MNO News 36: President’s Message (September 2025)

Dear Citizens,

This summer has been full of powerful moments for the Métis Nation of Ontario. As we turn toward fall, I’ve been reflecting on what we’ve accomplished together, from gathering in Sault Ste. Marie for our Annual General Assembly, to joining Métis leaders in Ottawa to speak directly with the Prime Minister. Summer has truly felt like a season of momentum and connection.

Earlier in August, I had the opportunity to join Provincial Secretary Mitch Case in Ottawa for a historic Métis Summit with Prime Minister Mark Carney, key members of his Cabinet and senior federal officials. We had direct conversations about the One Canadian Economy Act (Bill C-5), which proposes fast-tracking of development deemed to be in the ‘national interest.’ While the legislation raised questions about how Indigenous consultation will be operationalized, our message was very clear—Métis rights must not be an afterthought. We must be engaged from the start, as these decisions will shape the future of our lands and waters, our communities, and generations to come.

Our communities support development, but never at the expense of Métis rights, or at the expense of our most vulnerable, including jeopardizing the safety of Métis and other Indigenous women, girls, Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ people.

I reminded the Prime Minister that our Métis communities stood with First Nations and the British in the War of 1812, defending the idea of Canada before there was a Canada. Our Métis ancestors helped build Canada’s first economy, building trade networks and kinship systems across this land. And, despite those contributions, we’ve far too often been left out of the big decisions.

This time, I believe our voices were heard. Prime Minister Carney committed to working with Métis governments as partners on a distinctions-based basis, and to continuing this dialogue in the spirit of respect, recognition, and reconciliation.

A little over a week later, our Citizens came together in Sault Ste. Marie for our 32nd Annual General Assembly. It was incredibly meaningful to meet on that land—Métis river lots land—home to Métis families who joined with their Anshinaabek kin and neighbours to stand up against an illegal mine in the 1849 Mica Bay Incident, and in the very home of the Powley case.

During the AGA, Citizens passed the Powley Institute Act, the first law of the Métis Nation of Ontario since signing our Métis self-government agreements recognizing our Métis government. It formally establishes the Powley Institute as a centre for Métis-led research, education, and cultural preservation. The new Institute will be a place where Métis voices guide how our stories are told, knowledge is shared, and our legacy is protected for future generations. Later that evening, we celebrated with the Soirée in the Soo, an incredible gathering of some of Canada’s very best Métis musicians for a night of music, stories, and community. It was one of those moments in life that you won’t forget.

The theme of this year’s AGA was “Telling Our Stories,” and you could feel that reflected everywhere. Citizens heard about Roots of Resilience, our soon to be published book that traces the history of our communities, the founding of the MNO, and milestones such as the Powley case and our Self-Government Agreements.

Citizens gave clear direction for the work ahead, calling for stronger environmental protections, more support for families through childcare, housing, education, and training, and a continued focus on climate change. At this year’s AGA, Citizens also stood in solidarity with First Nations in calling for an end to aerial spraying of glyphosate-based herbicides in Ontario’s forests.

During the AGA, Citizens were updated on how we’re working to grow Métis-owned businesses and strengthen our economy. The Métis Voyageur Development Fund continues to support our entrepreneurs across Ontario, and new leadership on the Métis Infinity Investments board will help open more doors for economic development.

As we move into September, many Métis families are busy with the return to school. This year, the MNO is proud to support parents and guardians of children in kindergarten through grade 12 through the launch of our new School Food Program. It is about more than groceries. It is about caring for our children, strengthening our families, and investing in the kind of future our ancestors dreamed of. Under this new program, eligible families can apply for grocery gift cards, estimated at $400 per child, and access tools to support healthy eating at home. The deadline to apply is September 14.

Finally, let me take this opportunity to give best wishes to our Métis harvesters for a safe and successful fall harvest.

Margaret Froh
President, Métis Nation of Ontario