MNO News 47: President’s Message (August 2026)

Dear Citizens,

As summer begins to wind down, I have been reflecting on an extraordinary few weeks for the Métis Nation of Ontario.

Just days ago, nearly 500 Citizens, leaders, and special guests gathered in the Greater Toronto Area for our 33rd Annual General Assembly. This was not the AGA we had originally planned. With wildfires affecting communities across Northern Ontario, we made the difficult decision to move the AGA from Thunder Bay. We did not want our gathering to take up hotel rooms or other resources needed by evacuees and their families.

I am incredibly grateful to everyone who adapted on very short notice to make the gathering possible, and especially to the Citizens who joined us from across Ontario. Despite the change in location, we came together to celebrate our culture, conduct the business of our government, and make important decisions about the road ahead.

One of the most important decisions was about the next steps toward Métis self-government. Citizens overwhelmingly supported moving forward with consultation on the draft MNO Constitution and continuing Self-Government Treaty negotiations with Canada.

Starting this fall, Citizens will have opportunities to review the draft Constitution, ask questions, and share their views. The goal is to hold a vote in 2027 where Citizens would decide whether to adopt the Constitution. Work will also continue with Canada on a Self-Government Treaty, with the possibility that Citizens could vote on the Constitution and Treaty at the same time.

Citizens brought forward more than 20 resolutions at this year’s AGA, giving the MNO direction on the issues that matter to them. These included economic reconciliation, education, and the upcoming 200th anniversary of the forced relocation of Great Lakes Métis families from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene.

We are getting closer to welcoming residents to the MNO’s new affordable housing development in Midland. Construction on the new two-storey, three-bedroom rental homes is nearing completion, with occupancy expected soon. Safe, affordable housing continues to be an important priority for our Citizens, and I am excited to see this project become a new community for Métis families.

As August comes to an end, many families are turning their attention to the beginning of another school year. Education has long been important to Métis families and communities. Historical records give us remarkable glimpses of just how deep that commitment to education goes.

In July 1880, First Nations and Métis families at Lake Nipigon petitioned the government for funding for a schoolteacher. Their petition explained that families who had once lived across Lake Nipigon and further inland were beginning to settle together near an existing schoolhouse. Twelve families had built homes within a mile of the school, and there were already 32 children among the families living there.

Just one week later, First Nations and Métis families at Lake Helen, near Red Rock on Lake Superior, submitted another petition. They too asked for support for a teacher, as well as land where their families could settle.

Almost 150 years later, these petitions give us a glimpse of what mattered to Métis families in northern Lake Superior—building communities, creating opportunities for their children, and working together for a stronger future.

This is just one of the stories being shared through OntarioMétisFacts.com. I encourage you to visit the site and explore more of the historical records and stories of Métis communities in Ontario.

That commitment to helping our children learn and stay connected to their culture continues today. The MNO is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Education and Training Branch this year. The MNO Education Hub is adding 12 new book reviews for families and educators, featuring stories about Métis culture, language, food and family traditions, along with books about identity, emotions, the environment and learning on the land. You can download the Education Hub app to find out more.

This is also an important time of year for many Métis harvesters. The MNO is asking harvesting Citizens to share what they are seeing when gathering wild berries, including changes in berry health, availability and harvesting patterns. These observations can help us better understand what is happening on the land and support Métis harvesting Citizens. I encourage harvesters to take part in the survey and share what you are seeing. You can contact the Lands, Resources and Consultations branch to find out more about the Berry Harvesting Survey.

As always, I encourage you to take some time to read through the rest of this newsletter. There are many more updates, programs, and opportunities that may be of interest to you and your family.

To all our students, families, educators, and staff preparing for the school year ahead, I wish you a safe and successful start to September.

Margaret Froh
President, Métis Nation of Ontario