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The Ottawa Worldwide Airport has landed in the course of an emotional political dispute between the Manitoba Métis Federation and two Ottawa-area Algonquin First Nations.
Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand referred to as the airport authority’s resolution to take down the federation’s signal on the request of native Algonquin leaders “a slap within the face to our nation.”
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“Are you aware what we’ve gone by as Indigenous folks? And now it’s fellow Indigenous individuals who say, ‘No, you can’t promote your self, not in my territory,’ ” Chartrand mentioned in an interview Monday. “The place did that come from? How is that truthful?”
Chartrand mentioned the choice to take away the signal violates free speech ensures within the Canadian Constitution of Rights and Freedoms.
A lawsuit is now being ready, he mentioned, that can ask a decide to compel the airport authority and its promoting agent, Astral Media, to return the federation’s signal to the terminal.
“Now we have the best to no less than inform individuals who we’re,” Chartrand mentioned. “We are able to’t go to Ottawa, the capital metropolis, and promote who we’re? As a result of the Algonquins say it could be offensive? I problem anybody to inform me what’s offensive about our signal.”
Chartrand’s feedback comply with the Ottawa airport authority’s resolution final week to take away a outstanding signal on the airport terminal that learn, “Manitoba Métis Federation, nationwide authorities of the Pink River Métis.”
The airport authority mentioned it was performing on a grievance by Chief Dylan Whiteduck, of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, who mentioned the signal was political and offensive. Whiteduck mentioned he had obtained many complaints about it.
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The airport authority mentioned it eliminated the signal in line with its promoting requirements coverage, which prohibits content material that’s political, offensive or discriminatory.
In a joint assertion, Whiteduck and Algonquins of Pikwakanagan Chief Greg Sarazin have since introduced that they intend to switch the “controversial” Métis signal with considered one of their very own “that warmly welcomes people to the unceded Algonquin territory.”
The Métis signal, they mentioned, “had the potential to create confusion relating to the territory’s possession.”
“It’s now time for the unique peoples of what’s at this time referred to as Ottawa to do their half in welcoming guests to our territory,” Whiteduck mentioned.
The chiefs lauded the airport authority for its dedication to reconciliation.
Chartrand, nevertheless, warned Monday that his group will not be going away quietly. The federation, he mentioned, has a contract to maintain the airport terminal register place till no less than June 2024 and he needs the deal honoured.
“We is not going to hand over,” he vowed. “We’ll maintain them accountable. They’ve poked an enormous bear within the West, I inform you.”
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Chartrand mentioned the federation bought the signal within the Ottawa airport terminal as a part of a nationwide schooling marketing campaign “to advertise who we’re as Pink River Métis.”
There was nothing offensive about it, Chartrand argued, because it merely introduced the existence of the federation because the federally acknowledged authorities of Manitoba Métis. Whether or not or not it’s political, he mentioned, is a matter of interpretation.
“Virtually all the things we do within the Indigenous world includes politics ultimately: We’re all the time attempting to advance our rights, whether or not it’s the Inuit or Métis or Algonquins,” mentioned Chartrand. “All of us are pushing for a greater alternative in Canada.”
He famous that the Saskatchewan authorities additionally has an indication on the Ottawa Worldwide Airport terminal that reads, “Robust. Sustainable. Saskatchewan.” Nobody, he mentioned, has complained about that.
Chartrand mentioned the federation’s Ottawa airport signal was designed to be seen by federal ministers and resolution makers, together with vacationers and bizarre Canadians.
“It’s about delight and promotion,” he mentioned. “It’s telling the individuals who we’re: We’re the Pink River folks of the West and we’ve been right here for lots of and lots of of years.”
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He accused Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan of unfairly campaigning in opposition to the Manitoba Métis Federation as a result of they coveted the placement of its airport signal. “It’s a political ploy on their half,” he charged.
The federation, Chartrand added, has indicators at airports all through Western Canada and has by no means obtained a grievance about them from different Indigenous teams.
In July 2021, the Manitoba Métis Federation signed an settlement with the federal authorities that acknowledged the federation as the prevailing, democratically elected authorities of Manitoba Métis. It adopted a 2013 Supreme Courtroom ruling that mentioned previous governments didn’t stay as much as guarantees made to the Métis in 1870 when Manitoba joined Confederation.
Andrew Duffy is a Nationwide Newspaper Award-winning reporter and long-form characteristic author primarily based in Ottawa. To assist his work, together with unique content material for subscribers solely, join right here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe
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