Research Documents (historical to ~ 2010)

1. Commentaries:

   • Alberta Federation of Metis Settlement Associations. Metisism: A Canadian Identity. Edmonton: AFMSA. 1982

   • Alberta Federation of Metis Settlement Associations. "By Means of Conferences and Negotiations" We Ensure Our Rights. Background and Principles for New Legislation linking Metis Aboriginal Rights to 'A Resolution Concerning an Amendment to the Alberta Act (Resolution 18)' ". Edmonton: Alberta Federation of Metis Settlement Associations. July 1986

   • Alberta, Legislative Assembly. "A Resolution Concerning an Amendment to the Alberta Act, No.18."  June 3, 1985

   • Alberta, Office of the Ombudsman. "A Report by the Provincial Ombudsman dealing with the removal of files from Metis Settlements on Monday June 18, 1979". Edmonton, Office of the Ombudsman 1979

   • Alberta, Municipal Affairs. "A Brief History of Alberta Metis Settlements Branch. 1938-1990." Edmonton: Metis Settlements Branch. October 1990

   • Alberta, Municipal Affairs. "Implementation of Resolution 18." Edmonton: Native Affairs Secretariat. c. 1985

   • Alberta, Municipal Affairs. "Alberta's Metis Settlements: A Compendium of Background Documents." Edmonton: Native Affairs Secretariat, Policy and Planning Branch. 1984

   • Alberta, Municipal Affairs. "Metis Settlements Legislation: a discussion paper." Edmonton: Metis Settlements Branch. March 1987

   • Alberta, Premier Lougheed, "First Ministers' Conference on Aboriginal Constitutional Matters Opening Statement by Premier Lougheed." Ottawa: March 15-16, 1983

   • Bell, C. E. Alberta's Metis Settlements Legislation: an overview of ownership and management of Settlement lands. Regina: Canadian Plains Research Centre. 1994

   • Bell, C. "Metis Government: The Alberta Metis Model." In J. Hylton, Aboriginal Self-Government in Canada: Current Issues and Trends, 2nd. ed. Saskatoon: Purich, 1999

   • Bell, C. E. "Who are the Metis people in Section 35(1)."  Alberta Law Review.  29: 351-381. 1991.

   • Bell, C. E. "Self-government on Alberta's Metis Settlements: a unique solution to a constitutional dilemma." Issues in the North. 1:151-62 (Publisher?)

   • Bell, C. and C. Leonard. "A New Era in Métis Constitutional Rights: The Importance of Powley and Blais." Alberta Law Review. 41:1049-1083. 2004.

   • Dobbin, M The One-And-A-Half Men: the story of Jim Brady and Malcolm Norris, Metis Patriots of the Twentieth Century. Vancouver, Star Books. 1981

   • Martin, F. "Federal and Provincial Responsibility in the Metis Settlements of Alberta." In D. Hawkes (ed.) Aboriginal Peoples and Government Responsibility: Exploring Federal Provincial Roles. Ottawa: Carleton University Press. 1989.

   • Metis Association of Alberta,  et. al. Metis Land Rights in Alberta: a Political History. Edmonton: Metis Association of Alberta. 1981

   • Metis Settlements Appeal Tribunal and Bell, C. E. Contemporary Metis Justice: The Settlement Way. Saskatoon, Native Law Centre. 1999

   • Pocklington, T. C. The Government and Politics of the Alberta Metis Settlements. Regina: Canadian Plains Research Centre. 1991

   • Sawchuck, J. The Dynamics of Native Politics: the Alberta Metis Experience. Saskatoon, Purich. 1998

   • Saunders, D. "A Legal analysis of the Ewing Commission and the Metis Colony System in Alberta." In H. W. Daniels, The Forgotten People: Metis and Non-Status Indian Land Claims.  Ottawa: Native Council of Canada, 1978

   • Wall, D. The Alberta Metis Letters: 1930-1940 Policy Review and Annotations. Edmonton: DWRG Press. 2008.

   • Wall, D. "Aboriginal Self-government in Canada - The Cases of Nunavut and the Alberta Métis Settlements." in Visions of the Heart. Second Edition. By D. Long and O.P. Dickason (eds.). Toronto: Harcourt Canada. 2000. p 143-166.

   • Young, K. "Alberta's Metis Settlement Legislation: a legislative history." (Legal Information Service #17). Saskatoon: Native Law Centre, University of Saskatchewan.

2. Background documents:

   • UN  Commission on Human Rights, 2005 Report on Indigenous Issues - (110kb .pdf)

   • Micro events, archive-based

     • Métis Association-government relations 1930-41

3. Key Individuals:

   • c. 1930-45

   • more recently

4. Agreements:

   • Interim Harvesting Agreement (Sept 2004) between Alberta Government and the Métis Settlements General Council

   • Natural Resources Transfer Agreement, Constitution Act (1930). 20-21 George V, c. 26 (U.K.)
     An Act to confirm and give effect to certain agreements entered into between the Government of the Dominion of Canada and the Governments of the Provinces of Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan respectively [10th July 1930]  "Canada; Manitoba; Alberta; Saskatchewan - game laws in effect in these provinces will apply to Indian people; however, the Indians shall have the right to hunt, fish and trap for fool at all seasons of the year on all unoccupied Crown Lands and on private lands to which they have been granted access." (G. Brown and R Maguire, "Indian Treaties in Historical Perspective." Ottawa: INAC, 1979: p.xiv)

   • Alberta-Métis Settlements Accord, July 1, 1989.  Premier Getty and the Alberta Federation of Métis Settlement Associations, signed in Kikino, Ab.

