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The past few weeks have marked important milestones for our government and for Métis in Alberta.
On April 14, we celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Daniels Decision. For generations, Métis people were caught in a jurisdictional gap, with neither the federal nor provincial governments accepting responsibility for Métis legislation.
This left many Métis without access to programs and services. The Daniels ruling helped change that, affirming federal responsibility and creating momentum for the progress we see today. However, a decade later, more work is needed to fully realize that decision, including closing service gaps and ensuring that recognition is reflected in tangible outcomes for Métis people.
The momentum from the Daniels Case led directly to agreements like the Canada–Métis Nation Accord, signed on April 13, 2017, which established a permanent, Nation-to-Nation process to advance Métis priorities.
These anniversaries remind us that progress is driven by generations of Métis leadership, and that we must keep fighting to make space for Métis voices.
That same spirit of perseverance was reflected on April 17 during a celebration of our longstanding partnership with the Métis Education Foundation, Rupertsland Institute, and the University of Alberta, to advance Métis education and to create opportunity for Métis learners.
The event also celebrated the installation In My Grandmother’s Time by Christi Belcourt, the first large-scale art installation by a Métis artist at the University of Alberta.
Together, these moments reflect how far we have come, and the work we still have to do.
President Andrea Sandmaier,
Otipemisiwak Métis Government
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