Métis storytellers from across the province have heard the call to share their #MetisVacciNation stories with us. Thank you to those who have contributed to this initiative. The MNO hopes to continue to uplift the voices of our community members. To read the submitted stories, scroll below.
"I chose to get vaccinated for a few different reasons. The main reason being, to protect myself and those I love from catching or spreading this horrible virus. I am also a PSW working in Supportive Housing that provides daily care to many seniors who reside in a 12-floor apartment building geared to our elderly population. Through vaccination and following Covid protocols this past two years, I am PROUD to say to this day, NOT ONE of the seniors that my fellow co-workers and I provide care for became afflicted with the Covid virus! I made the right choice!"
Darlene
Oshawa, ON
"I got vaccinated because it gets me closer to being in the company of you, my family, my friends, my grandchildren and every day people. I got vaccinated to make my community and workplace safe, and for all of us to be present to one other."
Trent
Terrace Bay, ON
"In November 2020 I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. I endured 16 weeks of Chemotherapy which depleted my immune system. During my treatments at the cancer center I met men, women, and children all battling cancer, all trying to stay as safe as they could. When I was able to receive my vaccines, I felt so privileged to be able to protect myself and others from COVID. I am happy to say I am in remission and I am three times vaccinated against COVID!"
Alison
Kingston, ON
"One of the reasons I got my vaccine was to marry my best friend. We had planned to get married in 2020 but Covid occurred and a vaccine had not yet been introduced. As soon as it was released, both my husband and I got the first and second vaccine, allowing us to have our perfect wedding."
Shelby
Dutton, ON
"As a University Student studying Engineering I believe in science. Although scientists don’t know everything about Covid 19 the best information we have is that vaccines protect us. I want to remain healthy so that my education is not interrupted. I owe it to myself, my family and friends to do everything I can to stay safe including social distancing, masking and becoming vaccinated."
Callum
Victoria Harbour, ON
"I got my vaccinations because I care about myself and the people around me. My elderly Mom lives with me and I wouldn’t want to be the reason she got sick. My son looks up to me and I want to be a good role model of what it is to be a part of society. When it came time for him to have his vaccination for Covid, he went with no problem and was happy to do it, even though he doesn’t like needles."
Arlene
Thunder Bay, ON
"As a nursing student I got the vaccine as proof of my trust in medicine. I want to see the lives of myself and others improve and become healthier. As a teen I wanted to return to a normal life, to have in person school and sports and back to the way it was before and I trusted that the vaccine would help get us there."
Taya
Rainy River, ON
"I am an RPN working at a long-term care facility. I vaccinated to protect my residents, coworkers, family and most importantly my son. My son has a neurological disorder and my parents are both diabetics with other health issues. I am 2 x vaccinated and booster done as well. I will not hesitate to follow the science and protect those I care about."
Samantha
Kenora, ON
"I received my COVID-19 vaccination to help keep my little boy healthy because he is not yet eligible for the vaccine. I want my family and friends safe, as well as myself. I received the vaccine to help fight against COVID and hopefully bring the pandemic to an end."
Jason
Kenora, ON
"I got vaccinated to protect my daughter who has severe asthma. I don’t regret getting vaccinated at all. We’re both very much looking forward to being able to travel safely again."
Lisa
Paisley, ON
"We chose to vaccinate everyone in our family who was eligible. We felt it was our responsibility to do our part in keeping our community as safe as possible, and to keep our hospitals free of COVID patients. Here is our 9 year old son Oliver having his first shot. We are so proud that he made the decision to get vaccinated."
Amber
Midland, ON
"We chose to vaccinate everyone in our family who was eligible. We felt it was our responsibility to do our part in keeping our community as safe as possible, and to keep our hospitals free of COVID patients. Here is our 9 year old son Oliver having his first shot. We are so proud that he made the decision to get vaccinated."
Julie
Ottawa, ON
"I chose to get vaccinated for my family. There are immune compromised people close to me and even if they've been vaccinated themselves, I want to reduce the chance they could get Covid because of something I could have prevented. I had a sore arm and felt nauseous for a day after each shot but I know the effects of Covid on my loved ones could be far worse."
David
Toronto, ON
"When the pandemic began my husband and I had been trying for our first baby and after much deliberation we decided not to wait until the pandemic ended - thank goodness for that! And on the last day of one of the most trying years in recent times, December 31st 2020, our son was born. My husband and I were unsure at first about the new vaccine, wondering what the future may hold, but our outlook on life and priorities changed that day. I cannot begin to express how proud I am to be Métis - allowing my family and I to schedule our vaccines ahead of the general public. It is truly a blessing to not have to worry about when and where we will receive our vaccines, and it gives us peace of mind knowing we are doing everything we can to keep our son and future generations safe. We wholeheartedly support getting vaccinated."
