The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) and the Métis National Council (MNC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today, solidifying their commitment to working together in partnership. This agreement marks an important step in addressing the health data and information priorities of the MNC and its Governing Members (GMs), ensuring Métis-led solutions for better health outcomes formalizing their shared commitment to journey together in relationship and collaborate to address the health data and information priorities of the MNC and its Governing Members.
CIHI and the MNC share a common interest in advancing one another’s mandates and organizational capacity through the sharing of best practices, knowledge, and strategic dialogue, information, and experiences through dialogues on a variety of strategic topics. This partnership will focus on providing MNC with custom data analyses, capacity building, and general expertise in health information, and product development to support advocacy and policy development. Through this work, we aim to improve the health and wellness of Métis citizens.
In 2020, CIHI signed its Declaration of Commitment to Advance Cultural Safety and Humility. This commitment reflects the high value CIHI places on cultural safety and humility and its intention to support First Nations-, Inuit-, and Métis-determined health data priorities.
"This collaboration with CIHI marks a pivotal moment in our journey toward self-determined healthcare systems. By integrating Métis principles of ownership, control, access, and stewardship in health data, we are advancing our National Data Strategy to ensure all Métis have access to accurate, culturally relevant health data. Strengthening our data governance and building capacity empowers Métis Governments to take charge of their healthcare systems, reflecting our Vision of Health where Métis citizens thrive, grounded in culture and self-determination." - Victoria Pruden, President, MNC.
“CIHI and the MNC have a common interest in improving the health and wellness of all Métis citizens. Our collaboration will center on the sharing of best practices, information, experiences, and expertise to support advocacy and policy development and expand organizational capacity. CIHI is grateful for the trust the MNC has placed in our organization and is committed to supporting MNC with their health data priorities.” - Dr. Anderson Chuck, President and CEO, CIHI.
About the Métis National Council
Since established in 1983, the MNC has been the national and international voice for the Métis Nation. Through the Canada-Métis Nation Accord, the MNC advocates on behalf of its Governing Members to advance Métis rights and interests within their respective jurisdictionsMetis Nation priorities at the national and international level, including in the areas of education, economic development, emergency management and health. The MNC is committed to accountability and transparency within its operations, and to its relationships with MNC Governing Members., including the implementation of the Métis Nation's inherent right to self-determination and self-government.
The MNC is a collaborative of Section 35 rights-bearing Métis governments that represents the Métis Nation nationally and internationally, reflecting and advancing shared goals.
MNC receives its mandate and direction from the MNC’s GMsGoverning Members (GMs), who are the democratically elected leadership of the Métis Nation. The role of the MNC is advocacy (e.g., federal budget submissions, Parliamentary Committees), convening, and research and policy coordination (e.g., technical committees).
The Métis Vision of Health is “Through Métis self-determined healthcare systems, all Métis are healthy, happy, resilient, grounded in their culture and language and thriving as individuals and as members of their Métis families and communities.”
One of the ways the MNC is doing this is through a National Data Strategy, which outlines a path to meeting the long-term data and capacity needs of its Governing Members. This strategy aims to strengthen Métis-led data governance, ensuring that Métis governments have the information and tools needed to support evidence-based decision-making and advocacy for their citizens to describe a path towards meeting the long-term data and capacity needs of GMs across the Métis Nation.
About Canadian Institute for Health Information
CIHI is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides essential information on health systems and the health of people in Canada.
We honour the traditional territories upon which our staff live and the original caretakers of these territories since time immemorial. We recognize that the abundance we enjoy today comesame at a cost. We are committed to reconciliation, nurturing trusting, longstanding relationships, and supporting First Nations-, Inuit- and Métis-determined health data priorities. This includes upholding principles of Indigenous data sovereignty and advancing cultural safety and humility in health systems, as we work together to co-create better data, and better health.