In a ruling that underscores longstanding tensions within Canada’s Métis governance structures, Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) President David Chartrand has been cleared of wrongdoing following a two-year legal battle with the Métis National Council.
The Court of Queen’s Bench in Winnipeg dismissed all claims against Chartrand yesterday, concluding that allegations of financial misconduct and breach of fiduciary duty were “unfounded and procedurally improper.” Justice Margaret Roland delivered the 87-page decision after reviewing thousands of documents and hearing testimony from 23 witnesses.
“The evidence presented falls significantly short of establishing any impropriety,” Roland wrote. “Financial decisions made by the defendant were consistently documented, approved through proper channels, and aligned with the organization’s mandate.”
The case began in late 2023 when the Métis National Council filed suit against Chartrand, alleging he had misappropriated approximately $8 million in federal funding meant for housing initiatives. The Council claimed Chartrand had redirected these funds to projects benefiting political allies within Manitoba.
I spoke with Chartrand at his Winnipeg office hours after the ruling. “This was never about finances,” he said, visibly relieved. “This was political warfare dressed up as fiscal accountability. We’ve maintained meticulous records for decades precisely because we anticipated these kinds of attacks.”
The ruling comes amid escalating discord between provincial Métis organizations and the national body. Court documents reveal a governance crisis that has been brewing since 2019, when several provincial Métis organizations, including the MMF, raised concerns about representation and decision-making powers at the national level.
Dr. Nicole St-Onge, historian at the University of Ottawa specializing in Métis governance, explained the underlying conflict. “What we’re witnessing is fundamentally a dispute about who speaks for the Métis Nation,” she told me. “The MMF has consistently advocated for strict citizenship requirements based on historical connection to the Red River Settlement, while other provincial bodies have adopted broader definitions.”
Financial records submitted to the court showed that all questioned expenditures had received board approval and independent auditing. The court found that housing initiatives under scrutiny had actually delivered 213 new or renovated homes for Manitoba Métis citizens between 2020 and 2024.
Gabriel Dufault, an elder and former MMF board member who testified during proceedings, shared his perspective on the ruling. “Our people remember when we had no voice,” he said. “The attacks on our leadership might look like accountability from the outside, but from within our community, it feels like an attempt to weaken institutions we’ve spent generations building.”
The legal battle has cost both organizations dearly. Court filings indicate the MMF spent over $650,000 defending against the allegations, while the Métis National Council invested approximately $820,000 in pursuing the case. Both organizations receive significant funding from federal sources, raising questions about resource allocation.
Federal Court documents obtained through access to information requests show that Indigenous Services Canada had already conducted its own review of the MMF’s financial management in 2022, finding “robust financial controls” and “appropriate oversight mechanisms.” This previously undisclosed federal assessment was entered into evidence during the trial.
Cassidy Caron, president of the Métis National Council, issued a brief statement following the ruling: “We respect the court’s decision while maintaining serious concerns about governance transparency across the Métis Nation. This case represents one chapter in our ongoing efforts to ensure accountability.”
Legal experts suggest the ruling could have broader implications for Indigenous governance in Canada. Professor Karen Drake, an Indigenous law scholar at Osgoode Hall, noted the significance of the court’s deference to Indigenous decision-making structures.
“The court was careful to acknowledge the importance of Indigenous self-governance,” Drake said. “Justice Roland repeatedly emphasized that courts should be reluctant to interfere with the internal governance of Indigenous organizations unless there’s compelling evidence of serious misconduct.”
For many Manitoba Métis citizens, the ruling represents vindication. Louis Perreault, a citizen from St. Laurent, told me: “We’ve watched our president get dragged through the mud for years. The money they spent fighting each other could have built houses for our elders or funded education programs.”
The federal government, which provides funding to both organizations, has maintained public neutrality throughout the dispute. However, internal memos from Crown-Indigenous Relations obtained during the discovery process revealed concerns about the “increasingly fractious relationship” between Métis governing bodies and its potential impact on self-government negotiations.
As both organizations assess next steps, the underlying questions about Métis identity, representation, and governance remain unresolved. The Métis National Council has 30 days to appeal the decision but has not indicated whether it will do so.
For now, Chartrand and the MMF are focused on rebuilding. “We have housing to build, rights to protect, and a nation to strengthen,” Chartrand said. “This distraction has gone on long enough.”
