President's Message
As fall settles and the days grow colder,
Remembrance Day + Aboriginal Veterans Day
This month, we also mark November 16, Riel Day, honouring Louis Riel, who was the founder of Manitoba, a father of the Métis Nation and a champion of Métis rights and people.
We look forward to LFMO’s 4th Annual Métis Women’s Policy Forum in Ottawa, Ontario. We will bring together over 200 Métis women and gender diverse folks from across the Motherland to discuss issues near and dear to their heart.
Sincerely,
Melanie Omeniho
President
Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak
LFMO's Presence at COP27
The 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference, otherwise known as COP27, was very exciting for the Métis Nation this year. As part of the Métis National Council’s first delegation, LFMO had the opportunity to travel to Egypt to listen, learn and share for the first time with Indigenous Peoples from across the globe on Climate Change.
Indigenous peoples’ connection with the land is eternal and inherent, and women’s roles as caretakers unite us with our sisters internationally. We are honoured to share this space, and will continue to boost up the voices of our women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ friends in the fight against climate change.
Evening Chats with Métis Breast Cancer Survivors
On October 20th and 27th, 2022, LFMO held two sessions with Métis breast cancer survivors, Margaret Froh, President of the Métis Nation of Ontario and Suzanne Jackson and President of the Métis Nation of Ontario Women’s Council.
Meeting between Ministers and National Indigenous Leaders
Following the meeting between Senior Officials in May of this year in Halifax, on November 7 in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, LFMO once again took part in the Annual Meeting of Federal-Provincial-Territorial and National Indigenous Leaders and Representatives. Agenda items including actions and next steps to prevent and address violence against Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people, Indigenous women’s leadership as well as COVID-19 recovery and economic security.
LFMO would like to sincerely thank the host province, Nova Scotia, for their hospitality and kindness during both meetings.
Grandmother's Wisdom Toolkit
Have you or has someone you know been impacted by the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls? LFMO’s Grandmother’s Wisdom Toolkit, created by our Grandmothers Wisdom Circle, was developed to support families and survivors of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Folks, their well-being, to strengthen their Métis identity and to remind them of their worth and resilience.
At a ceremony late this summer, LFMO gifted 70 of the Grandmothers Wisdom Toolkits to families and survivors.
Please reach out to LFMO if your family or a Métis family you know is in need of our Grandmothers Wisdom Toolkit.
Project Updates
New Project Alert! Métis Two Spirit Pride
This fall, LFMO began a project to create more spaces for our Métis 2SLGBTQQIA+ friends across the Motherland. As part of this work, LFMO will establish a National Métis 2SLGBTQQIA+ Committee, who will host a national gathering and later develop a National Métis 2SLGBTQQIA+ Action Plan.
LFMO looks forward to this work, having built a strong network of folks from our ongoing Show Your Pride network meetings and after taking part in the first ever Métis Two Spirit Gathering, hosted by the Métis Nation of British Columbia in August of this year.
Closing the Gaps - Métis Women's Housing Experiences
LFMO just wrapped up a groundbreaking project, funded through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, called Closing the Gaps. After conducting an literature review of available data about Métis women’s housing experiences as well as launching a survey and conducting interviews, LFMO completed its Final Report, called My Ancestors Would Be Proud of Us.
Reach for the Sky
The Reach team has been busy preparing for our second cohort coming January 2023! We have been booking venues, hotels and transportation in preparation for our in-person cultural training. The team is also working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Saskatchewan Polytechnic for this and future cohorts. Participants will still be taking the University of Alberta Metis Women’s Leadership course, and as well as a new and exciting Indigenous Leadership Skills Applied Certificate Program!
The next round of interviews starts this month, and we have 18 interviews scheduled; if all goes well we will have 31 possible Reach participants!