MNC:: Métis Youth

During the 1994 Métis National Council (MNC) Annual General Assembly, the MNC was mandated to create a Métis Youth Secretariat to address the needs, concerns and issues facing the youth of the Métis Nation. Subsequently, at the 1995 MNC Annual Assembly, Métis Youth representatives from each of the MNC's provincial Governing Member organizations (Métis Nation of British Columbia [MNBC], Métis Nation of Alberta [MNA], Métis Nation - Saskatchewan [MN-S], Manitoba Métis Federation [Manitoba], Métis Nation of Ontario [MNO]) were given the opportunity to voice their issues, concerns and explain the realities facing Métis youth today.

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9th Annual National Youth Conference
Saskatoon SK (March 11 2006) - This year the Métis National Youth Advisory Council held its 9th Annual National Youth Conference in the City of Saskatoon. The theme of this year’s conference was “Building Bridges through Cultural Awareness”. The Conference, which took place over a period of three days, truly captured its theme and delivered key messages to over 100 Metis youth who were in attendance from across the Metis Nation.

About the Métis National Youth Advisory Council (MNYAC)

Jennifer Brown
NMYAC spokesperson

During the 1994 Métis National Council (MNC) Annual General Assembly, the MNC was mandated to create a Métis Youth Secretariat to address the needs, concerns and issues facing the youth of the Métis Nation. Subsequently, at the 1995 MNC Annual Assembly, Métis Youth representatives from each of the MNC's provincial Governing Member organizations (Métis Provincial Council of British Columbia [MPCBC], Métis Nation of Alberta [MNA], Métis Nation - Saskatchewan [MN-S], Manitoba Métis Federation [Manitoba], Métis Nation of Ontario [MNO]) were given the opportunity to voice their issues, concerns and explain the realities facing Métis youth today.

This forum was the impetus for the formalization of the Métis National Youth Advisory Council (MNYAC). At this meeting, youth drafted the principles and vision statement for the MNC's Youth Secretariat and began the process of creating the MNYAC. After a year of working on the development of the MNYAC, the 1996 MNC Annual General Assembly ratified its "Guiding Principles and Policies", solidifying the Métis Nation's youth movement within the MNC.

This recognition was a monumental step for the Métis Nation and Métis youth from across the Homeland. A sustainable youth initiative within the MNC was realized. This has motivated youth to actively participate in the Métis Nation at all levels. Major strides have been made though youth-driven programming of local youth councils and has created a higher awareness of youth issues within the Métis Nation.

MNYAC Structure:

The Council consists of two representatives from each of the MNC Governing Members. The MNYAC Executive, which includes a Chair, Co-Chair, and Secretary-Treasurer, is elected every year by the MNYAC from among its ranks. The MNYAC works closely with its National Secretariat (Director of Youth Initiatives and Youth Projects Assistant) and is mentored by the MNC Board of Governors. The MNYAC is governed by its "Guiding Principles and Policies", which further detail the mandate, structure and composition of the MNYAC.

MNYAC Goals:

To provide Métis youth with an opportunity to meet as national representatives to discuss Métis youth issues and solutions, to develop work plans and put in place strategies for addressing these issues;
To ensure a national voice for Métis youth from across the Métis Homeland is heard;
To act as the national representative body of Métis youth across the Homeland to the federal government, and other agencies and organizations;
To lobby for Métis youth programming from the federal government for Métis youth projects national in scope;
To promote and advocate for culturally-relevant programming for Métis youth.

MNYAC Statement of Purpose (Adopted February 15, 1997)

WHEREAS the Métis National Youth Advisory Council looks toward the empowerment of youth from across the Homeland;
AND WHEREAS the Métis National Youth Advisory Council looks to promote and achieve active youth participation in the future of our great Métis Nation;
AND WHEREAS THE Métis National Youth Advisory Council looks to working within the MNC and its provincial members for the benefit of the Métis Nation as a whole;

WE THEREFORE DECLARE the Métis National Youth Advisory Council to pursue the following:

To establish a democratic, mandated and self-sufficient Métis Youth Secretariat to promote the interest and aspirations of all Métis youth within the MNC;
To encourage the full participation of all Métis youth in the Métis Nation;
To promote and foster "grassroots" Métis youth initiatives across the Métis Homeland;
To advocate for the issues, concerns and problems facing youth within the Métis Nation;
To advocate for Métis youth input, insight and participation to ensure successful youth programming across the Nation;
To promote closer relations and emotional support structures between Métis youth across the Homeland;
To establish effective means of communication for Métis youth across the Nation;
To advocate for the educational and training needs of Métis youth in order for Métis youth to achieve their educational aspirations;
To promote the history, values, culture, languages and traditions of the Métis Nation and to create awareness within Métis youth of our proud heritage;
To promote Métis youth artistic and cultural achievements;
To promote spiritual, cultural, mental and physical wellness for Métis youth;
To work with the MNC of Canada and its provincial members for representation of the interests of Métis youth at the community, regional, provincial, national and international levels;
To promote and advocate for stronger connections and relations between Métis youth and Métis Elders for the benefit and education of youth; and,
To ensure Métis youth play a role in the continuation of our strong Métis Nation.

MNYAC MEMBERS

Métis Provincial Council of British Columbia: Tresley Tourond; vacant
Métis Nation of Alberta: Kim Mueller; Derek Bouvier
Métis Nation - Saskatchewan: Jennifer Brown; vacant
Manitoba Métis Federation: Conor Lloyd; Josh Mazurat
Métis Nation of Ontario: Chantel Kondracki; Marc Nuemann

MNYAC EXECUTIVE (last elected March 9, 2005)

Chair: Jennifer Brown
Co-Chair: Tresley Tourond
Secretary/Treasurer: Conor Lloyd

UMAYCI

The MNYAC has been primarily sponsored through the MNC's Urban Multi-Purpose Aboriginal Youth Centres Initiative (UMAYCI) agreement with Patrimione Canadian Heritage (PCH). PCH's UMAYCI began as a five-year, $100 million federal government investment in Aboriginal children and youth to empower them for the new millennium. The initiative has been extended another two years from 2003-2005.

In the preliminary year of the UMAYCI (1998-99) the MNYAC with the MNC and Governing Members undertook consultations with Métis youth across the Homeland to garner their input on the design and development of the MNC's UMAYCI. Based on the results of these consultations the MNYAC developed its five-year agenda, which included a National Métis Youth Conference, National Métis Youth Role Model Program, National Métis Youth Gazette and metisyouth.com website. Since the inception of these projects, the MNYAC has benefited thousands of Métis youth as they have rotated their involvement with these projects; the MNYAC has developed new networks for our community, and broadened its skill-base through participating in the management of these projects.

Other MNYAC Achievements:

The MNYAC has impacted the grassroots communities by playing an active role in development of provincial Métis youth councils in their home provinces, which compliment the mandate of the MNYAC. These provincial Métis youth councils often produce the leadership of future MNYAC representation.

Each of the Governing Members is delivering UMAYCI programs and services that meet the unique needs of Métis youth within their respective provinces that the MNYAC members become involved with whenever possible.

As the interests and capabilities of the MNYAC reps has grown, and to meet the requests of stakeholders for Métis youth's increased involvement, the MNYAC has assumed additional Areas of Accountability for sectors generally aligned with the MNC's Cabinet's Ministries. The Areas of Accountability with the respective MNYAC reps include:

AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Conference: Josh, Connor, Jen, Tresley
Role Model: Kim, Tresley, Jen, Josh
Communications: Jen (Gazette), Josh (website), Tresley
Culture & Heritage: Jen
Environment: Marc, Jen
Economic Development: Connor
Health: Connor, Tresley
Justice & Rights: Chantel
Life Long Learning: Josh (K-12), Kim (Adult)
Housing: Derek, Josh
Métis Youth Affairs: Jen (FPTA, MNYAC Agenda, Achieving Results), Kim (FPTA)
Sports & Recreation: Derek

*Italics denotes alternate reps

Reflecting the MNYAC's involvement with these Areas of Accountability on the national level, our members have achieved successes on behalf of Métis youth in the following initiatives:

Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable
Canadian Heritage Aboriginal Peoples Programs Renewal & Implementation Consultation
Elections Canada Aboriginal Youth Strategy
Minister of the Environment's National Youth Roundtable
HIV/AIDS Talking Circles throughout the provinces;
Administering international internships in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and the Canadian International Development Agency;
National Aboriginal Youth Strategy through the F-P-T-A process
Canadian Heritage - UMAYCI Communications Working Group
Saskatchewan Provincial Tripartite Management Committee
Alberta Provincial Métis Justice Committee

AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: GOALS & OBJECTIVES
On November 6, 2004, the MNYAC established Goals & Objectives for 2004-05 within its Areas of Accountability so to ensure the council's activities compliment its Guiding Principles, the MNC Board of Governors' direction, and other current issues facing our Métis Youth. New Goals & Objectives will be established for 2005-06.

