Protecting the Waters that Connect Us

The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Great Lakes Advisory Group (GLAG) provides advice and guidance on issues affecting the Great Lakes, their watersheds, and the lands and communities connected to them. Through citizen engagement, knowledge sharing, and environmental stewardship, the GLAG helps ensure Métis perspectives are reflected in discussions about water, conservation, climate change, and natural resource management.

The Great Lakes have long served as highways, homelands, and sources of sustenance for Métis communities. The GLAG works to honour that connection by bringing together citizens, Elders, youth, community leaders, and land users to share knowledge and support the protection of these vital waters for future generations.

What We Do

The Great Lakes Advisory Group (GLAG) advises the Métis Nation of Ontario on matters related to the Great Lakes and their watersheds, ensuring Métis voices, knowledge, and perspectives are reflected in environmental discussions and decision-making.

Through workshops, gatherings, and community events, GLAG promotes citizen engagement and environmental education while fostering Métis stewardship practices connected to the land and water. The group also encourages intergenerational knowledge sharing by bringing together Elders, youth, Captains of the Hunt, Senators, and other community leaders to share teachings, experiences, and priorities for the future.

GLAG provides input on environmental initiatives, conservation efforts, and policies that may affect Métis rights and interests, while creating cultural and educational opportunities that strengthen Métis relationships with the Great Lakes and the lands and waters that sustain them.

Key Initiatives

The GLAG supports and participates in a variety of initiatives, including:

  • Annual Youth Wise Ones Gatherings
  • Great Lakes education and awareness activities
  • Environmental stewardship and conservation projects
  • Community consultations and engagement sessions
  • Partnerships related to watershed health and protection
  • Citizen-led discussions on climate change and environmental sustainability
Membership

The Great Lakes Advisory Group is composed of representatives from across the Métis Nation of Ontario, including Senators, Captains of the Hunt, Community Council Presidents, Regional Representatives, Youth Representatives, and PCMNO leadership.

Current members include:

  • Co-Chair
    • Kevin Rath (Senator, Thames Bluewater Métis Council)
  • Members
    • Grant Robbins (Senator, Thunder Bay and District Métis Council; Captain of the Hunt)
    • David Hamilton (President, Chapleau Métis Council; Deputy Chief Captain of the Hunt)
    • Mitch Case (PCMNO Regional Councillor, Region 4; Provincial Secretary of Métis Rights, Inter-governmental Relations & Communications)
    • Steve Gjos (Captain of the Hunt, Region 4)
    • Jillian Smith, PhD (Region 5 Representative)
    • Billy Lefebvre (President, Sudbury Métis Council)
    • Lindsay Rogers (President, Highland Waters Métis Council; President, MNO Two-Spirit Council)
    • Ryan Brunt (Region 6 Representative)
    • Jeremy Scott (Region 7 Representative)
    • Brent Downer (Region 7 Representative)
    • Shirley Debassige (Region 8 Representative)
    • Peter Gregoire (Chair, Oshawa and Durham Region Métis Council)
    • Diane Kilby (Senator, Grand River Métis Council; Auntie, MNO Two-Spirit Council)
    • Kaitlyn Anderson-Mitchell (Youth Representative)
    • Sabastian Koprich (Youth Representative)
Looking Ahead

As environmental challenges continue to impact the Great Lakes region, the GLAG remains committed to ensuring Métis voices are heard in conversations about water stewardship, environmental sustainability, and the future of the lands and waters that have sustained Métis communities for generations.

Through collaboration, education, and citizen engagement, the Great Lakes Advisory Group helps strengthen the Métis Nation’s relationship with the waters that connect us all.