About Me

Jason Chernow, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government’s Provincial Secretary of Environment, Climate Change, and Emergency Management, was born into a proud Métis family with strong roots in Alberta’s Métis homeland.

His family names include Jobin, Dumas, Courtreille, Ferguson, among others, reflecting a rich Métis heritage.

Guided by the strong matriarchs in his life, Jason grew up learning his traditional Métis culture from a young age.

He learned skills such as beading, jigging, and harvesting – knowledge that continues to shape his worldview. Today, Jason integrates these cultural experiences and traditional teachings into his work, ensuring that Métis values continue in a modern context.

 

Achievements

Jason has used his voice to protect Métis rights and promote Métis culture, both within his community and on the world stage. This year, in October and November, Jason and technicians from the Otipemisiwak Métis Government supported the Métis National Council delegation in representing Métis voices, interests, and concerns at the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29).

The delegation participates in the International Indigenous Peoples Caucus to ensure Métis and other Indigenous voices are represented in key priority areas around land rights, self-determination, environmental conservation, climate action, and holding colonial governments accountable to the rights of Indigenous people.

Jason’s commitment to serving the Métis community is equally evident at home. At Citizens’ Council, he championed the creation of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government’s Emergency Management Committee. This initiative addresses the emergency management needs of Métis Citizens in Alberta and led to the establishment of the government’s first-ever Natural Disaster Emergency Relief Fund. This fund provided direct support through the Districts to dozens of Métis individuals and families that had been evacuated due to wildfires in Fort McMurray and Jasper National Park this past summer.

Jason also represents Battle River Territory on the Legislative Proposal and Assessment Committee, where he ensures that the rights and interests of Métis in southern Alberta are represented in our laws.

It’s been a busy first year and Jason is excited to keep advocating for our rights to be recognized and protected, and to ensure that all levels of domestic and international policy making are inclusive of our voices.