MMF leader stands by Trudeau

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This article was published 19/09/2019 (1882 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Despite officially heading a non-partisan organization, the Manitoba Metis Federation’s leader has been one of the federal Liberal government’s staunchest defenders since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took office in 2015.

And, despite revelations this week about the Liberal leader wearing black and brown facepaint at least three times, MMF president David Chartrand is still firmly Team Trudeau.

“I definitely believe in my heart that he was not trying to hurt somebody intentionally. He was just being overzealous in his attempt to portray an image,” Chartrand said during an interview Friday.

Trudeau has apologized for three such instances: twice while in high school and once as a 29-year-old high school teacher.

The MMF is holding its annual general assembly at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg from Friday to Sunday, with dozens of tradeshow booths and presentations by the Métis government and other elected officials (Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman and Manitoba Minister of Indigenous and Northern Relations Eileen Clarke are among those scheduled to appear.)

During a lunch break Friday, Chartrand sat down for a wide-ranging interview about the assembly, often pivoting to discuss the MMF’s relationships with the provincial and federal governments. On the topic of Trudeau’s controversial costumes, he also had a lot to say.

“If he made a mockery, attempted to disrespect a people and purposely really tried to damage a culture, I’d have a different opinion… but he wasn’t doing that. He was portraying an image. And now, in today’s society, we don’t allow that. And even then (in 2001), it was still hesitancy about not allowing it. But I think he’s learned a lesson very carefully,” Chartrand said.

“(Trudeau) wasn’t trying to hurt somebody. He was maybe overzealous in what he did. People say, ‘Well you shouldn’t have gone that far!’ Right? But if you’re too theatrical sometimes, you dress up different ways in different things — I probably can go back and find some pictures of (me) dressing in something.”

Chartrand, 59, described times where, as a child, he dressed as a cowboy rather than an Indigenous person during cowboys-and-Indians-themed costume scenarios, “because the cowboys always win the battles in the movies. So you want to be the hero instead of the one that’s going to get killed.”

The MMF president for seven terms (about 22 years) who ran unopposed in the last two elections, also had a different take on Trudeau’s costumes.

The Liberal leader emphasized they were racist and stated as much to hundreds of people gathered Thursday in Winnipeg’s Old Market Square.

“No, no. I looked at it (as) theatrical. It wasn’t racist. I didn’t see it that way,” Chartrand said Friday. “Whether it was wrong or right, I think at that time, 20 years ago, life was different then.

“I think this country is really, vastly improved. There’s still a long way to go, trust me. There’s still racism… That’s not a question.”

Chartrand said the MMF cabinet took Trudeau’s apologies “sincerely” and are focused on his recent actions to fight racism and homophobia, and also fight for women’s rights.

Although the MMF is technically non-partisan, Chartrand hinted it may campaign for the federal Liberals this fall, noting the federation will “probably have a massive campaign in our province to get out and support a party that supports our people.”

Asked whether there would be an official vote at the assembly to endorse the party, Chartrand said to stay tuned throughout the weekend. He will deliver a state of the Métis Nation in Manitoba address Saturday, along with two “major” investment announcements — one related to CancerCare Manitoba and another affiliated with the RCMP.

April Hourie, a senior political analyst with the MMF, was manning a table with Elections Canada officials Friday, helping register delegates to vote in the federal election. She underscored the MMF’s election contributions were non-partisan.

“The message here is to give (delegates) the opportunity to vote,” she said. “So regardless of the party, my message is to encourage that voter turnout.”

Al Foster, MMF communications director, also called the Free Press later Friday to emphasize the federation was non-partisan. He said the last time he recalled the MMF endorsing a party was in 2004, when it threw its support behind Paul Martin and the federal Liberals.

jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @_jessbu