Dec. 20, 2024
President’s Message
Dear friends, Sisters, and allies,
We’re excited to share that we’ve made great progress in our research to advance the priorities of Métis women over the past quarter.
We’re grateful to all of you who have participated in engagement sessions, workshops, forums, and other events to share your voices. It’s a privilege to have such a passionate and dedicated community alongside us on this journey. We look forward to sharing some of these insights with you in the coming weeks and months.
Across the Metis Motherland, we recognize that relations between our communities have been strained. In these challenging times, Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak remains steadfast in our commitment to advancing the unique priorities of Metis women throughout the Motherland. We are proud to stand behind the strength, resilience, and leadership of Metis women, and we will continue to do so as we collectively navigate these complex political landscapes.
Our small but dedicated team will be taking a well-deserved break over the Christmas holidays, and we encourage you to do the same. Take this time to relax and create lasting memories with your loved ones. Whether you’re celebrating cherished family traditions or starting new ones, we hope your holidays are filled with joy, connection, and the warmth of those closest to you.
We will be out of the office from December 20th, 2024, to January 6th, 2025. As the new year approaches, we’re excited to reconnect with you when we return.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a bright, happy new year!
Yours in friendship and solidarity,
Melanie Omeniho, LFMO President
News
Sisters in Spirit vigil
On October 4, the National Day of Action for MMIWG2S+, we joined the annual vigil hosted by Families of Sisters in Spirit (FSIS) on Parliament Hill.
We thank the many speakers, families, allies, and partner organizations who participated.
This gathering provided an opportunity to honor the memories of our Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit kin (MMIWG2S+), while also serving as a solemn reminder of the ongoing impact this crisis has on our communities.
Despite growing recognition of the violence against Indigenous women, there remains a troubling lack of urgency from the federal government to address and end this crisis. Protecting Indigenous women is the responsibility of all Canadians, not just the affected communities. Despite this, we will continue to gather in memory of our stolen sisters and persist in our pursuit of justice for our MMIWG2S+ loved ones.
We sincerely thank all those who gathered to honour and remember MMIWG2S+, and we encourage everyone to continue their support for families of MMIWG2S+ and visit the FSIS webpage on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fsismmiwg2s
COP16
From October 21st – 27th, 2024, LFMO delegates participated in climate discussions at the world’s largest biodiversity conference – COP16 – in Cali, Colombia.
The purpose of the conference is to discuss and promote measures for improved environmental sustainability.
For the first time, Indigenous peoples were officially recognized as the original stewards of their lands, having led the fight to protect the Earth since time immemorial. This recognition came with the promise of a subsidiary council, composed of Indigenous peoples from around the world. The new subsidiary body creates a permanent space for Indigenous peoples and local communities to participate in biodiversity decision-making.
In another first, COP16 delegates established the “Cali Fund” to collect and fairly distribute profits from digital sequence information, requiring companies to allocate a portion of their earnings to support Indigenous peoples and local communities.
This recognition of Indigenous knowledge is long overdue, but it is a welcome step that will ensure the ongoing participation and consultation of Indigenous peoples in environmental decision-making.
16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence
Every year from November 25th – December 10th, we observe the 16 Days of Action to End Gender Based Violence to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis of violence affecting women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals.
The 16 Days of Activism aims to raise awareness about the various forms of gender-based violence, the risk factors involved, and how to effectively respond to it.
For Métis and other Indigenous peoples, this crisis has been met with complacency by both the Canadian government and society at large. Experts say that gender-based violence is on the rise, a distressing fact for Indigenous families and Survivors. Indigenous women and girls continue to experience disproportionate levels of physical, emotional, mental, sexual, and lateral violence compared to other Canadians.
The dehumanization of Indigenous peoples is fueled by a troubling lack of respect for traditional knowledge and the frequent disregard for the need for Indigenous-specific services and resources.
As we mark the end of the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence, it is essential that we recognize the urgent need for a collective response that not only addresses the rise in violence but also ensures the inclusion of Metis perspectives, traditional knowledge, and community-based solutions in the fight for justice and equality for all.
2024 Geographica Gala
On Thursday, November 7th, 2024, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society hosted its 95th annual Geographica Gala, an event for geographers, explorers, and educators from around the globe to share their insights on impact of geography on our planet.
The evening featured appearances from Indigenous leaders including Chief Perry Bellegarde, Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, and Valérie Courtois.
Two Metis youth were invited to the gala, including LFMO’s own 2SLGBTQQIA+ Initiatives Manager, Nic Taylor!
Nic is wearing LFMO’s youth sash, which incorporates bright colours to represent the vibrancy of youth!
Maarsii to the RCGS for the opportunity to represent Metis youth and Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak.
Passing of Muriel Stanley Venne
It is with deep sadness and grief that we acknowledge the passing of Metis Matriarch and lifelong advocate for Metis rights, Muriel Stanley Venne. We extend our sincerest condolences to all who knew Muriel, including her family, friends, and colleagues.
For decades, Muriel devoted herself to advancing the rights of Métis and other Indigenous peoples in the areas of employment, education, and justice. In 1973, she was appointed commissioner to the newly established Alberta Human Rights Commission. In the following decade, Muriel founded the Women of the Metis Nation–an organization dedicated to promoting the advancement of Metis women– in Alberta, for which she also served as president. Muriel later served as chair of the Aboriginal Commission on Human Rights and Justice, where she founded the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW) in 1994.
Muriel dedicated herself to inspiring and empowering the women around her, admired by many in her life as a Metis Matriarch, mentor, and teacher. Her presence was a guiding force, uplifting those who were fortunate enough to learn from her wisdom and strength.
