David Chartrand is the longest serving president in the federation's history and is currently serving an eighth term following the 2022 election.
22 Facts About David Chartrand
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David Chartrand was raised in Duck Bay and is the brother of Elbert Chartrand.
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David Chartrand was first elected to the Manitoba Metis Federation Board of Directors, representing the Winnipeg Region, in 1988, and was re-elected four times.
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David Chartrand has held numerous volunteer positions, including Vice-President of the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre of Winnipeg, President of the Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres, President of the National Association of Friendship Centres, and a founding director and president of Beat the Street, an adult literacy program in Winnipeg.
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David Chartrand has served on the board of the Northern Justice Society and as a Director for the Manitoba Metis Federation for 10 years before becoming President in 1997.
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David Chartrand served as a member of the Premier's Economic Advisor Committee for the Province of Manitoba.
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In 1999, David Chartrand initiated the Metis Human Resource Development Agreement program, which has provided employment and training to Metis people.
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David Chartrand initiated an Executive Policy Committee to strengthen the Federation's governance structure, policies, and procedures.
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David Chartrand helped establish the group pension plan for Federation employees, the first in the Federation's history.
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David Chartrand led Constitutional Reform, including the adaptation of the National Metis Definition, which initiated membership reform within the Federation in 2002.
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David Chartrand has overseen major governmental initiatives, including the establishment of the first Red River Metis specific post-secondary Scholarship and Bursary Endowment Fund in 1999.
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In 2003, David Chartrand led negotiations for the devolution of Metis Child and Family Services, leading to the development and implementation of mandated agencies throughout the province.
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In September 2021, following a 2019 mandate from Citizens at an Annual General Assembly, David Chartrand led the Manitoba Metis Federation to withdraw from the Metis National Council, citing concerns that the Council was allowing the accepted definition of Metis to be distorted by member organizations.
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In June 2023, David Chartrand led the National Government of the Red River Metis to an Extraordinary General Assembly, where citizens voted in favor of a Red River Metis Self Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty with Canada.
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On July 6,2021, David Chartrand represented the Manitoba Metis Federation in signing the Manitoba Metis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Agreement with Canada, which recognizes the Manitoba Metis Federation as the national government of the Red River Metis.
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On November 30,2024, David Chartrand signed the Red River Metis Recognition and Implementation Treaty with the Government of Canada.
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David Chartrand is married to Glorian Yakiwchuk, a Red River Metis businesswoman from Cranberry Portage, Manitoba.
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David Chartrand has received the Golden Eagle Award from the Indigenous Women's Collective, the Eagle Feather from the Friendship Centres of Ontario, and his picture has been placed on the Honour Wall of Fame at the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre of Winnipeg.
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David Chartrand was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, created in 2002 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's ascension to the throne.
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Also in 2012, David Chartrand received the Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal.
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Also in 2022, David Chartrand received the Lanza Llanera Order of Democracy from the Republic of Colombia's Assembly of Meta Department.
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On February 20,2025, David Chartrand received the King Charles III Coronation Medal from Governor General Mary Simon, for leadership and for providing educational and health care opportunities for the Red River Metis.