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APRIL 12, 2001

A Metis society in Canada wants the state of North Dakota to preserve a Metis cemetery in Pembina but doesn't want it turned over to the Turtle Mountain Ojibwe Tribe.

The Metis Cemetery and Mission is the subject of a bill sponsored by Sen. Dennis Bercier, a member of the tribe. It requires Pembina County or some organization to take care of it.

But the state says it doesn't have the resources to maintain the site. So the tribe is considering taking it over.

Instead, Guy Savoie, president of the Union Nationale Metisse, said Gov. John Hoeven should recognize it as a state park. He says it shouldn't be turned over to Turtle Mountain because he says the tribe doesn't represent the Metis who founded the Pembina settlement.

Some Turtle Mountain tribal members identify themselves as Metis, descendants of French-Canadian trappers and Indian women.

Get the Story:
Canadian group wants Metis cemetery maintained as state park (The Grand Forks Herald 4/12)