As a fierce advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG2S+), Muriel was a close friend and loyal ally of LFMO. Her work in justice profoundly influenced how Canadian law and the criminal justice system respond to systemic violence against Indigenous women. She brought attention to incidents of discrimination, such as in the case of Cindy Gladue, as emblematic of the broader mistreatment of Indigenous women within the criminal justice system.
“Muriel was not only a powerful activist, but an incredible woman, and my personal mentor,” says LFMO President Melanie Omeniho. “She was a true gift to us all, and her presence will be deeply missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. I have no doubt her legacy will endure for generations to come.”
A survivor of gender-based violence, Muriel remained steadfast in her commitment to the safety of Indigenous women. In 2005, she was named a Member of the Order of Canada, becoming the first Métis recipient in recognition of her advocacy and her role in raising national awareness of the MMIWG2S+ crisis. That same year, she received the Governor General’s Commemorative Award for the Persons Case. Throughout her career, Muriel earned numerous accolades, including the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, the Alberta Centennial Medal, and an Honorary Bachelor of Arts from MacEwan University. In 2017, the Alberta government named a building the “Muriel Stanley Venne Provincial Centre” in her honour.
Reflecting on this tribute, Muriel said, “I hope this is a sign to young women and girls across the country that they can raise their voices and demand to be treated with respect.”
Project Updates
Environmental Engagement
From November 22nd-24th, 2024, LFMO hosted 20 women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ persons in Ottawa, ON. for an engagement session concerning the impacts of climate change on Metis health.
We were so privileged to have met so many inspiring, passionate people of all ages from all across the Motherland. Their insights will help to shape our approach to a Metis-specific environmental sustainability framework.
During this engagement, we heard concerns about how traditional Métis ways of life and the practice of living off the land have been disrupted by the harmful impacts of climate change. A common sentiment expressed was the significant lack of Indigenous consultation in the development of climate change policy.
Climate change has made traditional ways more difficult to maintain, affecting animal migration patterns, devastating fish populations, and making it harder to find berries and herbs for food and medicine. Climate change and pollution have led to boil water advisories in many Indigenous communities. The spread of vector-borne diseases, such as West Nile and Lyme disease, has increased as changing weather patterns enable the migration of disease-carrying insects.
It was clear from this engagement that there is a growing urgency among Metis people to heal the land, waters, and skies – and an increasing frustration at the lack of Metis consultation – especially when it comes to the knowledge of our Elders.
We sincerely thank everyone who participated in this session and look forward to hosting many more in the future.
Website
LFMO is pleased to announce that we have a new website! After a long wait, we launched our new website on December 19th, 2024.
This project was only possible thanks to the collective contributions and hard work of our whole team.
We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding, and we thank you all for your continued support. We invite you to check out the new website at metiswomen.org
Announcements
Youth Council
To better address the needs and priorities of Metis youth in our communities, LFMO is developing a Youth Council composed of Metis youth from across the Motherland.
We encourage Métis youth (18-29) who:
– Have a strong connection to their Métis heritage.
– Are passionate about community involvement and leadership.
– Are eager to advocate for Métis youth and culture.
– Can commit to attending meetings and participating in council activities (virtually and in-person).
Questions? Reach out to Nika at nikap@metiswomen.org
Link to online application form: https://shorturl.at/h5jjF
LFMO Welcomes New Staff
Over the past few months, Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak has made several organizational changes, including the creation of new roles to strengthen our team.
We are excited to welcome Mariia Dias as our Intergovernmental Affairs Associate, Riley Fox as Director of Strategic Initiatives, and Meara Belanger as Director of Communications.
Additionally, we look forward to the arrival of two new staff members after the holidays: Jamie McIntyre, who will join us as Mental Health Project Coordinator, and Natalie Rzeszutek, who will serve as Health Research Advisor.
We would also like to acknowledge and congratulate Janice Friedel, who has transitioned into the role of Executive Assistant to President Melanie Omeniho.
These new positions are key to the continued success and growth of LFMO, and will play an essential role in advancing our work.
Featured Person
Lydia Toorenburgh (they/them) is a Two-Spirit Bungi-Métis and mixed settler person. They live as a visitor on lək̓ʷəŋən territory (Victoria, BC) and are a registered citizen of the Métis Nations of both BC (MNBC) and Greater Victoria (MNGV).
Lydia is an artist, activist, and academic who has been involved in Indigenous and 2SLGBTQQIA+ advocacy and education for most of their life. They were the vice-chair of the 2 Spirits in Motion Society Youth Council for three years, have volunteered as a member of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ Advisory Committees of MNBC and MNGV for the past two years, and currently sit on the National 2SLGBTQQIA+ Advisory Committees of Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak (LFMO).
Lydia completed an Honours degree in Anthropology at the University of Victoria, graduating with distinction and on the Dean’s List; they then completed a Master of Arts in Anthropology while working full-time as the Tri-Faculty Indigenous Resurgence Coordinator at UVic where they were awarded the Həuistəŋ Award for their leadership in decolonization; in 2024 they were awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award from UVic; and they are now a PhD student in Anthropology and Indigenous Nationhood at UVic and have published several scholarly papers.
In 2024, Lydia won a prestigious Vanier award for their PhD research in which they will be working with 2SLGBTQQIA+ Métis people to collect and share 2SLGBTQQIA+ Métis stories, art, and resources to contribute to the reclamation, revitalization, and resurgence of 2SLGBTQQIA+ Métis people, teachings, stories, language, community roles, and cultures of acceptance.
Lydia is also an artist and their main artforms include beadwork (@mihkostikwan.beads on Instagram), drag (@riel_deadly on Instagram), and music (Vanlene on soundcloud).
