ATHABASCA – The Otipemisiwak Métis Government (OMG) is a year into its first term of existence, but that doesn’t mean it’s running with a full team of representatives just yet.
This fall, Métis Albertans in Athabasca Landing and Wabasca will each have the opportunity to elect two district councillors each, to help with the day-to-day running of things within each district.
“It’s been a transition period for us at first. The first while, everything was about getting acquainted with (what) the roles and responsibilities for each person are,” said Joseph Tremblay, Athabasca Landing’s Citizen Representative to OMG.
“We’ve been working hard to build structure in our new government. Our departments have developed materials to help educate provincial and federal workers, so we’re educating people.”
Registered citizens can vote in-person — exact dates and polling locations are yet to be confirmed as of Sept. 20 — by mail-in ballot, or electronically. The voting period runs from Oct. 29 to Nov. 5.
What is Otipemisiwak?
Otipemisiwak is a Plains Cree word meaning “the people who own themselves." OMG officially ratified its constitution in November 2022, at which point it took over as the official government of the Métis Nation of Alberta.
Despite its role, Métis Albertan’s are not automatically constituents — all Métis in the province have the constitutional right to join, but still need to register to vote.
So far, OMG has announced the Healing Waters Recovery Community, a Métis led addictions recovery centre that will be operating out of Métis Crossing, near Smoky Lake. The government also put forward a petition to the feds to reform the Parole Board of Canada to include Métis voices after Roger Bilodeau, an Albertan farmer who was convicted of killing two Métis hunters, was granted day parole earlier this year.
“We, as Métis people, are the forgotten people,” said Tremblay. “First Nations, they had their treaty agreements, they had a land base, they were recognized. We were like drifters — we weren’t recognized.”
OMG’s overall goal is a self-governance agreement with the federal government, which would allow the Nation to set its own laws and policies and have a broader range of decision-making authorities for their community.
“We’re working towards the point where we have a modern-day treaty with the government, government to government,” said Tremblay.
While eight Métis settlements exist in Alberta — Buffalo Lake, where Tremblay resides, is the closest to Athabasca — OMG is envisioning a different approach. The settlements are their own municipalities, but OMG is going for a more person-centric approach.
“When you deal with people, as an individual, you’re weaker, right? If you’re dealing as a group, you’re a lot stronger,” said Tremblay.
