W. Yvon Dumont
Encyclopedia
W. Yvon Dumont, OM
(born January 21, 1951) is a Manitoba
politician and office-holder. In 1993, he became the first member of Manitoba's Métis
community to be appointed as the province's 21st Lieutenant Governor
. He was born in St. Laurent, Manitoba.
He became involved in the Manitoba Métis Federation
in 1967, and became its Director for the Interlake region in 1972. He was chosen Executive Vice-President of the Federation in 1973, and served as its President from 1984 to 1993.
Dumont was also a founding member of the Native Council of Canada in 1972, and served as President of the Métis National Council
from 1988 to 1993. He has participated as a representative of the MMF at Canadian First Minister's Conferences, and has been actively involved in constitutional debates concerning Canada's aboriginal and Métis peoples. Dumont has rejected the integration of Métis services into larger aboriginal institutions, expressing concern that Métis distinctiveness could be lost.
Dumont has also been a municipal councillor in St. Laurent, and was on the Board of Governors for the University of Manitoba
. He received a Manitoba Métis Federation Award in 1993, and a National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 1996.
Dumont's appointment as Lt. Governor of Manitoba coincided with a national reappraisal of Métis leader Louis Riel
's role in the province's creation. Once regarded as a rebel and an outlaw, Riel has in recent years been accepted as a Father of Confederation
for his role in establishing a provisional government in the Red River settlement. The appointment of Dumont as Lt. Governor undoubtedly reflected this changed perspective.
The position of Lt. Governor is largely ceremonial, and Dumont had very little influence over the Progressive Conservative
government of Gary Filmon
.
Dumont was appointed to the Order of Manitoba
in 2001. He ran again for the leadership of the MMF in 2003, but was defeated by David Chartrand
.
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
(born January 21, 1951) is a Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
politician and office-holder. In 1993, he became the first member of Manitoba's Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
community to be appointed as the province's 21st Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba is the viceregal representative in Manitoba of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
. He was born in St. Laurent, Manitoba.
He became involved in the Manitoba Métis Federation
Manitoba Métis Federation
The Manitoba Métis Federation is an aboriginal organization in Manitoba, Canada. Its current president is David Chartrand. MMF is an affiliate of the Métis National Council.-History:...
in 1967, and became its Director for the Interlake region in 1972. He was chosen Executive Vice-President of the Federation in 1973, and served as its President from 1984 to 1993.
Dumont was also a founding member of the Native Council of Canada in 1972, and served as President of the Métis National Council
Métis National Council
The Métis National Council is the representative of the Northwest Métis people within Canada.-History:The National Council was formed in 1983, following the recognition of the Métis as an aboriginal people in Canada, in Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982...
from 1988 to 1993. He has participated as a representative of the MMF at Canadian First Minister's Conferences, and has been actively involved in constitutional debates concerning Canada's aboriginal and Métis peoples. Dumont has rejected the integration of Métis services into larger aboriginal institutions, expressing concern that Métis distinctiveness could be lost.
Dumont has also been a municipal councillor in St. Laurent, and was on the Board of Governors for the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
. He received a Manitoba Métis Federation Award in 1993, and a National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 1996.
Dumont's appointment as Lt. Governor of Manitoba coincided with a national reappraisal of Métis leader Louis Riel
Louis Riel
Louis David Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political and spiritual leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies. He led two resistance movements against the Canadian government and its first post-Confederation Prime Minister, Sir John A....
's role in the province's creation. Once regarded as a rebel and an outlaw, Riel has in recent years been accepted as a Father of Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
for his role in establishing a provisional government in the Red River settlement. The appointment of Dumont as Lt. Governor undoubtedly reflected this changed perspective.
The position of Lt. Governor is largely ceremonial, and Dumont had very little influence over the Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
government of Gary Filmon
Gary Filmon
Gary Albert Filmon, PC, OC, OM is a Manitoba politician. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the 19th Premier from 1988 to 1999.-Early life and municipal career:...
.
Dumont was appointed to the Order of Manitoba
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
in 2001. He ran again for the leadership of the MMF in 2003, but was defeated by David Chartrand
David Chartrand
David Chartrand is a politician and aboriginal activist in Manitoba, Canada. He is the current leader of the Manitoba Métis Federation. He was born and raised in Duck Bay, Manitoba.-External links:*...
.