CANADA! IT IS TIME TO REINSTATE THE MICHEL BAND 472 NOW!

Michel Band (Callihoo) is an original signatory to Treaty Six by way of an adhesion on September 18th, 1878 at Fort Edmonton by Michel and his headmen. 

The Michel Band was granted IR #132 of 40 Square miles west of St. Albert in Villeneuve area and known as Band #472 

Michel Band has continually been denied remedy as they are no longer a "recognized band within the Indian act" – due to the Enfranchisement of the Band as a whole under Section 112 of the Indian Act in 1958. 

Before the Band Enfranchisement, Canada removed 4 women from the Michel Band Membership list and transferred them to the Michel Band General list under Section 17.1(c) of the Indian Act. 

March 6, 1958 Memo from L.L. Brown (committee representative) to Chief Treasury Officer. Stated: "In our view they are not entitled to twenty years annuity money for they will remain as Indians on a General List within a Treaty area and may therefore continue to be paid treaty as is done in the case of other Indians who are on the General List."  

Bill C-31 was introduced by the Honourable David Crombie then Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, on March 1, 1985. Mr. Crombie emphasised the purpose of Bill C-31 was to remove discrimination from the Indian Act. 

As a result of Bill C-31, Bill C-3 and Bill S-3 approximately 1200 Michel members have been granted status (838 prefix) and added to the AB General list formerly called the Michel Band General list.  

Canada acknowledged in an internal document dated May 9, 1989 that there remained "continued discrimination of the Michel Band." 

In August of 2017, Assistant Deputy Minister of CIRNA, Joe Wild, indicated in a letter to the Friends of Michel Society (FMS) that Canada was willing to discuss Michel Band issues with the appropriate representatives of the Michel Band members. 

Since the initial discussions started 3 other groups came forward and Canada provided a Mediation session in December 2018 – this session failed to unite the groups. 

The Michel Band Unity Group' is an interim group of Rosalind Callihoo, Beverley Asmann and Linda Buffalo. We are presently recruiting Board members.  

Therefore, be it Resolved, that we, the undersigned Michel Band Status members and Treaty Descendants assert our authority as granted undersignatory of Michel Treaty No. 6, to appoint the Michel Band Unity Group as the official "interim" representation to begin discussions with Canada;