Delegates from Alberta gather at Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak (Women of the Metis Nation) Policy Forum in Ottawa.--PHOTO BY LFMO
“When women gather, healing begins.”
– teaching of Elder Linda Boudreau Semaganis
For four days last week, Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak, Women of the Metis Nation, welcomed more than 200 women and two-spirit delegates for LFMO’s annual policy forum in Ottawa, the traditional unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin nation and homeland of the Metis.
Attendees shared hearty meals and deep conversations about family, community and policy development that is paving the way forward for all Metis people.
Otipemisiwak in the Plains Cree language means “the people who own themselves,” often used to describe the Metis people. LFMO advocates to enhance the social, cultural, economic, environmental and leadership space occupied by Metis women, and works to influence public policy and decision making related to the rights, priorities, concerns and aspirations of Metis women with Indigenous and Canadian governments. Reports produced by LFMO empower Indigenous agencies at the community level with data to pursue funding to build programming locally and across the country.
By day, conference participants heard from presenters and shared their feedback on wide-ranging topics: from mental health to midwifery, projects supporting domestic violence survivors, gender diversity and disability inclusion, to youth empowerment and climate change.
Parks Canada joined the forum to announce plans for six national urban park sites from coast to coast, with reconciliatory aims of fostering Indigenous stewardship, providing employment opportunities and respecting Indigenous knowledge of connection to land and waters in these spaces.
LFMO’s policy forum guests notably included Metis National Council president Cassidy Caron, who led a delegation to COP27 in Egypt earlier in November. In a statement following her attendance at the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, Caron wrote that “Real climate change solutions based on Indigenous knowledge, practices and time-tested sciences must be given the space, respect and trust to be fully implemented in order to adequately contribute to tackling the climate crisis.”
In a session on building an action plan based on UNDRIP, the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, LFMO president Melanie Omeniho affirmed the importance of protecting the rights of the entire community, especially Metis women, girls and gender-diverse people as integral to the survival, dignity and wellbeing of the Metis Nation.
Reflecting on the variety of session topics, “The crux of it was all the different policies that we can be change makers on and have a voice,” said Calgary-based Andrea Louise.
“I feel gratitude for all the amazing hard work these women are doing,” shared Saskatoon-based leadership coach and artist Rachelle Regnier-Brockman. “It’s time for me to step up and do more.”
Evenings over dinner were equally as engaging.
The first evening, attendees heard from keynote speaker Jean Telliet, a great-grandniece of Louis Riel, an Indigenous rights lawyer, teacher and speaker and author of The North-West is Our Mother & Metis Law in Canada. MC of the second night, Tai Amy Grauman of Edmonton, gave a moving performance of “Letters to Marie,” narrating letters she wrote to her great-great-great grandmother, envisioning a connection across generations. The third evening, participants beaded leather medicine bags.
A powerful moment came on the third day, when 30 women gathered outside in a circle to smudge, a ritual that uses the smoke of burning traditional medicines to cleanse the spirit. Someone asked if anyone could lead a song. This writer stepped forward to lead 60 rounds of the Strong Woman Song, an Anishinaabe hymn evoking courage and hope. Singing while smudging created a core memory I will hold dear all my life.
Each day, delegates were surprised with many valuable gifts. On the last morning, guests received the woven purple Metis sash unique to LFMO from the Elders, called grandmothers, who bestowed blessings and teachings to each person as the sash was draped over their shoulder and heart.
“It was incredibly spiritual for me and very inviting and welcoming and loving,” shared Regnier-Brockman of receiving her sash. “The grandmother said when we feel troubles to wrap ourselves in the sash and to pray. I’m feeling loved and grateful.”
“I’m blessed by the grandmothers and youth being honoured, especially the youth because they are our future,” reflected Cheryl Dodman, a delegate from Kelowna. “I feel so blessed by the whole event, the gifting, the caring, and culture. That’s the key.”
“My greatest takeaway was the new friends and aunties I’ve met, the kinship and friendship and meeting new women that I can contact when I need,” shared Grauman.
Andrea Louise agrees. “All the connections with all the women and meeting my cousins, that was awesome. Sharing our family history and where we’re from and our journeys.”
“This week has shown me how wonderfully Metis women support each other,” said attendee Deborah Koch, an end-of-life doula from Swift Current, Sask. “It’s such a necessary thing.”
The Miywasin Moment will take a break for the Holidays and return in 2023 with new human stories, legends, recipes and event coverage.
JoLynn Parenteau is a Metis writer out of Miywasin Friendship Centre. Column feedback can be sent to jolynn.parenteau@gmail.com