Amanda
Bridgenorth, ON
"Although we live in different households my mother and I went together to receive our vaccines. We now have all 3 doses. We want the pandemic to end and to be able to spend more time together. My school age daughter terribly missed seeing her grandmother and spending time in her home. With children being in school mixing with many other children and school faculty it just wasn’t safe for our family to have indoor visits. To protect our elderly we have been vaccinated, to spend quality time in person we have been vaccinated, out of respect and care for those who are compromised. "
Rhonda
Gravenhurst, ON
"Throughout the pandemic, I was very hesitant to get vaccinated. However, two months before the world shut down from the pandemic, my wife and I found out we were expecting our first child. Keeping my pregnant high-risk wife safe was a huge priority. It was a struggle during her pregnancy because we did not get to share the happy moments. No baby shower, no shared appointments, no celebration when she was born. I could not attend a single ultrasound. The pandemic ripped all of these moments from us, as it did for all babies born during the pandemic. Once our turn my wife and I went for our shots together. It felt like a relief to being one step closer to a normal life for the three of us."
Braiden
Chaplaeu, ON
"I got fully vaccinated because it is important for me to protect myself, my family and the public from any harm. We are all working toward a common good and to try to get back some normalcy. Vaccines are well studied, safe and effective. We know from the statistics that those that are vaccinated are at a reduced chance of being hospitalized, on a vent or death. Please don’t hesitate to do your part and protect those you love and your community."
Michelle
Thunder Bay, ON
"I decided to be vaccinated because I want to stay healthy, and to help stop the spread of COVID-19. I now have my booster and will keep getting boosters if they are offered in the future. What I'm most looking forward to is being able to spend time with my family, I am isolated from all family members, it's very lonely. Another thing I'm looking forward to is shopping without having to be masked. But of course will continue to wear a mask until we don't have to."
Norine
Elliot Lake, ON
"As soon as I could get my first dose, I did. As soon as I could get my second dose, I did. And as soon as I was eligible for the booster, I got that too. Why? I did it for my children, who could not get the vaccine.
I did it for my grandparents, who I want to see and need to ensure it is safe to do so. I did it because I want to go back to normal. I did it because I don’t want to be a burden on our already stretch health care system. I don’t want to take up an ICU bed because I got Covid, when a family or friend needs it. I want the population to be able to access the life saving procedure they need. I did it because of science! There are a lot of bright scientists and engineers that work in pharmaceuticals, and they have applied the same techniques to make theses vaccines. Yes, the vaccines themselves are new, but the procedures and processes are not new."
Stephanie
Chalk River, ON
"Initially I was really worried about getting the vaccine. It was after all, new to me and there was so much conflicting information out there. That conflicting information made it really hard to make the decision. Ultimately, after weighing the pros and cons I decided that protecting my elderly family members, my family members at risk, my little ones at home, and those out in the community, as well as of course MYSELF was most important. I decided that I wanted to be part of the solution in hopes to get back to some normalcy. So my children could get back to enjoying their childhood. It wasn’t an easy decision but it was one I made in the best interest of myself, my family and our community!"
Heather
Oshawa, ON
"I received the COVID-19 vaccine for everybody to get back to living and to be safe to go out to functions and talk to people. I was scared at first but then I realize it is worth getting. I lost family and friends I was not sick from the 3 needles and I feel good about getting the needles. Thanks!"
Colleen
Midland, ON
"There are many reasons I wanted to be vaxxed. First and foremost was to protect my wife and daughter against Covid-19. My wife was born with a congenital heart condition and has had 2 heart surgeries with multiple complications. My daughter is 4 and is unable to be vaccinated so I also wanted to do my part to protect her. Lastly, I just wanted to be a diligent member of the community so that I could help others feel a sense of safety while out in public."
Paul
Stoney Creek, ON
"I caught COVID before vaccinations were an option. It was a very scary time for my family and I. I believe that getting vaccinated lowers my risk of catching COVID again, lowers my risk of passing it to others if I do catch it again, and lowers my risk of severe health consequences if I do become reinfected. I believe that getting vaccinated is the best thing that I can do to try to protect myself, my family, the people I work with, elders, and my community. Also, I want to do my part to try and lessen the burden on the health care system. I work with health care professionals and see how tired they are and how hard they are working to try and save people during this pandemic."
Rachelle
Keewatin, ON
"I chose to get vaccinated to protect my grandparents , family and community. I made the choice because Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable during this difficult time, it is only right to protect people who are vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, including those who are immunocompromised, Indigenous, young and old. I also got my 3rd booster shot to protect myself from the long and short term effects of COVID 19."
