MNO’s Founding Citizenship Definition

The Métis Nation of Ontario’s Founding Delegates Assembly, held May 5 to 7, 1994, included delegates from the seven historic Métis communities in northern Ontario as well as Métis with ancestral connections to more western parts of the Homeland who lived in Ontario at that time.

Among the many motions passed by Founding Delegates related to core Métis rights and self-government issues were criteria for citizenship within the Métis Nation of Ontario, which stated that:

“A person is entitled to be registered as a citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario who: is alive, self-identifies as Métis, is distinct from Indian or Inuit; has genealogical ties to Aboriginal ancestry, is accepted by the Métis Nation of Ontario [and] is not enrolled on any other Aboriginal Registry.”

This founding definition for Métis Nation of Ontario citizenship was carried unanimously. Since 1994, the MNO’s citizenship criteria has further evolved in advancement of its aims and objectives, based on the will and direction of its citizens, through the MNO’s democratic self-government structures, including various MNO Annual General Assemblies. 

For example, in the years following MNO’s founding, in anticipation of the landmark Métis rights case, R. v. Powley, being heard by the Supreme Court of Canada, the MNO worked alongside other Métis Nation governments including the Manitoba Métis Federation, the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, and the Métis Nation of Alberta, to develop and unanimously adopt the 2002 National Definition for Métis citizenship. As outlined in the National Definition: 

“Métis means a person who self-identifies as Métis, is distinct from other Aboriginal peoples, is of historic Métis Nation ancestry, and is accepted by the Métis Nation.” 

The MNO formally adopted the National Definition for Métis citizenship in 2004 and implemented a registration process for all its citizens consistent with both the National Definition and Powley test criteria which remains in effect to this day.

See Our Sources

• Record of Motions - MNO Founding Delegates Assembly

• National Métis Rights Conference Delegates Kit, 1999

• MNC’s Supreme Court Factum in Powley

• MNO Submissions to the MNC Expert Panel

• MNC Expert Panel Final Report

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