Special President’s Update on Métis Self-Government
Posted on: Oct 02, 2026
Progress on our Self-Government Journey
Dear Citizens,
For the Métis Nation within Alberta, self-government means taking control of our destiny as a distinct Indigenous Nation, and finally having our inherent rights and jurisdiction recognized.
We are the Otipemisiwak, the “people who own themselves”. Self-government is foundational to who we are as a Nation and an Indigenous People.
It means that we decide as a Nation about our collective future, not Canada or Alberta. We decide who our Citizens are, who speaks for our Nation, and how we make collective decisions, whether it be at the local level through our District Councils or for the Nation as a whole through our Citizens’ Council or Gatherings.
This is the work our Citizens, families, and communities have been doing for generations.
Since 1928, we have been rebuilding after the devastation caused by the Métis Scrip System and the Crown refusing to deal with us as a Nation. And we have chosen our own path forward. That vision is now set out in our Constitution.
At the heart of our Constitution is a belief that we are stronger when we work together.
We have built a province-wide government, where no one is left behind. We have rejected the “divide and conquer” approaches that led to other Indigenous Nations being divided through the Indian Act. Instead, we have chosen unity.
Self-government also means having the ability to design and deliver programs that actually meet the needs of our Citizens, rather than bureaucrats in Ottawa making those decisions for us. And it means standing together as a united Nation to advance, protect, and defend our rights protected by s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
Our Recent Self-Government Journey and Successes
For generations, the Crown’s refusal to recognize our Nation was used against us.
Since 2015, we have achieved significant successes at the federal level:
- In 2016, in Daniels v. Canada, the Supreme Court held that Canada has constitutional responsibility for us – just as it does for First Nations and the Inuit;
- In 2017, we signed our Framework Agreement with Canada that kicked off formal negotiations with our Nation;
- In 2018, we signed a Consultation Agreement with Canada to ensure the federal Crown consults with our Nation when our rights and claims are impacted;
- And in 2019 and 2023, we signed our Métis Self-Government Recognition Agreement (MGRSA) and then our Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Agreement (MGRSIA) with Canada.
Our MGRSIA was a gamechanger. It immediately recognized three important things:
- First, it recognized our Nation as a “right-bearing Métis collectivity” holds an inherent right to self-government protected by Section 35.
- Second, it recognized the Otipemisiwak Métis Government as the “government” and the “Indigenous governing body” for our Nation.
- And third, it committed Canada to negotiating a Self-Government Treaty with us that will be protected by s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
Updating Our 2023 MGRSIA
In March 2024, the Federal Court struck down a few parts of our MGRSIA after two groups went to court and argued that they were included in our agreement and that, as a result, Canada was unable to negotiate with them.
Importantly, the Court refused to cancel the MGRSIA. Instead, it directed that changes be made to our agreement following Crown consultations.
In March 2025, we initialed an updated MGRSIA with Canada that addresses the Court’s directions. A copy of that updated agreement was posted to our website here.
Following the election of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government in April 2025, we were pleased to see his government remain committed our agreements. In August 2025, I attended the Prime Minister’s Métis Major Projects Summit. In March 2026, we signed an updated Interim Fiscal Financing Agreement with Canada.
And just last month, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minster Rebecca Alty joined us at our Citizens’ Gathering in Slave Lake. There, she conveyed Canada’s ongoing commitment to our relationship, and to implementing our self-government agreements – together.
Updating Our 2023 MGRSIA: A New Milestone
Today, I am pleased to share another important step forward.
Following Canada’s Crown consultations with others on our MGRSIA, and further changes agreed to by our government, another updated version of our MGRSIA is now available here. This updated MGRSIA has also now been provided to various groups that Canada is consulting with.
This brings us another step closer to signing an updated MGRSIA. Once it is signed, this will allow us to move full steam ahead on negotiations for our Self-Government Treaty.
With that said, Canada is still engaged in Crown consultations with others on this further updated agreement, and we need to respect and allow that process to run its course. However, we anticipate the updated MGRSIA will be signed sometime in 2027. That will be a moment to celebrate!
We also believe the additional changes we have agreed to make our MGRSIA stronger and clearer. It confirms we only represent our 78,000+ Citizens and Métis Communities comprised of our Citizens. It also makes it clear that Canada can negotiate and reach agreements with others if it chooses to do so.
Next Steps in Advancing our Métis Rights Agenda
While we have made significant progress in advancing our inherent right to self-government, we also need to make progress on Métis land-related rights in the province, particularly in our relationship with the Alberta Government.
While Canada recognizes us for the purposes of Crown consultation on our rights, our relationship with the current Alberta Government remains challenging. In fact, Alberta refuses to consult with our District Councils and our Nation in any way on our rights.
We are not the only Indigenous Nation that is facing challenges with the current provincial government. But we are increasingly being excluded from provincial Crown consultation and other initiatives in ways that harm our Métis rights.
Over the next few months, your elected leadership will be coming together to strategize on how to advance Métis land related rights in Alberta. As you know, our Constitution demands that your leaders make progress on advancing Métis rights.
Other Métis governments have advanced their rights through “test cases.” We may need to consider doing the same. But if we are going to be successful, we need to be united and we need to bring all of our strength and resources to the table.
As your President and the Provincial Secretary for Métis Rights and Self-Government, I will be increasingly making sure our Citizens know about the challenges we are facing provincially and, more importantly, how we move forward together.
We are more than 78,000 Citizens strong, and the oldest Métis government in Canada. Our ancestors fought to ensure that Métis voices were heard. It is our responsibility to continue that work.
There is important and exciting work ahead of us. And as we have throughout our history, we will do it together.