President's Corner: April 18, 2026
Posted on: Apr 17, 2026
The last few weeks have marked several important milestones for our government and for Métis in Alberta.
On April 14, we celebrated the ten-year anniversary of the Daniels Decision, a landmark moment in our long fight for recognition. For generations, Métis people were caught in a jurisdictional tug-of-war. The federal government said responsibility for Métis legislation and treaties fell to the provinces. The provinces said it rested with the federal government.
That back-and-forth between the province and the federal government had real consequences for our people. In Alberta, Métis people were too often left out of programs, denied equitable support, and were excluded from services.
The Daniels Case helped change that. By declaring federal responsibility, it helped write a new chapter for the Otipemisiwak Métis Government and for our Citizens. It created momentum for many of the agreements that we have today.
But a decade later, there is still work to be done to fully implement that decision, including ensuring consistent federal recognition, closing gaps in access to programs and services, and translating legal recognition into real, measurable improvements in the lives of Métis people.
The momentum from the Daniels Case led directly to agreements like the Canada–Métis Nation Accord, signed on April 13, 2017. The Accord established a permanent bilateral process with the federal government where Métis priorities could be advanced. It has helped strengthen the foundation for ongoing work in reconciliation and Self-government.
These anniversaries are reminders that progress does not happen by accident. It happens because Métis leaders and Citizens pushed forward for generations, insisting that our rights be recognized and our voices be heard. That work has always been about more than policy. It has been about our people, our identity, our culture, and our right to shape our future.
That same spirit was reflected again on April 17, when we celebrated a partnership that has made a lasting impact on Métis education and opportunity. What began as a shared vision has grown into something truly meaningful: a long-standing relationship between the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, the Métis Education Foundation, Rupertsland Institute, and the University of Alberta that continues to create opportunity for Métis students and families.
This partnership has helped ensure that Métis learners are supported, that Métis research is advanced, and that Métis histories, contributions, voices, and perspectives are more visible. It stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when we work together.
The recognition event was also an opportunity to celebrate the installation In My Grandmother’s Time by Christi Belcourt, a stunning work that speaks to the beauty, strength, and continuity of Métis culture. As the first large-scale art installation by a Métis artist at the University of Alberta, it reflects not only artistic excellence, but also the growing presence of Métis knowledge, history, and identity in spaces that shape future generations.
Together, these moments remind us that our path forward is built through persistence, partnership, and pride in who we are. They reflect how far we have come, and they point to the work that still lies ahead as we continue building a stronger future for Métis people across Alberta.
President Andrea Sandmaier,
Otipemisiwak Métis Government