New legislation formally recognising Métis governments in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario passed first and second readings in Canada's House of Commons on Wednesday before Parliament adjourned for the summer.

Canada's minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller said the reform is long overdue, APTN News reports.

"These are people whose rights have been denied for centuries and so the very basic trappings of an ability to organize yourself is the ability to have control over self-governments and this is consistent with Article Four of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples," he said.

The legislation, Bill C-53, will head to a committee for discussion and possible amendments.

While the legislation does not include land or harvesting rights organisations including the Chiefs of Ontario and Manitoba Métis Federation have raised concerns, with both arguing that the Métis Nation of Ontario is not a legitimate Indigenous organization and should not be granted section 35 Aboriginal rights under the constitution.

At a press conference this week Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod, of the Chiefs of Ontario, said they held "serious concerns" about the legislation and "its impact to our collective rights".

"Mr Marc Miller and the Liberals are trying to silence the legitimate concerns of First Nations about this proposed legislation by taking the unprecedented and undemocratic step of trying to force it to the House and the Senate without debate," he said.

Métis Nation of Ontario President Margaret Froh told APTN News she was saddened by "Métis denialism" and the legislation should be viewed as a positive for all Indigenous people.

"This is not a zero-sum gain. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples talks about respecting the rights of all Indigenous peoples. Section 35 recognises and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights of Aboriginal peoples of Canada and that includes Métis, First Nations and Inuit. There is no hierarchy," she said.

Mr Miller said there is a lot of time ahead for analysing and debating any concerns with the Bill.

"First Nations have been an ally to Métis and vice-versa. They have both been subject to the oppression of Canada and this should not be another process in Canada creating the rife conditions for lateral violence. So, if there's anyone to blame here it should be Canada. First Nations should not blame Métis and Métis should not have to be in a position to blame First Nations," he said.