MEDIA ADVISORY - "History will be made" - Fort McKay Metis likely first in Canadian history to adopt a constitution and declare self-governance - event following vote

FORT MCKAY, AB, May 23, 2019 /CNW/ - In March 2018, the Fort McKay Metis made national headlines by announcing that they had taken the unprecedented step of buying the land on which they live.  This was a huge step towards self-determination.

At a celebration of self-governance to be held this week, the McKay Metis will celebrate an even more dramatic and historic milestone that will reverberate across Canada and set a precedent that will change the indigenous landscape forever. 

On May 23, the members of the McKay community will vote whether or not to adopt:

• A Constitution which will declare self-government
• An Elections Act, which sets up a ballot-box election every four years run by an independent Returning Officer
• A Membership Act, which sets out membership criteria following the National definition of Metis, as recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada in the Powley case. McKay is the first Metis community to set its own membership code for lifetime membership regardless of residency.
• A Governance Act that sets up a Fort McKay Metis Nation Council and a Fort McKay Metis Nation Assembly as its governing bodies supported by an Elders Council, Women's Council and a Youth Council.

The Fort McKay Metis will be the first community in Canada to take this step. 

WHAT:	Celebration of self-governance
WHEN:	Friday, May 24^th at 3:00 p.m. MT
WHERE:	Fort McMurray, Alberta at the Merit Hotel, 8200 Franklin Avenue
PLEASE NOTE:	For out of town media, a press release will be distributed at 9:00 a.m. MT Friday May 24^th.

SOURCE McKay Métis

Morten Paulsen, [phone], [email protected]