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Metis National Council signs agreement with Northwest Territory Metis Nation

  • Alessia Passafiume

  • Canadian Press

  • March 12, 2026

Metis National Council president Victoria Pruden, left, Canadian poet Gregory Scofield, centre, and Audain Indigenous Curatorial scholar-in-residence Sherry Farrell Racette unveil a model Metis Dog Sled following its repatriation from the Vatican collection at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

OTTAWA -- The Metis National Council has signed an agreement with the Northwest Territory Metis Nation it says will increase collaboration between the two groups to advance Metis interests at the federal level.

If the partnership is successful, the Northwest Territory Metis Nation could join the Metis National Council on a permanent basis.

The agreement comes after years of turmoil inside the Metis National Council and the departure of three provincial Metis governments which cut ties with the national body.

Metis governments in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba left the Metis National Council, saying it wasn't advancing their causes and that it was allowing for a lax definition of Metis identity.

Metis National Council president Victoria Pruden says the agreement reflects a shared commitment to strengthening partnerships among Metis governments and advancing their rights in Ottawa.

Northwest Territory Metis Nation president Garry Bailey says the partnership will provide a louder voice to advocate for better programs and services for his community.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2026.