A new report has stirred debate over who holds legitimate Indigenous rights in the territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON), with the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) making clear it does not support claims being made by the Saugeen Métis.
The research, led by University of Toronto historian Dr. Heidi Bohaker and Osgoode Hall postdoctoral fellow Dr. Chandra Murdoch, concludes there is no historical evidence of distinct Métis communities capable of holding Section 35 Aboriginal rights in the SON territory. The report targets both the MNO and the Historic Saugeen Métis (HSM), stating neither group meets the threshold set by the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2003 Powley decision for recognition of Métis rights.
While the Saugeen Métis have asserted rights in the Bruce Peninsula region, the MNO is now making it clear that it does not stand behind those assertions.
"We have no affiliation with Historic Saugeen Métis, nor do we support their claims," said Jennifer St. Germain, Chief Operating Officer of the Métis Nation of Ontario, in an interview with CKNXNewsToday.ca. "The Powley case back in 2003 is recognizing the Sault Ste. Marie historic Métis community, which is the only recognized Métis community in Ontario, westward."
St. Germain noted that while both groups have been referenced in the report, it is important to distinguish the basis and nature of each group’s claims.
"Let me be clear, the MNO has never asserted that the entire province is Métis territory. It is not," said St. Germain.
The release of the Bohaker-Murdoch report has been cited by leadership in the Saugeen Ojibway Nation as confirmation of what they say they’ve long known: that only the Anishinaabe have rights and responsibilities in the territory. SON leaders have expressed frustration with what they view as governments enabling "false claims" by external groups, including the MNO.
While SON has linked the MNO and Saugeen Métis in its criticism, St. Germain emphasized that the MNO has not collaborated with the Saugeen Métis and does not endorse their assertions.
The report and its fallout come at a time of intensifying debates over Indigenous identity and rights in Ontario, with many First Nations opposing what they see as expansive or unverified claims by groups identifying as Métis. St. Germain said the MNO supports more rigorous dialogue and historical review but stressed the importance of separating legitimate claims from those that are not grounded in evidence.
"There needs to be room for hard conversations and for careful distinctions to be made," she said. "We’re not afraid of that."
CKNXNewsToday.ca has contacted the Historic Saugeen Métis for comment, but as of publication, messages left requesting an interview have not been returned.