5. Legislation:

   • Bill 30 (2004) and its (amendment ) to amend the Métis Settlements Act

   • Métis Settlements Amendment Act, SA 2004 c25 - Royal Assent May 11, 2004

   • Dominion Lands Act (1879 42 Victoria, C.31)

   • Manitoba Act (1870 33 Victoria, C.3)

   • Constitution Act (1982)

   • The Métis Population Betterment Act C6 Nov. 22 1938

   • The Métis Population Betterment Act C329, RSA 1942

   • The Métis Settlements Accord Implementation Act, RSA 2000 cM-15   

   • The Constitution of Alberta Amendment Act 1990

   • Métis Settlements Land Protection Act. RSA 2000 cM-16

   • Métis Settlements Act, RSA 2000 cM-14

6. Court:

   • R v Powley 2003 S. C. J. No 43  Supreme Court decision on Métis aboriginal right to hunt etc.

   • In Poitras v. A-G Alberta, (1969), 7 D.L.R. (3d) 161 (also reported: 68 W.W.R. 224) Riley Judge of the Alberta Supreme Court decided the the Metis Association could not take action against the Attorney-General (for Misappropriation of Trust Funds) pursuant to the /Judicature Act/, R.S.A. 1955, c. 164 for various reasons.  This did not preclude other action later if a means could be found.  See the complete text here.

7. Decisions:

   • Métis Settlements Appeal Tribunal

8. Orders-in-Council and Resolutions of the Legislature:

   • Resolution 18, 1985, June 3 - Premier Lougheed - "A Resolution Concerning an Amendment to the Alberta Act"

   • Resolution: Alberta Legislature 1933, Feb 27.  That the CCF/UFA government report during the next session on Metis concerns. "Resolved that the Government should ... continue its study and enquiry into the problem and present its recommendations to this Assembly within ten days of the commencement of the next Session thereof."

   • April 14, 1934.   J. M. Dechene, Liberal MLA for St. Paul, moves in the Legislature that the government act on the 1933 Resolution. Motion defeated 34-17.

   • OC (Order-in-Council), 1095/34, December 12, 1934. Order signed by Premier Reid to set up Ewing Commission. "Whereas it is deemed expedient and in the public interest that inquiries be made into and concerning the problems of health, education and general welfare of the half-breed population ..." (Please note that the Ewing Commission report puts the appointment date as December 12, 1934 which is the date the Lieutenant Governor William Leigh Walsh witnessed an Order from Reid that established the Commission. The Executive Council Order-in-Council was signed December 11, 1934 - this Order may be found at the Edmonton Provincial Archives: Acc#75.75 Box 4b)

   • OC 706/35 "Regulations respecting the locating of Half-Breed land Scrip in the Province." indicated these lands were "on any vacant and available Provincial lands." (Martin, 1989:292 note # 33)

   • OC 155/39 February 3, 1939  (Alberta) Joseph F. Dion appointment as Commissioner of Oaths. (Glenbow on-line Dion letters in file 334, page 41.)

   • OC 1090/39 Antoine Bottle's homestead transferred to Keg River. (memo Buck to Cross, March 6, 1941- Edmonton Provincial Archives, Acc# 70-414 Box 45, file 1986)

   • OC 285/40  February 29, 1940 Constitution of Colony Board - amended by OC 947/41 (became Alberta Reg. 634/57)  (see Bell 1994:118 note 80)

   • OCs setting up farm colonies for Métis:

     • OC 1605-38 Dec. 21, 1938 (Cold Lake)

     • OC 1604-38 Dec. 21, 1938 (Wolf Lake)

     • OC 1603-38 Dec. 21, 1938 (Marlboro)

     • OC 1602-38 Dec. 21, 1938 (Utikuma Lake)

     • OC 448-39 April 18, 1939 (Wolf Lake additional lands)

     • OC 302-39 March 14, 1939 (Utikuma Lake additional lands)

     • OC 379-39 March 29, 1939 (Goodfish Lake)

     • OC 423-39 April 11, 2939 (Touchwood)

     • OC 547-39 May 9, 1939 (Keg River)

     • OC 815-39 June 22, 1939 (Elizabeth)

     • OC 816-39 June 22, 1939 (Fishing Lake)

     • OC 928-39 July 15, 1939 (East Prairie)

     • OC 1100-39 August 21, 1939 (Big Prairie)

     • OC 1327-39 October 3, 1939 (Keg River additional lands)

     • see a current map

9. Interviews:  Thelma Chalifoux

10. Reports and Commissions:

    • Ewing, 1936,  February 15

    • Bureau of Public Welfare, various

    • Roach, 1972, February - The Metis Task Force on the Metis Betterment Act, Metis Settlements, and the Metis Rehabilitation Branch.

    • MacEwan, 1984 July 12 - Joint Metis-Government Committee to review the Metis Betterment Act.

    • Ombudsman, various

11. Considerations as you read through these pages

    Consider territorial isolation as it relates to the Settlements.

    Economic, educational and general welfare: are these still issues for people on the Settlements?

    Consider the governance structure of the Settlements.

    Is Settlements' governance like other local governance in Alberta?

    Could the Settlements operate without specific legislation?

    Consider the financial relationships between the Settlements and government.

    Consider the  policy and legislative relationships.

    Consider Métis identity both individual and collective in the context of the Alberta Settlements.