President's Corner - October 4, 2024
Posted on: Oct 04, 2024
Dear Citizens,
As you may know, October 4 was the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit individuals. On this solemn occasion we paid tribute to those who were taken from their communities far too soon. It is also a reminder that violence against Indigenous women still exists at a disproportionate rate. I can assure you that the Otipemisiwak Métis Government remains focused on creating safe, just communities for its Métis Citizens across the province.
Despite the work that lies ahead, I believe our overarching journey towards self-government and what has been achieved to date is a point of pride. But I also know that reaching milestones wouldn’t have been possible without collaborative relationships and cross-governmental partnerships. We often talk a lot about our partnerships with the federal and provincial governments, but we cannot forget about our municipal counterparts.
This is why I was proud to attend and speak at the Alberta Municipalities’ annual convention and tradeshow last month. The multi-day event was a significant opportunity to foster relationships with leaders in municipal circles and reiterate our Nation’s wealth of knowledge, experience, and skills. There are few occasions where so many leaders at the helm of Alberta’s towns and cities are in one room. Certainly, this was one where it was critical to be in attendance, representing the rights and interests of Métis people across the province.
To the over 1,100 Mayors, Councillors, and municipal representatives in attendance, I shared this important message: When Métis rights are upheld and we are able to make decisions that truly reflect the needs and values of our communities, our Citizens flourish. When Métis communities thrive, Alberta thrives.
I left this event feeling confident for the Otipemisiwak Métis Government in its connections with municipalities. In the weeks, months, and years to come, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government will continue to lean on these special partnerships so that your rights and interests remain protected and advanced. You, the Citizens of our Nation, remain at the heart of everything we do, because without you we would not exist.
Thank you once again for putting your trust in me to lead.