Mothers of the Métis Nation
Métis women have always held influential roles in the decision-making practices and structures that governed their societies. As the President of the national organization Women of the Métis Nation, Melanie Omeniho, explains, “Métis women have been equal partners in the development of Métis communities politically, socially and economically, and have always held the esteemed role of keepers of traditional knowledge.” After the defeat of Northwest Resistance, women were essential to maintain kinship ties needed to keep Métis communities alive.
Today, Métis women remain active members of the Métis Nation and occupy prominent roles in Métis politics. Métis women run the majority of local and community organizations and hold almost half of all elected executive positions in provincial Métis governments. Beyond the work of elected representatives, many Métis women contribute to their communities through volunteer work aimed at improving the well being of their communities. The work of Métis women at the community level ranges from helping to establish local Friendship Centres and arranging community events such as bingos and Christmas dinners to managing fundraisers and cultural events, such as Métis Days celebrations.
There are Métis women’s organizations in each of the five provinces that comprise the Métis Nation Homeland. these organizations have been integrated into provincial Métis governments, with each provincial Métis government working alongside a Métis women’s organization. Any Métis women who are members of a provincial Métis government are able to join the women’s group in their home province, participate in its events and annual meetings, and run for its executive leadership.
The heads of each provincial Métis women’s organization (or their designated representative) serve on the board of a national Métis women’s organization, the Women of the Métis Nation (Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak). This organization was established by the MNC Board of Governors in 2010 with the express purpose of enabling women to take an active role within Métis Nation governance. Women of the Métis Nation represents the collective voice of the women on the Métis National Council, and works alongside the national and provincial presidents on a variety of issues impacting Métis women and children in Canada. While not a Governing Member of the Métis National Council, the president of Women of the Métis Nation is widely consulted on virtually all matters affecting the Métis and routinely participates in MNC Board of Governors meetings, Métis rights panels and annual General Assemblies.