Métis Nation British Columbia says it suspended president after complaints

IndigenousMétis Nation British Columbia’s executive committee has suspended its president over information brought forward by the public, its acting president said in a statement Monday.Walter Mineault said he learned of his suspension MondayEdzi’u Loverin · CBC News · Posted: Aug 18, 2025 4:54 PM EDT | Last Updated: August 18MNBC acting president said in a statement that the executive committee received complaints that Mineault’s behaviour had been “inconsistent” with the committee’s policies throughout his tenure. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)The Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) executive committee has suspended its president to protect the “integrity and reputation” of the nation, it said in a statement Monday.Walter Mineault was elected president of the governing body for MNBC in September 2024. Melanie Allard is acting president during Mineault’s suspension.In a statement by Allard on behalf of the committee, Allard said the executive committee had been given some information by the public and that the decision to suspend Mineault was “not easy.”The statement also said MNBC received complaints throughout Mineault’s tenure that he’d been inconsistent with the committee’s policies.Mineault told CBC Indigenous he had just learned of the suspension Monday morning, and would not comment until his lawyer reviewed a non-disclosure agreement issued by the committee.Mineault’s suspension is the second time the MNBC has suspended an elected president since 2021, having suspended Clara Morin Dal Col in January of that year.Morin Dal Col filed a lawsuit against nine board members who voted to suspend her that February.In 2024, Justice Andrew Mayer ruled in favour of MNBC’s application to dismiss Morin Dal Col’s lawsuit citing that her lawsuit “constitutes an abuse of process.”Independent reviewThe MNBC announced it will launch an independent review of Mineault’s time as president and will use the findings to determine the future of Mineault’s position as president.Those findings will be made public, Allard said in the statement.”It may be difficult, but in the spirit of Otipemisiwak, ‘the people who own themselves,’ we will always uphold our cultural values of integrity, kindness, and respect,” said Allard.CBC Indigenous reached out to Métis Nation British Columbia but they declined to comment outside of the information provided in the written statement.ABOUT THE AUTHOREdzi’u Loverin is graduate of CBC’s Indigenous Pathways Program and has reported in Vancouver and Winnipeg since 2024. Edzi’u is a member of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and a registered member of the Tahltan Nation, but is currently based in xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ territories. You can email Edzi’u at edziu.loverin@cbc.ca with story ideas.