This item is a recording of a press conference held by the President of the Metis Association, Bob Stevenson, in Yellowknife on May 6, 1983. The conference is in English. The original source item is side B of a 90 minute audio cassette. The purpose of the conference is to report on the results of a recent land use planning meeting. Stevenson expresses disappointment with, as he perceives it, the Dene Nation's lack of involvement in the land use planning meeting and their absence at the morning's press conference with the federal and territorial government representatives. Stevenson mentions that the Inuit were represented at the meeting by a member of the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut (TFN) and that there was also a group from the Delta Region Dene Nation, although he was the only one that attended the morning press conference. Stevenson indicates that the Metis Association wants to take advantage of the whole process as much as they can and hopes that their involvement will help them be aware of the activities going on and a part of controlling the process. He also mentions that there is not a lot going on with land claims, which gives an added impetus to become involved in land use planning. He says that the Metis Association has given the governments a six-month deadline to put the land use planning process in place to their satisfaction. Stevenson is questioned about the eight principles presented by the Indigenous groups at the meeting with the federal and territorial governments and makes reference to the interim working group. The discussion turns to constitutional development at the end of the press conference, including mentions of the Denendeh document, the Western Constitutional Forum, and the lack of funding available to the Metis Association to do work and hold meetings and workshops.
This recording includes sides A and B of the tape.