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President's Corner - January 10, 2025

Posted on: Jan 10, 2025

This week, I had the privilege of meeting with Federal and Provincial Health Ministers in a trilateral discussion to advance health priorities for Métis Citizens across Alberta. I was joined by Bobbi Paul-Alook, Secretary of Health and Seniors, and Kaila Mitchell, Secretary of Mental Health and Addictions. We brought the voices of our Citizens to the table, advocating for increased access, equity, and autonomy in healthcare.

Left to right: Bobbi Paul-Alook, Otipemisiwak Métis Government Secretary of Health and Seniors; Otipemisiwak Métis Government President Andrea Sandmaier; Mark Holland, federal Minister of Health; Adriana LaGrange, Alberta Minister of Health; and Kaila Mitchell, Otipemisiwak Métis Government Secretary of Mental Health and Addictions.

Together with the Federal Minister of Health, Mark Holland, and Alberta’s Minister of Health, Adriana LaGrange, we explored solutions to pressing health challenges and shared the successes of our Métis government’s health programs. From our dental initiatives to health navigation services, these programs reflect the strength of our government when empowered to self-determine our healthcare priorities.

Among the critical issues raised were the need for extended health benefits, increased access to primary care in rural Alberta, and enhanced support for seniors, including home care and ageing-in-place services. We also spoke about the urgent need for capacity-building in mental health services. Fear of racism remains a barrier to seeking care for too many of our Citizens. Addressing this systemic issue must be central to any long-term solutions.

Moving forward, our government will work closely with federal and provincial partners to host more regular trilateral meetings, ensuring our Citizens’ voices remain central to the conversation. Together, we will continue to build a healthcare system that reflects our values, resilience, and right to self-determination.

This week we also saw the resignation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. During his tenure, Prime Minister Trudeau championed a number of initiatives aimed at advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, including the signing of the Métis Nation within Alberta Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Agreement in 2023.

However, in light of his decision to prorogue Parliament, we must also recognize that much of that work remains unfinished. As we look toward the future, we call on Canada’s leaders to prioritize reconciliation and work collaboratively with our government to achieve justice and self-determination for our communities.

Andrea Sandmaier
President, Otipemisiwak Métis Government

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