MNO News 46: President’s Message (July 2026)

Dear Citizens,

First, I want to acknowledge the serious wildfire situation affecting communities across Northern Ontario. Evacuations have disrupted the lives of many families, while smoke and poor air quality have been felt across much of the province. My thoughts are with everyone who has been affected, and I want to thank the firefighters, emergency responders, volunteers, and community members supporting those who have had to leave their homes. If you have been evacuated due to wildfires, please contact OneMNO (1-800-263-4889 Ext. 7) to learn more about available resources and supports.

July has been busy with several opportunities to spend time with Métis leaders and citizens from across the Homeland. Earlier this month, I joined leaders from the Métis National Council, the Northwest Territory Métis Nation, and other Métis governments for a leadership summit at Wanuskewin. We came together to talk about the work happening in each of our governments and the priorities we share.

While our governments are not all dealing with the same circumstances, and we do not always take the same approach, we can still learn a great deal from one another. Over two days, we talked about where our priorities overlap, where collaboration could strengthen our work, and where we should continue the conversation after returning home.

From there, many of us travelled to Back to Batoche Days. While the two gatherings are very different, they reminded me of the same thing—the importance of taking the time to come together. Some conversations happen around a boardroom table, while others happen over coffee or while walking through Batoche. Both are important, and both strengthen the relationships that help move our work forward.

Batoche is always a special gathering. It gives us a chance to celebrate our culture and history, reconnect with people we may not see often, and spend time together outside the usual round of meetings and formal discussions. It is also a reminder of the relationships that connect Métis communities across the Homeland. Those relationships are important to the work our governments do throughout the year.

Here in Ontario, regions and councils have been busy organizing community events, from Region 5’s Rendezvous in North Bay to the annual Fish Fry hosted by the Georgian Bay Métis Council. These gatherings play an important role in strengthening community connections, bringing people together to celebrate Métis culture, and build a stronger sense of belonging.

MNO leadership has also been focused on the next stage of our self-government work. In June, elected leaders from across the MNO met to review the draft Constitution before it moves into broader citizen engagement. The discussion was detailed and, at times, challenging, as it should be. A Constitution will shape how our government is organized, how citizens are represented, how decisions are made, and how leaders are accountable.

This work has been underway for many years, and citizens have already provided thousands of comments through engagement sessions, surveys, community conversations, and other opportunities. There is still more work ahead. Citizens will have opportunities to learn about the draft, ask questions, and share their views before any decision is made. Ultimately, citizens will decide whether the Constitution earns their support.

We hope that many of those conversations will continue at our Annual General Assembly in Thunder Bay from August 14 to 16. The AGA is one of the few times each year when citizens from across Ontario can gather in one place, hear the same updates, ask questions directly, and take part in the business of their government. I am especially looking forward to the Big Canoe Welcome on August 13, which is always a memorable way to begin our time together.

As we monitor the forest fires situation in the north, we have confirmed with all of our Thunder Bay hotel partners that our AGA bookings will not impact evacuees. We will continue to work closely with our hotel partners to ensure this remains the case.

We have also made arrangements to move AGA activities indoors if air quality warrants it. Any decision to do so will be based on local air quality conditions. The health and safety of our citizens, along with everyone displaced by wildfire evacuations, remains our top priority.

As always, I encourage you to read through the rest of this newsletter to learn more about the programs, services, events, and opportunities available to MNO citizens.

Margaret Froh
President, Métis Nation of Ontario