How did permanent Métis settlements come to be in Alberta?

• A. Negotiations between Métis settlements and the provincial government began in 1982 with a joint committee, leading to legislation in 1984 and 1990 to grant them permanent land bases.
• B. They were created by a federal order in council in 1984.
• C. The provinces unilaterally declared them permanent in 1982.
• D. A Supreme Court ruling created them in 1990.

Answer: (B)

Permanent Métis settlements in Alberta were established through a federal Order in Council in 1984. An Order in Council is an executive decision made by the federal cabinet that can create or change government actions without passing new legislation in Parliament. In this case, the order formally set a permanent land base for the Métis in Alberta, giving them a recognized, lasting settlement framework. This move reflected the federal government’s role in Indigenous land matters and provided the basis for subsequent governance arrangements and provincial involvement in managing and supporting the settlements.