David Chartrand

David N. Chartrand OM (born 1960) is a Métis politician and aboriginal activist in Manitoba, Canada, who is the current leader of the Manitoba Metis Federation.[1] He has served as the President of the Manitoba Metis Federation from 1997 to the present and is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Metis National Council.[2]

He was born and raised in Duck Bay, Manitoba,[3] and is the cousin of the former Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs grand chief Derek Nepinak.[3]


Biography

Born on January 23, 1960, Chartrand was born and raised in the small Métis community of Duck Bay, Manitoba; the son of Martha Chartrand. David is the fourth child in a family of eight. David was preceded in Métis politics by his older brother Elbert Chartrand. Elbert was the executive director of the Swan River Indian and Métis Friendship Centre and served as MMF Vice President from Northwest Métis Council region.

Chartrand was first elected to the Manitoba Métis Federation Board of Directors, from the Winnipeg Region in 1988, and was re-elected four successive times to that position. In 1997, he was elected to the presidency and is now serving his sixth term as President of the Manitoba Métis Federation.

He has held numerous volunteer positions including, Vice-President of the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre of Winnipeg, President - Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres, President of the National Association of Friendship Centres and, a founding director and President of Beat the Street, an adult literacy program in Winnipeg. He has served on the board of the Northern Justice Society (Simon Fraser University). He has been recognized for his community work and has received the “Golden Eagle Award” from the Indigenous Women's Collective, the Eagle Feather from the Friendship Centres of Ontario, and his picture has been placed on the Honour “Wall of Fame” at the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre of Winnipeg. In November 2002, Peter Liba, the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, awarded David the Queen Elizabeth II, Golden Jubilee Medal. He received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Winnipeg on October 21, 2012. He was inducted into the Order of Manitoba in 2013.[4] David has been a contributing writer to several journal articles which appeared in the Canadian Journal of Native Studies. He also contributed to the book "Struggle for Recognition: Canadian Justice and the Metis Nation" (Pemmican Publications Inc., 1991).

Chartrand is married to Métis businesswoman Glorian Yakiwchuk. Glorian is originally from Cranberry Portage, Manitoba. During the 1990s Glorian was very active with Métis National Council – Métis Youth.

Awards

Chartrand is an award recipient of the Order of Manitoba, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and an Honorary Doctor of Laws (University of Winnipeg).

References
  1. "Manitoba government has 'clearly abandoned' Métis people, says federation". CBC News, November 17, 2015.
  2. Barkwell, Lawrence. http://www.metismuseum.ca/media/document.php/11754.David%20Chartrand.pdf
  3. "The Métis question: Defining the uniquely Canadian people who founded Manitoba is no easy task". Winnipeg Free Press, February 14, 2015.
  4. "Métis leader in Order of Manitoba". Winnipeg Free Press, July 16, 2013.
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