The Gabriel Dumont Institute, the official education arm of Saskatchewan’s Métis Nation, is investing Brandon’s Will Goodon into the Order of Gabriel Dumont.
"It is one of the Métis Nation’s highest civilian honours, awarded to Métis and non-Métis individuals based on their achievements and lifetime contributions," stated the institute’s executive director, Geordy McCaffrey.
Goodon, a southwestern Manitoba Métis businessman and a minister of housing and property management with the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF), will receive the silver medal, which honours those who have made significant contributions to the Métis. The gold medal recognizes a lifetime of outstanding service to the Métis of Canada.
Since the 1980s, 73 people have been invested into the order.
"It’s, for me, very prestigious and I’m very honoured," said Goodon.
Goodon was instrumental in securing Section 35 rights of the Métis in Manitoba through the case of R. v. Goodon, stated the institute.
That case affirmed that Métis, as an Indigenous people, had the right to hunt in Manitoba.
It all began when Goodon was charged under the provincial Wildlife Act for killing a ringneck duck near Turtle Mountain without a hunting licence, though he had a harvesting card issued by the Manitoba Metis Federation. The court case pitted the provincial Wildlife Act against Section 35 of the federal Constitution Act, which recognizes and affirms Aboriginal rights.
The institute also noted Goodon serves on the national steering committee for innovation in Indigenous housing.
"He has worked extensively on the development of the Métis government, and he played a significant role in the development of the MMF. Goodon is also a successful Métis entrepreneur, owning and operating several motels in southwestern Manitoba," the institute stated.
"Beyond his work in Manitoba, William has served the Métis Nation across the homeland for more than a decade, chairing the Legislative and General Assemblies of Saskatchewan and British Columbia, facilitating numerous national, regional and local consultations and meetings, and representing the Métis Nation internationally on lands and resources matters."
As Goodon explains it, Dumont, for whom the Order is named, was one of the great Métis leaders of the 19th century, with a remarkable life story.
"I think he went out buffalo hunting for the first time when he was 13. They had some little battles out on the plains, with other Indigenous people when he was that age. He became a business person, and was the military leader of the Métis during our second resistance up in Batoche and area," said Goodon. "Before there was this idea of guerrilla warfare tactics, he was the guy who sort of made that happen. That’s why the early battles were all won by the Métis."
He was very well respected in the community, and talked about in the Métis Nation with the same reverence as Louis Riel, Goodon added.
Goodon also said Dumont was a man who stood by his principles, no matter what happened, somebody who always stood up and wasn’t afraid to do the right thing for his people.
"I think that says a lot about the character of a person," said Goodon.
Injustice is what drives Goodon.
"When I see an injustice, it’s hard for me to be quiet," he said, adding it might sometimes be better to remain quiet.
"It could hurt our career. It could hurt our standing in the community. People might misunderstand it."
As an example, he stands up for the integrity of the Métis Nation. If there are people pretending to be Métis, he will call them out.
"That has hurt some friendships. It has ostracized me in some places," he said.
"If we pick and choose the really priority things to us, then then we can go to sleep at night and feel good about ourselves."
As for what he likes to pass on to young Métis, he said, cherish the older people, the elders.
"The people who have come before, who have gone through the battles and the struggles, they have wisdom, and they can teach you. And to just listen, listen to the elders, listen to the wisdom, because at some point, they won’t be here, and that wisdom will be gone forever, unless you take that time to listen," said Goodon.
Though he said it’s hard to choose any one wise person who was integral to the man he has become, he named his father and a founder and past MMF president, Edward Head.
Goodon and Head talked about many things, including Métis rights and the battles he fought in the ’70s.
"That’s the kind of guy that I’m talking about, that really was there, in there, and did that. He was a force of nature, a big man, and just had a heart of gold, as well," said Goodon.
Goodon will be invested to the Order, along with Senator Nora Cummings, Wayne McKenzie, Dennis and Jean Fisher and Gregory Scofield, on March 4 in a virtual ceremony.
