Health

The Métis National Council is committed to advancing health equity and supporting the health and wellbeing of Métis people and communities by upholding Métis self-determination in health systems and promoting culture as a protective factor for health. The Health Department actively promotes a holistic, strengths-based and culturally grounded approach that integrates Métis worldviews, culture, and knowledge systems within the department’s activities. This intentional approach honours the Métis-specific definition of health, which recognizes that health is holistic and deeply influenced and shaped by larger social structures and determinants of health, including, but not limited to, family and kinship ties, community, culture, and relationship to the land.

The Health Department continuously works in collaboration with federal departments, non-governmental partners, and the Governing Members (GMs) to identify pathways towards health equity, develop collaborative strategies, and establish new partnerships to advance Métis health priorities. MNC’s Health Department works to advocate for the self-determination of Métis health through Métis-led and designed programs, services and initiatives, multi-sectoral partnerships, sustainable investments, and policy change, which contribute to a more holistic and culturally safe health system for Métis people across the Homeland. 

The Canada-Métis Nation Accord provides a distinctions-based, nation-to-nation mechanism to advance Métis health priorities through Métis governments and asserts the jurisdictions and governance of the GMs. The MNC Health Department centres its strategic priorities around the Métis Vision for Health, including the Métis social determinants of health, ensuring that these priorities are recognized, actively addressed and discussed regionally and nationally. 

The Métis Nation Technical Health Committee (MN-THC) serves as an advisory and technical body to inform the MNC Health Department and leadership. The MN-THC is dedicated to advocating for the Métis social determinants of health, GMs’ program and service continuity requirements, and research needs of the Métis Nation. The Committee advances the health and wellness priorities of the Métis Nation and supports the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of strategies. 

The MN-THC advises on: 

• Health and wellbeing needs and priorities of the Métis Nation; 

• Meaningful participation in the co-development process of the Federal Government of Canada’s health policies and programs that pertains to the Métis Nation; 

• Opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes of Métis people;  

• Opportunities to build national collaborations and partnerships; and 

• The design, development, implementation and evaluation of Métis health and wellbeing strategies and initiatives. 

Do you want to share your story?

The Métis National Council (MNC) advocates on behalf of the Métis Nation both nationally and internationally, advancing issues of collective importance to the Métis Nation, its Governing Members, and Métis citizens. Part of this mandate involves promoting and advancing the health interests of Métis according to a distinctions-based approach that recognizes the unique values and culture of our people. 

If you would like to participate in this important work, please fill out the form in the link below (your story will remain anonymous).

Stories of Mental Wellness Across the Nation

Your story will help ensure Métis stories of mental wellness are told by Métis People, and we are honoured to have you share your story with us.