Métis Nation within Alberta

In 1928, Alberta Métis began organizing to advance Métis self-determination and self-government in the province, leading to the creation of the Métis Nation of Alberta. In November 2022, Métis Citizens overwhelmingly ratified a constitution to establish the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. In September 2023, the first election under the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Constitution was held. The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is now the government of the Métis Nation within Alberta and is recognized as such by the Government of Canada through a self-government agreement signed between the parties in 2023. Currently, there are over 70,000 Métis Albertans registered as Citizens of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. As per the National Definition of Métis, ‘Métis means a person who self-identifies as a Métis, is distinct from other aboriginal peoples, is of historic Métis Nation ancestry, and is accepted by the Métis Nation.’ Historic Métis Nation ‘means the Aboriginal people then known as Métis or half-breeds who resided in the Historic Métis Nation Homeland.’ Métis Nation ‘means the Aboriginal people descended from the Historic Métis Nation, which now comprised of all Métis Nation peoples and is one of the “aboriginal peoples of Canada” as defined in s.35 of the Constitution Act 1982.’