Metis Leaders or Metis Polititians?

"My (leader), you have made promises to me and to my children. If the promises had been made by a person of no standing, I should not be surprised to see his promises fail. But you, who are so great in riches and power; I am astonished that I do not see your promises fulfilled! I would have been better pleased if you had never made such promises than that you should have made them and not performed them…Shinguaconse ~ Little Pine

I have received comments that mention politicians versus leaders, or have said that the Metis Nation is too important to be left in the hands of politicians. These comments puzzled me somewhat until I started to research these issues. Well…lo’ and behold! It appears there is a vast difference between a politician and a leader. The dictionary defines
A politician as;
1) a person active in party politics 2) a schemer who tries to gain advantage in an organization in sly or underhanded ways 3) a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics 4) a person who holds a political office. They may or may not have been elected.
A leader is defined as;
1) a person that leads 2) a person who rules or guides or inspires others 3) a person that is the most successful or advanced in a particular area.

Well the dictionaries definitely show us there is a difference between a politician and a leader! This might explain why so many elections boiled down to us Metis making the choice between the lesser of evils, or as is often the case regionally, no choice. It may contribute to why Metis Governance approvals are so low both inside the Metis community and with non-Metis folk. It factors into why too many Metis politicians either “vanish without another peep” or receive a golden handshake and a gentle push to “go off and spread the Metis cause to peoples that do not know who we Metis are”. This difference between leaders and politicians definitely contributes to why there are seldom clear leading candidates in provincial and federal Metis politics. The result of this difference, sadly, leaves us Metis people more cynical than optimistic about the world in which we live. Put simply, the Metis are desperately lacking truly inspiring leaders.

Those who seek power and influence in politics are “plump and shiny” with ambition but, “toothpick scrawny” with leadership qualities. This has nothing to do with their desires to “do-good” and forward the Metis cause. I do not question their intentions to want to help, but as Dad always says “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. All political candidates intend to fight a clean fight; “no mud slinging” they all declare as they announce their candidacies. That is until the first buffalo-chip smacks them clean in the face or they are challenged by a little old Elder from the back of a room. Then it is every candidate for them self as the muck slinging and back room deals start to be struck. Every candidate says how their campaign will be different and how they intend to reform the system. That is until they realize that the system is what pays for their good intentions. Our public offices and our provincial board rooms are rich with ambitious do-gooders but poor with leaders with the strength to ignore the interference that distracts from achieving their vision. I suggest there are a number of ways for us Metis voters to sort the wheat from the chaff; if we realize that political ambition is the pursuit of power with the hope that once you get there, you can do something with it. Okay that attitude has not been working for the Metis on any level; maybe it is time to look for LEADERS not politicians! I invite the reader to consider the following points when we wonder if we are voting for a leader or a politician:
1) Leadership is having a vision of a better world and doing whatever it takes to achieve that vision, even if sometimes it means pursuing a position of power to help advance your vision more efficiently and effectively.

2) Leaders have the courage to be unpopular with those that disagree with them. The politician wants to befriend as many people as possible.

3) Leaders say what they think. The politician will say what they think others want to hear.

4) Leaders have a vision of the future that inspires the grass roots Metis. Politicians have goals that motivate a few (though more can be "motivated" if the politician can afford it).

I know we have true leaders among the Metis. I issue two challenges that only the true leaders will succeed in or pass.

The first challenge is for a leader who runs for a Metis governance position. I dare you not to look at a single poll or listen to popularity thoughts expressed while you are running. Don't worry what some poll tells you to say, just tell us what you believe and we'll decide if we want to share your vision of a Metis Nation. I dare you to ignore your competitions jabs and his/her stances and posturing. I dare you to surround yourself with Metis committed to your vision, and not just the Metis that carry a “brand-spanking-new” citizenship card and can vote for you. But please listen to, and speak for all the Metis; the Metis Veteran that chooses not to apply for citizenship in, and align with a governing body. The Metis Woman that was denied her citizenship card because she had been adopted out to a non-Aboriginal family by the government when her Mom died. Remember and surround yourself with the Metis children that have no vote but in whose hands our future is held. Our Metis heroes mythical, past and present; Nenabush, Louis Riel, Marie Campbell, Steve Powley, Cuthbert Grant, Captain William Kennedy, Gabriel Dumont, Madeleine Welkey Dumont, and Pauline Johnson (to list just a few) didn't take the public temperature before stating what they thought, nor was what they said always popular. They spoke the truth as they saw it and they stated their convictions with courage. I challenge future leaders to do the same.

The second challenge is for the current leaders. I dare you not to always nod and agree with whatever nonsensical political stance, platitude or petty argument the majority of your governing board or CEO is taking. I dare you to challenge and expose gag-orders, veiled threats and offers of personal gain when they are offered. This bully posturing is not about leading the Metis Peoples but quite simply about fear, ambition and the grab for a cut off the top of the resources to be delivered to the people. I dare you to stand on record, report your position and your vote and alliances back to the people that elected you. There is no legal obligation to vote as all the other director’s vote, nor is there an ethical requirement to always chant the resource driven “sound bite” of the day, so why do you do it? At every opportunity, restate your vision and tell your community the steps you are taking, the partnerships you are forging and the changes you are making to realize that vision. We Metis People may not all have a lot of book learning, but we are an incredibly savvy and intelligent people and we will support your vision and your leadership if it is genuine and not driven by personal ambition. Only you know what kind of leader you are, strive to better yourself for your people. Remove your personal need and look to the need of your people. Courage is all it takes.

Inspired by an article by S. Sinek “Ambition versus Leadership” 2008 and by comments and emails I have received from Northern Metis Matters Blog readers stating the need for Metis leaders not more Metis politicians.