Canada's Prime Minister Paul Martin recognized the M�tis people as a nation on a government-to-government basis.

Manitoba M�tis Federation president David Chartrand said the government's recognition is long overdue. Currently, communities, formed by Indian and European settlers, are not considered "Indian" under the federal Indian Act but their rights as distinct entities are being slowly acknowledged.

Chartrand said he hopes Martin lives up to his promise to honor M�tis leader Louis Riel, who was hanged for treason in 1885 in Saskatchewan. Chartrand wants an official inquiry into Riel's death.

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M�tis leader calls for Riel inquiry (CBC 4/19)