Mtis Federation declines to sign Winnipeg's Indigenous Accord

The Manitoba Mtis Federation has declined to sign Winnipeg's Indigenous Accord, a document intended to further the cause of reconciliation between the city'sIndigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

Mayor Brian Bowman, all members of city council and representatives of dozens of Winnipeg organizations signed the accord Tuesday during a 2.5-hour ceremony at OodenaCircle at The Forks.

The accord compels signatories to publish an annual report that quantifies the measures they're taking to further the cause of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. The accord was inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 calls to action.

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"Really, what we're doing here is we're compelling signatories to make sure they're stepping up tothe greatestextent possible," said Bowman, who said the ceremony was importantfor Winnipeg bothsymbolically and tangibly.

"I hope it's a historic day that really strengthens our city," he said.

The ManitobaMtisFederation, however, declined to sign on, even as it praised the mayor and the city for making the effort to promote cultural harmony.

"As Government of the Mtis in Manitoba, it would be inappropriate for the MMF to be asignatoryto an accord that cannot address specifically our experience in the ResidentialSchool system by virtue of the simple fact that the Mtis Nation was excludedfromthe scope of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission," MMF communications director Jonathan Hamel said in a statement.

"As such, the 94 callsto action of the TRC report do not address the experience and reality of ourMtiscitizens whoendured abuse in these schools."

Bowman, Winnipeg's first Mtis mayor,said he respects the MMF's decision.

"The invitation remains open to the MMF to sign as a signatory, as it does for every organization that was not here today," the mayor said.

Bowman also said he understands if other Winnipeggers, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, are cynical about the prospects for positive change.

"Any cynicism is rooted in real issues in our community that we need to better address, so I certainly don't begrudge anybody who might share that," Bowman said.

"Let's have the discussion. Let's have the debate. Let's be challenged and let's challenge each other to step up and do a better job."

The city has yet to identify what specific reconciliationmeasures will be quantified in its annual reports, Bowman said.

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The city previously said it has developed a half-day session that will allow city staff to learn about residential schoolsand their long-lasting effects.

According to a report to council last December, the city hadcultural teachers and elders ready to deliver training "in 2017 and beyond, until all staff have participated."

It's unclear how long it will take for all City of Winnipeg employees to attend the educational seminars, the mayor said Tuesday.