Ontario’s First Nations Knowledge Keepers showed their support to the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) on their opposition of the passing of Bill C-53.
On June 11, knowledge keepers Patricia Oakes and Barney Batise discussed the controversial bill at COO’s Annual Chiefs Assembly. Oakes spoke on the knowledge keepers’ support for COO surrounding their opposition of Bill C-53, an “Act respecting the recognition of certain Métis governments in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan.”
“We stand in support with the Chiefs of Ontario and Leadership, in our opposition against Indigenous identity fraud,” Oakes said. “We, the knowledge keepers, see ourselves responsible for cultural and territorial integrity and our rights and land protectors now and for the next seven generations.”
Many Ontario First Nations have expressed their concerns to Bill C-53, stating that the claims of organizations like the Métis Nation of Ontario and others alike are false.
Bill C-53 is set to move to third reading in the House of Commons, and, once passed, only awaits royal assent to officially become a law.
