Mtis National Council

1
Métis National Council

• National Connecting Aboriginal Canadians Forum
• March 11-13, 2002
• Ottawa, ON

2
Who are the Métis?

• Métis are a nation of people
• One of the three Aboriginal peoples in Canada, as
  defined Section 35(2) in the Constitution Act,
  1982
• Métis have their own culture, history, language
  and heritage

3
Where do Métis live??

• Métis live in the historic Métis Homeland (which
  stretches from the province of Ontario through to
  British Columbia, including part of the NWT and
  extending into North Dakota and Montana)
• Métis live in remote Métis only communities, as
  well as urban and rural centres
• Métis people living in Western Canada comprise of
  over 85 of those identified as Métis in the 1996
  Census

4
What is the Métis National Council (MNC)?

• The MNC is made up of five provincial governing
  members MNO, MMF, MNS, MNA, MPCBC and is the
  national and international representative of the
  historic Métis people
• In addition to the five governing members there
  are two Secretariats Métis National Youth
  Advisory Council and the Métis Women's
  Secretariat which are ex-officio members of the
  MNC
• Métis people are organized at the local,
  community and regional levels in over 400
  communities

5
What is the Role of the MNC?

• The Métis National Council is the national
  representative of the Métis Nation in Canada.
• The Métis National Council was established in
  1983, following recognition of the Métis as a
  distinct people with Aboriginal rights in the
  Constitution Act, 1982.
• The MNC has been recognized as the voice of the
  Métis Nation in constitutional negotiations at
  the national level, and acts as an advocate and
  negotiator for the Métis people with the
  Government of Canada and at national conferences
  and fora. It also represents the interests of the
  Métis people on the international stage.

6
Connectivity.what does the MNC have?

• The MNC has a website, www.metisnation.ca that
  receives about 2500 hits per week averaging 14
  minutes each, since the conception of the website
  the site has received 81,734 VISITS, and
  2,331,440 HITS
• The MNC recognizes that the website is an
  enormous vehicle to unite and inform the Métis
  Nation, Canadian Public and the rest of the world
• Of the governing member ON, MB, SK, and BC have
  websites their links can be found on the front
  page of the MNC website

7
Connectivity.MNC Best Practices

• The MNC is featuring two best practices at this
  forum
• These two initiatives are being undertaken by
  the
• Manitoba Métis Federation
• Métis Nation of Ontario

8
Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO)

• The MNO realizes the importance of connecting
  communities to ensure a free flow of information
  across the province of Ontario
• Some of the steps MNO has taken to ensure this
  information flow are
• MNO Website www.metisnation.org
• MNO Métis Voyageur bimonthly newspaper

9
MNO Challenges

• Maintenance of the website
• in order to be accurate and timely it is critical
  to have the website monitored daily
• Although the MNO has a staff member responsible
  for communications, website maintenance is a full
  time responsibility

10
Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF)

• Early in 2000, the MMF IT department was asked to
  put together a plan to create a computer network
  that would connect all Regional Offices (7) with
  the Head Office
• This was decided due to the rapid growth of MMF
  and a need was seen to have better, fast, and
  more secure communications throughout the province

11
MMFs Starting Point

• MMF sought proposals from well established
  telecom companies that had a significant presence
  in rural Manitoba and that would be able to
  address the long term goals of Connectivity for
  the MMF
• Six proposals were received and reviewed with
  different providers from this a plan was
  submitted to MMF management

12
MMFs Plan

• The plan presented to management included the
  following
• Connection of the seven regional offices
• Creating an intranet
• Set the ground for the upcoming extranet
• to cut costs the plan includes using wireless
  connections in urban areas where possible, and
  frame relay technology in remote areas

13
MMFs Project
14
Are we connected??

• One major point, just because MNC has a website
  does NOT mean that we are connected, we do
  however have a vehicle for information sharing

15
What do we need?

• Resources for numerous things some of the main
  items being
• Research existing infrastructure and capabilities
• Identify the potential connectivity opportunities
  for Métis people/communities
• Undertake a connectivity needs assessment across
  the homeland through consultations
• To identify gaps and develop a long term
  implementation plan including strategies to train
  Métis people in the area of technology

16
With the proper support where does the MNC see
connectivity benefiting them?

• As Métis people live in Remote, Rural and Urban
  settings, connectivity can help to ensure that
  programs and services are being delivered to ALL
  Métis people, regardless of location
• The following slides are a few areas that were
  identified when speaking of connectivity and the
  benefits to Métis people

17
Health

• Inadequate Health Services is a major concern of
  the Métis
• Here are just two examples of many that could
  assist in the delivery of Health Services to
  Métis people
• E-health
• Métis Health Portal

18
Business

• There are Métis businesses all over Canada
  Métis have goods to sell and services to offer
  connectivity could help in the areas of
• E-commerce - would benefit Métis businesses, as
  this would be a vehicle to promote their business
• Videoconferencing and discussions on how to start
  a business and issues around running a business

19
Justice

• If a forum were available to discuss issues
  relating to Justice of Métis people this would be
  a great vehicle to know the needs of our people
• Could address the issues of how to introduce a
  convict back to a community what the community
  would be willing to do, what the convicts needs
  are

20
Culture and Language

• Métis Culture and Language is being lost
• With the help of connectivity e-learning could
  possibly help to revive the Michif Language as
  well as teach people the Métis history from a
  Métis persons point of view, have on-line
  jigging forums to teach people the Métis Dance
• The opportunities are endless

21
Environment

• The Métis are Aboriginal and are of this land,
  this environment
• Connectivity would provide great potential to
  educate the Métis Nation as to what is going on
  in respect to issues regarding environment on a
  National and International level. i.e.
• Monitor Federal Environmental Policy and
  Legislation
• Share MNC Initiatives and Presentations
• Opportunities to have Video Conferencing across
  the Homeland

22
International

• The MNC is very active on the international stage
• In this information age the implications of
  fostering relations and sharing information with
  other Indigenous Peoples throughout the world is
  tremendous
• From this there is also a great opportunity for
  international trade

23
National Métis Women's Secretariat

• Connectivity would benefit the Women of the Métis
  Nation, by having the resources to
• share information
• have video-conferences

24
Youth

• The youth are our future leaders
• Connectivity can help Metis youth in every area,
  some being
• Learning/Education
• Health
• Environment
• Information sharing

25
What can Connectivity Mean?

• The potential implications of communications/conne
  ctivity is HUGE and the Métis can not afford to
  miss out on this opportunity
• If Métis people and Métis communities are
  included in broadband solutions, we will use it
  to its fullest potential
• We need the infrastructure, training and capacity
  to fully utilize the potential of connectivity
• It is our hope that the Métis Nation will be
  included in the Government of Canadas goal to
  Connect Canadians