Amelia
Victoria Harbour, ON
"I chose to get vaccinated for 2 reasons. I was primary caregiver to my niece who received a kidney transplant and is severely immunocompromised. Once the worst of COVID hit I couldn't get close to her. I couldn't spend time with her and had to do grocery drops and wave from the window. Even with the vaccine, she is still way less protected than the rest of us. The second reason was my dad. He had many health issues and I lived with him. I worried every day I would harm him by going to work or shopping. He passed away a couple of months ago (not related to Covid) but I know that getting vaccinated and following guidelines prevented him from getting Covid and dying a terrible death. He would not have survived and would have suffered. It gave us extra time with him."
Tina
Hamilton, ON
"I chose to be Vaccinated against COVID-19 because I work in Healthcare and I don’t want to be the reason someone else gets sick. Vaccines are the safest way to help put a stop to the spread of COVID-19."
Kelly
Windsor, ON
"In March 2020, as COVID-19 was just starting to change everyone’s lives, I found out I was expecting my first child. COVID meant all of my doctor’s appointments, all of my ultrasounds would be alone. Delivery was just me and my significant other, my mom would miss out on a major event in our lives. After baby’s arrival, it was extremely lonely. There were no visits from family or friends, no celebrations. Just window visits and pictures. Everything I have done this past year and will continue to do are to protect my baby and everyone else who cannot protect themselves."
Lindsay
Penetanguishene, ON
"I chose to get vaccinated to protect my community of all generations, as I serve them on the frontlines as a learner, and continue to help them welcome new generations into their own families."
Sara
Sudbury, ON
"I am a paramedic working with the sick and vulnerable. By being vaccinated, not only do I help keep myself safe, transmission rates from vaccinated people are far lower! I need to keep people around me safe!! As the health and safety co-chair in my workplace we have been encouraging people to be safe, wear PPE, the importance of hand sanitization. Education is such a huge part of my job, and every patient contact! Most of all, I’m vaccinated for my family. I want to be healthy for them, and I want to protect them. GET VACCINATED!"
Leila
Niagara Falls, ON
"I choose to be vaccinated because I care about me! I care about others. I am proud of it, it shows others that it is okay to get the shots."
Tammie
Sheshegwaning, ON
"I got the vaccine because I want to protect my elderly grandparents. I am also a teacher and want to ensure that I protect our youth and in turn also protect myself and my family. I would like to do my part to bring an end to this disruptive pandemic and to return to some semblance of life as we knew it. I miss social gatherings and being able to freely meet with others in restaurants, personal services, and the hospitality industry. I would like to feel safe and protected and like I am protecting those around me, [like my young children]. Lastly, my children are too young to be vaccinated so I am to ensure their world is a safer place."
Kelly
Porcupine, ON
"I had no hesitation about getting the vaccines for Covid. In fact, I am getting the booster today with my family, thanks to the Metis Nation of Ontario. We have had no side effects other than a sore arm for a day, similar to the many other vaccines we have when we are children. Vaccines are developed to help us survive and eradicate serious life threatening diseases like small pox, measles, mumps and polo to name a few. This is a pandemic that won't go away until we can all get vaccinated. We all need our lives to get back to normal and need to have faith that the brilliant minds who have been working on vaccines have the information and education to develop the defense to make our way out of the pandemic. All we have to do is look back at the Spanish flu took many of our ancestors, that just can't happen again. Get vaccinated! It is worth it for your family, friends and community!."
Kelly
Lombardy, ON
"I kept watching the MNO website as I heard indigenous citizens were allowed to get vaccinated in the first wave. I was happy about this as my job entails me to be around hundreds of people on a daily basis and I knew this was a great way to protect myself. When my time came to get the vaccine in March I was elated and grateful that I got to do it so early on. It allowed me to be confident at work knowing I was protected."
Jay
Scarborough, ON
"I thought a long time about the vaccine. I thought a lot about how when I was a kid in grade school and the vaccine day would come. we would all line up, take our seats, and have a shot. No fuss, just a thing we did, and it came naturally. When I started hearing about the way people were about getting it, it rattled my cage, because all of this was a subtle form of rebellion for something that needs no rebelling over. This is about keeping our people safe, its not about me, or you, its about the elders, its about the kids, its about keeping ourselves safe. It's common sense. My grandfather, the proud Metis from Drummond Island, drilled it into my head that common sense was the rarest gift of all, and once acquired you were richer beyond anything you could ever imagine. This is common sense."
Micki
Midland, ON