THE VOICE FOR MÉTIS ALBERTANS
The MNA is the representative voice of the Métis people in Alberta. Currently, there are over 70,000 Métis Albertans registered as MNA Citizens.
Self-Governance
We, the Métis Nation, are Otipemisiwak—the people who own ourselves. We have an inherent right to self-determination and self-government.
For too long, Canada’s colonial policies denied this right. We were pushed to the margins in our own homeland. Now, by governing ourselves, we can determine our own future and build a strong Métis Nation based on Métis rights.
To learn more about our historic fight for self-government and the current negotiations with Canada, visit our timeline page.
Citizen Engagement
After signing landmark agreements with Canada and the Government of Alberta, we launched a multi-phased approach to engagement on self-government with citizens at the 2018 Youth and Seniors Symposium in Edmonton. The next phases occurred throughout February and March 2018, when we held engagement events across the province. Findings from these sessions were reported at the 90th Annual General Assembly in August 2018.
You can find more information on the MNA’s citizen engagement approach in the Self-Government Citizen Engagement: Report to the Annual General Assembly (August 2018) [pdf].
MNA Constitution
In December of 2019, the Métis Nation of Alberta Constitution Commission (MNACC) was formed and tasked with drafting a Constitution for citizen review. Using feedback from the 2018 engagements, and after significant setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first draft was presented at 13 roundtable sessions with each of the six MNA regions, as well as Youth, Elders, MNA affiliates, and Women in early 2021.
After completing the roundtables, the Constitution Commission set out to get direction and feedback from all our Citizens. To do this, a revised draft of the Constitution was taken directly to the people, where they live. Between September 2021 and February 2022, the Commission held 19 community gatherings across all six MNA Regions.
The thoughtful and detailed feedback received during this round of citizen engagement was instrumental in developing a Constitution that reflects the histories and aspirations of all Métis Nation within Alberta Citizens.
After two and a half years of extensive community engagement, the Commission presented the draft Constitution to Citizens at the 94th Annual General Assembly in Calgary. Delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of moving forward with a province-wide ratification vote on a draft Constitution for the Métis Nation within Alberta.
In a province-wide ratification vote held throughout the month of November 2023, which included an extensive public awareness campaign as well as mail-in, online and in-person voting, a total of 15,729 MNA citizens cast their ballots with 15,241 voting “Yes” to adopting the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Constitution (96.89% voting in support). The Chief Electoral Officer’s statement on the results of the ratification vote are available online.
The results from the MNA vote represent the largest ratification vote ever undertaken by an Indigenous nation in Canadian history (see chart). More eligible electors cast a ballot in this ratification vote than for any other self-government or modern-day land claim agreement that has been approved in Canada to date.
In 2019, the MNA signed a self-government agreement with Canada, along with other recognized Métis governments in Saskatchewan and Ontario. This agreement recognized the MNA represents the Métis Nation within Alberta, which holds the right to self-government protected by Canada’s Constitution (MNA Self-Government Agreement, Chapter 3). The agreement also commits to Canada introducing federal legislation to support the MNA’s self-government recognition (MNA Self-Government Agreement, Chapter 4).
While 25 self-government agreements or modern treaties have been implemented across Canada involving 43 Indigenous communities, none are currently finalized in Alberta (see map). This ratification vote is an essential step towards becoming the first to be implemented in the province.
The MNA’s constitution will open doors with both Canada and Alberta, including:
- a new fiscal relationship with Canada to finally provide Métis-designed supports to our citizens in health, housing, language, education, training, economic development, and justice; and,
- improve the services MNA provides to Métis in Alberta including mental health, supporting those with disabilities, delivering culturally appropriate child and family services, and caring for our elders when they can no longer take care of themselves.
Based on Chapter 30 of the Constitution, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Constitution will come into force and effect “on the date set for the first general election of the Métis Nation of Alberta Association,” which will be held in September 2023.
In January 2023, the MNA worked with MNA Regions and its Local Councils to prepare for self-government under the new Constitution. In addition, the MNA has established a new Self-Government Department as well as MNA Self-Government Transition Committee comprised of citizens appointed by the MNA Regions.