Members of Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) who travelled to the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto Nov 15-16 for the Indigenous Services Canada Joint Gathering say one of the conference's main areas of focus was Bill C-53.

Bill C-53 is "An Act respecting the recognition of certain Métis governments in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan, to give effect to treaties with those governments and to make consequential amendments to other Acts," states the Parliament of Canada's website.

SNEC have stated they do not support Bill C-53 and its passing; in September, many Six Nations councilors travelled to Ottawa to attend a rally supporting the opposition of the bill.

Coun. Alaina Vanevery spoke on attending the conference during Monday's Political Liaison meeting and said the main concern of many First Nations and officials in attendance was having their funding split between the Métis governments if the Bill is introduced into legislation.

"The Métis issue I think was one of the biggest things that we heard there from communities," Vanevery said. "That everybody is against having our funding split."

Bill C-53 has passed second reading and has been sent to the standing committee in the House of Commons.

SNEC moved and passed the verbal reports from councilors in attendance as information during the Nov. 27 Political Liaison meeting and the next standing committee meetings on Bill C-53 will take place Thursday, Nov. 30 and Tuesday, Dec. 5 in Ottawa.

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