Métis National Council, created in 1983, now brings together the provincial organizations of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and British Columbia.
Watch video
Reference-feedproxy.google.com