Dear Community Members,
Waceya Métis Society takes Métis identity and representation with the utmost seriousness. Our heritage, culture, and rights as Métis people are integral to who we are, and we hold a deep responsibility to ensure that those who claim to represent us do so authentically and with respect for our shared history and the truth of our people.
Recently, Madison Fleischer, a candidate in the upcoming by-election for the riding of Cloverdale-Langley City, has publicly claimed Métis identity. After meeting with her on November 23 to discuss these claims, we were disappointed that she could not provide any evidence to support her Métis heritage. In this meeting, Madison was unable to substantiate her claims with any documentation or historical connections to Métis communities.
Waceya Métis Society wishes to distance itself from Madison’s claims of Métis identity. We ask that Madison take the necessary steps to properly research and verify her Indigenous heritage before making any further public assertions. The integrity of Métis identity is not to be taken lightly, especially in public office, where the representation of our community must be accurate, respectful, and legitimate.
We encourage all who seek to identify as Métis to engage in genuine research and consultation. This ensures that our voices are not diluted or misrepresented, especially during a time when Indigenous identity is being closely examined.
We appreciate the support of our community in upholding the importance of Métis authenticity and look forward to working together to ensure that our heritage is honoured with the respect it deserves.
Sincerely,
Waceya Métis Society