Child Health Strategy (CHS)

The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is developing a Child Health Strategy to support Métis children’s health across the lifespan. In partnership with Three Hive Consulting, we will engage Métis families and caregivers to inform actions and priorities needed to improve the health outcomes for Métis children.

The CHS is grounded in Métis culture, identity, and community knowledge, and will be shaped by engagement with families, caregivers, Elders, Knowledge Holders, youth, and service providers. Using evidence and a strengths-based social and emotional well-being (SEWB) lens, the Strategy will identify clear priorities and actions that advance health equity and support healthy beginnings for Métis children and their families.

This strategy will be informed by findings from the Lii Zaanfaan (The Children) project, identifying key factors that influence childhood health and ensuring culturally appropriate, community-driven actions.

Métis Children’s Health & Wellness Survey

To build a strategy that truly reflects community priorities, we need to hear from you.

Tell us what matters most for Métis children’s health and wellness, and be entered to win 1 of 20 $250 gift cards.

Your perspectives will help shape programs, services, relationships, and advocacy that support Métis children, their families, and their communities across Alberta. We want to hear what is working well, where there are gaps, and what should be prioritized.

The survey is anonymous and open to Métis Albertans and parents or caregivers of Métis children aged 18 and older. After completing the survey, you may follow a separate link to enter the prize draw; your survey responses will not be linked to your entry.

FOR QUESTIONS
Contact Mariam Ahmad, Health Research and Project Coordinator
Email Mahmad@metis.org |
Phone 780-455-2200 ext. 120

If you are experiencing any distress, please contact the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Supports and Services Navigator at 780-455-2200, ext. 109.
 

Goals

  • • Centre Métis children’s voices and experiences in planning and decisions.
  • • Engage families, caregivers, children in care, Elders, Knowledge Holders, and frontline workers across Alberta.
  • • Identify strengths, needs, and practical barriers in the early years and along care pathways.
  • • Define culturally relevant and realistic actions the MNA can implement through programs, services, and partnerships.
  • • Strengthen cultural identity and connection through community-led activities and supports.
  • • Improve access to timely, culturally safe services for children and families.
  • • Use evidence and respectful data practices, including the Principles of Ethical Métis Research, to guide actions and track progress over time.

 

Engagement Activities

We are developing the Child Health Strategy with direct input from Métis families, caregivers, service providers, and Métis community members across Alberta. Your experiences are shaping this strategy from the ground up.

Additional Supports & Resources

  • • Hope for Wellness Help Line – 1-855-242-3310
  • • Health Link – 811
  • • Mental Health Helpline – 1-877-303-2642
  • • Kids Help Phone – 1-800-668-6868
  • • New Parent and Newborn Line (24/7 support for infants < 2 months) – 1-833-805-BABY (2229)
  • • 211 Alberta – Community, government, and social service referrals
  • • Métis Community Wellness Advocate – 780-940-4937 | CWA@metis.org
  • • Otipemisiwak Métis Government Wellness Program – Free confidential counselling; call 1-877-729-0261 with your Citizenship number

Community Engagement Sessions

(Dates and details to be announced)

Sessions will take place once survey responses are reviewed, offering opportunities to explore draft findings and refine priorities.

Ehawawisit (With Child)

The Ehawawisit (With Child): Maternal and Perinatal Health Outcomes Among the Métis in Alberta and the Influence of Proximal, Intermediate, and Distal Determinants of Health research project was developed in partnership with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta, and McMaster University.

Through an epidemiological analysis of administrative health data, we saw where Métis women and babies experienced different health outcomes compared to non-Métis women and babies. The Ehawawisit project activities were completed in April 2021 and the findings were compiled into three reports.

Read the Reports:

 

For more information, contact health@metis.org.

Lii Zaanfaan (The Children): Understanding the Health and Well-being Trajectories of Métis Children in Alberta

Lii Zaanfaan (The Children in Michif) is a research initiative launched in April 2020 to deepen our understanding of Métis health, focusing on the health and well-being of Métis children in Alberta. This project builds on previous maternal and perinatal health research and explores how early health experiences impact the long-term well-being of Métis children.

The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is developing a 10-year strategy to support Métis children’s health across the lifespan. The findings from Lii Zaanfaan will inform this strategy by identifying key factors that influence childhood health and well-being and ensure culturally appropriate, community-driven actions that improve Métis children’s health in Alberta and beyond.

Objectives of the Study

Objective 1: Evaluate the health and well-being trajectories of Métis children

  • Population-based retrospective birth cohort study examining health trends by age 10 among children born to Métis mothers in Alberta.
  • Cross-sectional study of Métis caregivers of children aged 10 and under to assess health determinants.

Objective 2: Explore Métis families’ perspectives on childhood well-being

  • Métis Family Gatherings: Community gatherings to share experiences and insights.
  • Cultural Probe Kits: Hands-on, creative activities allowing children to express their perspectives on health and identity through traditional arts.

Lii Zaanfaan Virtual Art Gallery 

As part of the Lii Zaanfaan project, MNA sent Cultural Probe Kits to Métis children aged 10 and younger across Alberta. These kits invited children to create artwork reflecting their responses to two key questions:

  • • What makes you happy?
  • • What do you love about being Métis?

These artistic expressions, using traditional Métis art forms like beading and embroidery, provide valuable insights into Métis children’s well-being. The Lii Zaanfaan Virtual Art Gallery showcases these artworks and reflections, celebrating the voices of Métis children and their perspectives on identity, health, and happiness.

Explore the Lii Zaanfaan Virtual Art Gallery to view their inspiring creations and stories.

For more information, please contact us at 780-455-2200 or health@metis.org.

The Lii Zaanfaan (The Children) research project was developed in partnership with Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University, the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta, and is funded by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).