W. Yvon Dumont

W. Yvon Dumont, CM OM ( born January 21, 1951 in St. Laurent, Manitoba ) is a Canadian politician. From 1993 to 1999 he was Vice- Governor of the Province of Manitoba, the first member of the Métis.

Biography

Dumont joined the Manitoba Métis Federation in 1967 (MMF ), the trade association for the Métis of Manitoba in 1972 and led the Regional Association Interlake. From 1973, he was Executive Vice President of the MMF, from 1984 to 1993 its president. He was among the founding members of the Native Council of Canada and was 1988-1993 President of the Métis National Council, the National Association of Métis. In addition, he was a member of the Municipal Council of St. Laurent and board member of the University of Manitoba.

Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn sworn Dumont on 5 March 1993 as Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. He was the first Métis in this representative office and practiced it out until 2 March 1999. His appointment was related to the gradual rehabilitation of the Métis rebel leader Louis Riel was executed for high treason in 1885, but is now regarded as the founding father of Manitoba.

In 1996 Dumont for his services an honorary doctorate from the University of Manitoba, five years later the Order of Manitoba. In 2003, he wanted to be re-elected President of the MMF, but was defeated.