WINNIPEG – Kevin Klein, the Manitoba Minister of Environment and Climate, has stated that he is on a personal journey to discover his background after new questions have arisen about his Métis status. This comes following a CBC News report that found no evidence of Métis or Indigenous ancestors on his mother’s side going back five generations.
Addressing reporters, Klein emphasized that this is a deeply personal process and one that he intends to navigate privately. He expressed his desire to go through this exploration alone, and it will not be made public.
Klein, who previously served as a city councillor and ran for mayor unsuccessfully before being elected to the legislature, has publicly identified as Métis on his social media and web page profiles. The Manitoba government’s official listing of cabinet ministers also describes him as Métis.
He explained that he learned about his Métis connection from an uncle on his mother’s side, who had been granted Métis status by the Painted Feather Woodland Metis in eastern Ontario. Klein mentioned that they provided his uncle with a Métis card, and based on this, he applied for status as well, trusting that the genealogical research had been done accurately.
However, the Painted Feather Woodland Metis accepts online submissions for status and considers anyone with an aboriginal ancestor as Métis, a stance not recognized by the Manitoba Metis Federation, which adheres to a stricter definition of Métis identity. The Federation’s president, David Chartrand, expressed concern that groups like Painted Feather Woodland are trying to appropriate the Métis identity.
In response to these developments, Klein has recently removed references to being Métis from his online biographies. The Manitoba government’s cabinet web page, however, still identifies him as “a proud Métis Canadian.”
Premier Heather Stefanson defended Klein, stating that their party does not police people’s identity and highlighting his achievements in his ministerial role and dedication to representing his constituents.
Klein asserted that he will continue his personal journey to explore his family’s history at his own pace, aiming to respect the sensitivity of the matter and avoid causing offense to anyone.