Nowadays, we hear a lot about the government’s “distinctions-based approach.” It is being applied to almost every area of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis life. It features prominently in current reconciliation narratives and discussions on how to apply the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

“Distinction” has become a ubiquitous phrase used by federal and provincial governments, as well as by the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Métis National Council, to determine who has the right to represent Indigenous peoples. When it comes to Métis, the distinctions-based approach has politicized our identity and created a hostile environment for many mixed-ancestry peoples and communities across the country.

The BC Métis Federation’s research department has created a discussion paper to assist members in understanding what the distinctions-based approach is and how it may impact them.

Click here to download the BCMF Distinctions-Based Approach Discussion Paper