East Coast awards pull Indigenous artist nominee amid questions about Metis ties
HALIFAX — A Metis chief is calling for the reversal of the East Coast Music Association’s decision to pull a Nova Scotia nominee from consideration for an Indigenous artist award amid questions about his heritage.
Cape Breton guitarist Maxim Cormier, who identifies as being of Acadian and Metis heritage, has been withdrawn from the Indigenous artist of the year category.
Karole Dumont, chief of the Council of the First Metis People of Canada, said there is no question that Cormier is Aboriginal, and to suggest otherwise is an affront to Metis identity.
“(Aboriginal people) are the only, only group of people in Canada who constantly have to prove who we are,” said Dumont. “We’re not going to take it laying down. This has been going on for quite a while, and it’s part of a much bigger dispute … at the national level.”