Otipemisiwak Métis Government celebrates renewed partnership with Parks Canada, offering free park passes to Citizens
Posted on: Mar 30, 2026
EDMONTON – The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is happy to announce that Parks Canada and the Otipemisiwak Métis Government have renewed their partnership to continue offering a free, custom Park Pass to Citizens of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.
“Access to the land our ancestors lived on, and used for traditional purposes, should never be a barrier for our Citizens,” said Andrea Sandmaier, President of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. “Our government has worked hard to ensure this agreement was renewed I am proud of the results we have secured for our Citizens through this partnership with Parks Canada. This is a clear example of what we can achieve when we assert our rights and work collaboratively with federal partners. This partnership means more Métis families can spend time in these spaces, experiencing them together, and reconnecting with each other and our Métis history.”
As an example of our Nation’s connection to National Parks, long before the boundaries of Jasper National Park were drawn by the Crown, Métis families lived, hunted, harvested, and traded throughout the Athabasca Valley. But when Jasper National Park was created in the early 1900s, those families were forcibly removed, as happened with much of the land across the Homeland.
“This initiative reflects what Métis people have always known. That reconciliation must include real access to our homelands, including in National Parks,” added President Sandmaier. “These are places where our ancestors lived, travelled, and built community. Reconciliation is not just about recognition, it’s about return and restoring connections.”
The hang tag on the new custom Park Pass includes custom artwork from five Alberta Métis artists.
The fastest way for Métis Citizens aged 16 and older to receive a Park Pass hanger is by completing an online application. Citizens can begin applying on April 1, 2026.
Paper applications are available for those who are unable to apply online and can be mailed out upon request by calling 780-455-2200 and speaking to a Registry team member. Citizens may also pick up a pass in person at the Provincial Head Office.
Citizens without a pass can still present their Citizenship Card for free daily entry.
Background Information:
Citizens of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government have a deep, ancestral connection to the lands and waters comprising the National Parks/National Historic Sites within Alberta. In recognition of this historical connection, Parks Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the MNA on July 31, 2018, making the Indigenous Peoples Open Doors Program available to our Citizens.
On August 1, 2018, National Parks and National Historic Sites located in Alberta began offering Citizens free access. Since early 2021, Parks Canada and our Nation built on the 2018 MOU by providing MNA Citizens with a custom 5-Year Entry Pass. This new MOU reaffirms the ongoing relationship between Parks Canada and our Nation and formalizes continued access for Citizens through a renewed 5-Year Entry Pass.
Media Contact:
Kenny Trenton ktrenton@metis.org