Over-Arching

These goals & objectives are considered in each of the Areas of Accountability below.

Goals:

Engage in positive, Métis-specific initiatives and policies affecting Métis youth.
Ensure Métis youth are aware of opportunities and issues in each sector.

Objectives:

Each AofA holder will participate in at least two committees or initiatives of that sector.
Each AofA will have at least one article submitted per Gazette issue, and update corresponding information on metisyouth.com at least once per quarter.
Métis National Youth Role Models will be promoted throughout the AofA that corresponds with their award category.

National Métis Youth Role Model Awards

Goal:

Promote greater awareness of the award recipients, and the benefits of the initiative.

Objective:

Measure awareness of program by number of nominations received - solicit to receive 50 role model nominations for 2005.

Communications - Métis Youth Gazette & Metisyouth.com

Goals:

Create awareness of Métis youth issues and resources with informative tools for Métis youth and stakeholders (educators, health services; Métis community).
Expand the audience of the MNYAC communication tools.

Objectives:

Produce two Métis Youth Gazettes for 2004-05 and ensure Metisyouth.com is redesigned and continually updated.
Create MNYAC communications plan that incorporates key messages for MNYAC projects, increasing submissions from the community, a mail-out strategy, advertising campaign, etc and includes timelines.

Health

Goals:

Promote healthy living.
Create awareness of the importance of maintaining high volumes of careers in the medical/health field

Objectives:

To promote awareness on health issues by creating tools in plain language for Métis youth.
Develop a database of free clinics and other low-cost resources across the Homeland.
Have various areas of the Health Sector actively participate in our Health conference
Culture & Heritage

Goal:

Promote opportunities for Métis youth to participate in activities that celebrate Métis culture & heritage.

Objective:

Create a Calendar of Métis Events to be updated on Metisyouth.com.

Environment

Goals:

Create awareness of recognized hunting rights and the effect on endangered species.
Promote renewable resources.

Objectives:

Educate the Nuclear Waste Management Organization on the concerns of Métis youth.
Promote the Species at Risk Act.
Develop database of youth environment non-governmental organizations.

Economic Development

Goals:

Recognize Métis youth entrepreneurs.
Promote opportunities to Métis youth to participate in economic and community development.

Objectives:

Develop database of Métis youth entrepreneurs and business resources (funding, mentors, associations).
§ Organize information on processes, tools, and resources for economic-community development.

Justice & Rights

Goal:

Promote awareness of Métis rights.

Objective:

Develop resources pertaining to Métis rights, especially with post-Powley harvesting rights.

Life Long Learning

Goals:

Enable Métis youth to participate in culturally appropriate life long learning.
Ensure a Métis youth perspective on educational needs.

Objectives:

Participate in federal roundtables for K-12 and Adult Learning.
Develop a resource & guide manual for teachers to teach Métis children and youth.
Compile educational resources, such as: Métis institutions and programs; financial resources; other educational tools to aid learning and other personal factors.

Métis Affairs (F-P-T-A, National Métis Youth Agenda, Achieving Results)

Goals:

Ensure Métis Youth initiatives evolving from the F-P-T-A process are benefiting the specific needs of Métis Youth.
Ensure Métis Youth's needs are considered when collaborating with federal government on planning, measuring and reporting on results achieved with federal programming.
Ensure a new five year National Métis youth Agenda reflects the needs and interests of Métis youth across the Homeland.

Objectives:

Redesign the Cultural-Economic-Political-Social (CEPS) leadership development model to be Métis-specific.
Hold Community Consultations with at least four Métis youth sites in each province, and within each governing member, to obtain direction on next 5 year agenda.
Participate in the federal roundtable on Achieving Results.

Housing

Goal:

Empower Métis people to improve the living conditions of their homes though awareness of positive options and rights.

Objectives:

Develop a database of Métis housing associations and other low income housing.
Promote awareness of the health concerns resulting from poor living conditions.
Ensure Métis youth are aware of resources to find out their tenant rights.

Sports & Recreation

Goals:

Promote healthy living through active lifestyles.
Promote pride in Métis heritage through revitalizing our traditional games and activities.
Create awareness of sporting events, and encourage Métis participation.

Objectives:

Develop a database of low income sporting resources.
Initiate and promote Métis sporting teams, and act as liaison with indigenous sporting associations such as North American Indigenous Games and the Aboriginal Sports Circle.