Manitoba PC candidate Kevin Klein tells voter she has 'no right' to question his Indigenous heritage

Kevin Klein, the Manitoba Progressive Conservative candidate running for re-election in Kirkfield Park, told a voter she has no right to question his Indigenous heritage during a telephone town hall held at the beginning of August.

The caller voiced frustration over the PC government's refusal to search the landfill where police believe the remains of two First Nations women Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran are located, and asked Klein why he feels he can "appropriate Indigenous identity but not actually do anything for Indigenous people in Manitoba."

"I understand your frustration and you're upset, and you have a right to that,"Klein said in a recording of the public event that was provided to CBC News by the Manitoba NDP.

"But you don't have a right to question my Indigenous heritage. You have no right to do that."

CBC heard that portion of the call and spoke to several people who were on the line. Theyverified it took place and what was said.

LISTEN| Audio from Kevin Klein town hall:

Klein stressed he hasn't used his ancestry for personal gain,telling the caller it is simply a connection to his family.

"So for you to say that I am trying to diminish the identity of Mtis, I'm sorry, you are absolutely wrong, and just because you say it doesn't mean it's true," said Klein, a former Winnipeg city councillor who became the Kirkfield Park MLA in a December 2022 byelection and was appointed environment minister the following month.

Klein is representing the Progressive Conservatives, who are seeking their third consecutive term, inthe Winnipeg riding of Kirkfield Park in the upcoming Oct. 3 election.

The town hall took place on Aug. 1 prior to the official start of the campaign periodandone day after CBC published an investigation in which both Klein's younger brother and the Manitoba Mtis Federation disputed his claim to be Mtis.

CBC's investigation into Klein's cultural identity found no evidence to support his claims to Mtis ancestry on his mother's side, including in genealogical evidence, some going back five generations.

Klein told the August town hall that CBC's reporting contained incorrect family tree information and that he had "DNA and the actual familial research."

CBCasked David Elmaleh, a lawyer representing Klein, what the DNA evidence would prove, but he refused to answer that question or provide documentation.

WATCH| Kevin Klein defends his claim that he'sMtis on July31:

Kevin Klein defended his claim of being Mtis after months of refusing to answer questions about his heritage

1 year ago

Duration 1:21

Manitoba Environment Minister Kevin Klein had posted that he is a proud Mtis Canadian on his website and on his Twitter bio. Those references have since been removed. Klein explained why at a press conference at the end of July.

At the core of Indigenous identity is a connection to the community you're claiming to be part of, and the community accepting you, according to another lawyer.

In an interview with CBC, Mtis lawyer Jean Teillet who is Louis Riel's great-grandniecesaida person can self-identify, as Klein has, "but withoutthe recognition or acceptance or whatever you want to call it from the community that you're part of them, you have nothing. You have only your ego and your own little claim."

Painted Feather Woodland Mtis

Klein has said he first realized he was Mtisabout a decade ago through a late uncle who encouraged him to get acard from the Painted Feather Woodland Mtis.

The Painted Feather Woodland Mtis is not recognized by the Manitoba Mtis Federation or the Mtis Nation of Ontario. It's a for-profit company based out of a single-family residence near Bancroft, Ont., about 200 kilometres northeast of Toronto.

Painted Feather would not answer questions and directed CBC to their website.

According to its website, Painted Feather Woodland Mtis rejects what it calls "unduly restrictive and unfair" definitions of who is Mtis and states its definition is "simple anyone with an Aboriginal ancestor."

The company's websitelists fees ranging from $57 to $320, plus provincial sales tax, for membership for adults.

On the day the CBC investigation was published, Klein said the Painted Feather Woodland Mtis claimed they looked into his genealogy, "and I had no reason to doubt that."

When asked if he had a connection to a specific Mtis community, Klein said he hasn't done much research into his Mtis heritage.

"I haven't done the work to do that yet."

Klein has spoken about his Mtis heritage throughout his time in public life, which includes his tenure as a city councillor and recent Winnipeg mayoral bid.

He's described his heritage as a connection to his late mother, who he has publicly identified as Indigenous.

While it's unclear what the DNA records Klein referred toin the telephone town hall are purported to prove, Kim TallBear, a professor from the University of Alberta who has written a book exploring the use of DNA testing to determine Indigenous ancestry, said DNA tests can't prove a person is Mtis.

Therewould have to besome other evidence, but even wouldn't automatically mean a personcan or should be considered Mtis, said TallBear, a citizen of Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate in South Dakota.

CBCserved notice of libel

Klein's lawyer served CBC News a notice of libel in late August whichallegesCBC's reporting was "calculated to 'cancel' Mr. Klein, diminish his reputation amongst his community, members of government and the public, and was done to disparage, injure and undermine Mr. Klein."

The notice demands the retraction of those stories and an unequivocal apology. It states legal action will be taken if the requests are not followed.

In a subsequent email, Klein's lawyer explained why he would not answer questions about the town hall.

"Due to the bad faith and irresponsible reporting of the CBC regarding Mr. Klein, and the CBC's refusal to correct the original July 31st article despite several requests, Mr. Klein will not be providing any comment to your media organization," lawyer David Elmaleh said in an email.