Remarks by
The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
MANITOBA METIS FEDERATION ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Assiniboia Downs
Saturday, October 14, 2023, 9:30 a.m.
(please check against delivery)
Friends, Manitoba Metis citizens, it’s a pleasure to join you during this historic year.
As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge that we are gathered in the heartland of the Red River Metis and in Treaty One land and that this province we love is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Metis and Inuit.
Gatherings such as this annual general assembly play an essential role as we work to hear truths and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all.
This has been a memorable year in the long and proud history of the Red River Metis.
Your special membership meeting in June, with the approval of the Red River Metis Self Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty, will be viewed by historians of the future as a key event in history of the Metis, of Manitoba and of Canada.
Perhaps just as significant is the process of consultation and the democratic structure that made it possible.
With its seven regions, 135 locals and general and special assemblies, the Manitoba Metis Federation sets an example of democratic decision-making. The passionate commitment of Metis citizens across Manitoba shows us all how democracy thrives on the involvement of the people.
The dedication of members of the Manitoba Metis Federation enables the MMF’s stream of accomplishments – in areas from housing and child care to economic development and environmental protection.
Building a better, more fair, more just province and country is not just a job for people who find themselves in leadership positions. It is the work of all of us.
By sharing our ideas and experiences, by listening and learning, by giving our time and energy to matters of public interest, we all have the power to change our community and our world for the better.
The Manitoba Metis Federation and its dedicated members and its strong leadership show us all the power of working together.
Congratulations on your achievements. May you continue to enjoy growth and prosperity throughout Manitoba and beyond.
Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.
