Addressing systemic discrimination and overrepresentation of Métis people in the justice system

On January 12, 2023, the Government of Canada announced $1.5 million over three years in total funding to support Métis-led engagement to inform the development of an Indigenous Justice Strategy to address systemic discrimination and the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system.

Budget 2021 provided $11 million over three years in funding to support engagement with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and organizations on the development of legislation and initiatives that address systemic barriers in the justice system, including collaboration on an Indigenous Justice Strategy. Funding to support Métis-led engagement on the Indigenous Justice Strategy is part of this investment.

Métis National Council

The Métis National Council (MNC) is the national representative organization for Métis peoples in Canada, It will collaborate with the Government of Canada, national Indigenous partners, and provinces and territories on the development and finalization of the Indigenous Justice Strategy. Through this work, MNC will ensure that the Métis Nation’s perspectives and priorities are reflected in the Indigenous Justice Strategy, in collaboration and coordination with Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak and MNC Governing Members.

The MNC will lead a series of engagement sessions with Indigenous justice organizations, experts and service providers. This will enable the MNC to benefit from the knowledge and experience of established organizations.

MNC will set up an Indigenous Justice Strategy Coordinating Committee. The Committee will organize regular meetings with Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak and MNC Governing Members to discuss progress and challenges associated with the development of the Indigenous Justice Strategy and receive updates from organizations on their engagement activities.

They will also plan, host and facilitate a Métis National Symposium on Criminal Justice to create and discuss effective and responsive Métis-specific approaches to criminal justice policy. The Symposium will include participation from subject matter experts, academics, representatives from MNC, MNC Governing Members, Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak, Elders, youth, and others to solicit information and generate discussions that provide a full picture of Métis experiences and challenges within Canada’s criminal justice system.

Finally, the MNC will highlight, through various online tools (website, social media, news releases, statements) the distinct needs, experiences and priorities of the Métis Nation’s citizens in the criminal justice context, the participation of the Métis Nation in the development of the Indigenous Justice Strategy and the Indigenous Justice Strategy itself.

Métis Nation of Ontario, Métis Nation of Alberta, Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, and Métis Nation of British Columbia

The Métis Nation of Ontario, the Métis Nation of Alberta, the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, and the Métis Nation of British Columbia will conduct engagement with their citizens to get their perspectives and priorities concerning the criminal justice system. With this engagement, each organization will ensure that measures proposed for the Indigenous Justice Strategy reflect the specific considerations and priorities of the Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia Métis.

Each group will also engage with their respective provincial government on justice matters specific to provincial jurisdiction. This will enable more effective local implementation of justice measures to address systemic discrimination and the overrepresentation of Métis peoples in the criminal justice system in each province.

The organizations will highlight, through various online tools (website, social media, news releases, statements) the distinct needs, experiences and priorities of their citizens in the criminal justice context, the participation of the Métis Nation in the development of the Indigenous Justice Strategy and the Indigenous Justice Strategy itself.

The four organizations will also participate in regular meetings with MNC’s Indigenous Justice Strategy Coordinating Committee, to ensure the perspectives of Métis peoples in their province are considered in the development of the Indigenous Justice Strategy.

Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak

Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak (LFMO) will conduct consultations with women and gender-diverse Métis people to gather their perspectives on the Indigenous Justice Strategy from a Métis-first, gendered, intersectional lens and on the needs and perspectives across the Métis Nation in criminal justice.

Their activities will include:

• the development of online resources to highlight LFMO’s perspectives and priorities, engagement activities, updates on the development of the Indigenous Justice Strategy and information regarding criminal justice issues
• the hosting of in-person and virtual engagement sessions with Métis women and gender-diverse people
• the development of a report highlighting the perspectives and priorities resulting from the engagement sessions

LFMO will also participate in regular meetings with MNC’s Indigenous Justice Strategy Coordinating Committee, to ensure the perspectives of Métis women and gender-diverse people are considered in the development of the Indigenous Justice Strategy.