Adapted from an article from: http://www.metisnation.ca/index.php/news/metis-nation-delegates-participate-in-national-roundtable-on-missing-murdered-indigenous-women-girls
Métis Nation delegates participate in National roundtable
on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
(L-R) Clément Chartier, MNC President; Muriel Stanley
Venne, MNA Women Representative; Melanie Omeniho,
WMN President; Angie Crerar, Métis elder; Jennifer Lord,
MNO Manager of Victim Services; Clara Morin-Dal Col,
Provincial Chair for Métis Women BC; David Chartrand,
MMF President; and France Picotte, MNO Chair.
Picture by Ke Ning.
Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Chair France Picotte and MNO Manager of Victim Services Jennifer Lord were among the leaders that met on February 27, 2015 in Ottawa at the Marriott Hotel to discuss needed action to prevent and address violence against Indigenous women and girls. The event was organized by several indigenous groups, including the Native Women’s Association of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations.
The Métis Nation delegation was composed of Métis National Council (MNC) President Clément Chartier, MNC Vice- President and Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) President David Chartrand, Women of the Métis Nation (WMN) President Melanie Omeniho, Métis Elder Angie Crerar, Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Chair France Picotte, MNO staff Jennifer Lord, Provincial Chair for Métis Women BC Clara Morin-Dal Col, Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) Women representative Muriel Stanley Venne, and MNC Communications Officer Ke Ning.
The Roundtable opened with prayers by Algonquin Elder Peter Decontie, Métis Elder Angie Crerar, and Inuit Elder Sally Webster, followed by the presentations from four representatives who were selected from the Peoples’ Gathering—a public event held on February 26 where participants discussed solutions and made recommendations to end violence against Indigenous women and girls. In their presentations, they provided general context and reflection on the themes for discussion and recommendations for action. The Roundtable discussion focused on three themes: prevention and awareness; community safety plans and protocols; and policing measures and justice responses.
Delegates of the National Roundtable committed to continue working together to coordinate actions to prevent and end violence against Indigenous women and girls, including the commitment to hold a second National Roundtable to be held in 2016. They also adopted the Framework for Action to Prevent and Address Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls and accepted the offer by Premier Selinger that a national conference on policing and justice be held prior to the 2016 session.