Summary

Margaret Froh begins her Keynote address by telling the story of the Metis people from the origins of ethnogenesis, through a long history of resistance eventually leading to the Constitution Act of 1982, which recognizes existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada.

In the second half of her talk, Froh shares some of the valuable findings cultivated through research partnerships between the Metis Nation of Ontario and several other organizations. This research, which aims to gain data specific to Metis populations, has determined a higher prevalance of certain medical conditions, unemployment and child poverty compared to non-aboriginal populations. When contemplating solutions, Froh asserts that cultural competency is essential and emphasizes the need for Metis citizens to be the driving force in the pursuit of change.