Madison Fleischer's Métis Identity Questioned

Madison Fleischer, the Liberal candidate in a federal byelection for Cloverdale-Langley City, is facing scrutiny regarding her self-identified Métis heritage after the Waceya Métis Society publicly expressed disappointment in her inability to provide evidence supporting her claims during a recent meeting. Following these allegations, Fleischer has removed references to Métis from her social media profiles and stated that she is collecting documentation to apply for Métis Nation British Columbia citizenship. Meanwhile, Hank Rowlinson, chair of the Métis Nation of Ontario, is also under fire, with allegations suggesting he lacks any Indigenous ancestry, which he vehemently denies, labeling the claims as false and part of a smear campaign. Indigenous activist Crystal Semaganis has further criticized Rowlinson, asserting that many within the MNO are not of legitimate Indigenous descent. Both cases highlight ongoing concerns about the authenticity of Indigenous identity among public figures, raising questions about representation within Indigenous communities.