(Williams Lake, BC) The BC Métis Federation President Mr. Keith Henry was joined by fellow board members Mr. Rene Therrien and Vice President Mr. Daryl Piper at the Cariboo Chilcotin Métis Association (CCMA) official opening of their family support office yesterday in Williams Lake. A number of Métis community members were in attendance and it was a festive day celebrating the opening if this new office established to support Métis families in Williams Lake.
CCMA President Laura Lee Marshal and the CCMA board members discussed the future of the Métis community in Williams Lake and it was clear CCMA views a new future with the BC Métis Federation. CCMA has about 700 members and has been in existence for several years supporting the needs of Métis people in the Williams Lake area. The CCMA leadership made a decision to sign an agreement entitled the BC Métis Federation Statement of Cooperation and it was executed yesterday during a signing ceremony that included CCMA President Marshall, CCMA Political Advisor Wayne Lucier and BC Métis Federation President Keith Henry.
BC Métis Federation President Henry stated, “I am so thankful to the CCMA leaders for taking this brave step forward with our BC Métis Federation team. CCMA now joins a number of other Métis communities who want to move forward in a new way for Métis people in BC, one that puts culture and community needs as the priority above all else. There was considerable frustration about the recent actions by MNBC to rewrite their electoral process without any proper input and for many they are moving on. This agreement signals the growing support for the BC Métis Federation in light of years of empty MNBC promises and no real support for the needs of the Métis community in Williams Lake.”
BC Métis Federation President Henry added, “CCMA has a long history as a functional Métis community-based organization and we will support their needs, not the other way around. Their board knows what they need and what they want, we just need to listen and work together.”
BC Métis Federation President Henry concluded, “The highlight during the office opening and signing of the Statement of Cooperation was the visit by NDP leader Adrian Dix. CCMA leadership and members were able to speak about issues important to the Métis people and what a future NDP government needs to do to properly support Métis people in BC. NDP leader Dix was open and direct in his views and assured CCMA and BC Métis Federation representatives that he is committed to learning more about the Métis issues and better understands how he can assist. BC Métis Federation continues to build partnerships and relationships and thank you to the CCMA leadership for your trust and support to
work cooperatively for the future!”
Keith Henry
President
BC Métis Federation
#300-3665 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC, V5R 5W2
Office 1-604-638-7220
Cell 1-778-388-5013
Email k.henry@bcmetis.com
You can follow BC Métis Federation President Keith Henry on twitter @keithhenryMetis
[ilink url=”/wp-content/uploads/BCMF-Press-Release-July-20th-2012-CCMA-Joins-the-Team.pdf” style=”download”]Download the full press release in PDF format[/ilink]
