This Place on Record

09/07/2025

At my first Métis Nation Legislative Assembly, I was threatened with removal over a case of mistaken identity. Friends were turned away and threatened with police involvement... not for what they did inside the assembly, but for their criticisms of the government online. Young members and even an Elder faced open disrespect on the floor.

This is bigger than one experience. It speaks to how citizens are being treated, and what that means for the future of our Nation. Being an engaged citizen matters. Watch the MNLAs and PMCs. Talk to your Regional Reps and Local Presidents.

We need to think about we’re putting on record. Pay attention to what is being built in our name because the generations coming after us will inherit it.

07/21/2025

We’ve got a couple more posts coming in our Métis mini-series — here’s the latest update.

Grassroots citizens, many from Prince Albert, organized a peaceful demonstration outside the gates of Batoche before and during the Opening Ceremonies. According to organizers, this act of advocacy — exercising their protected democratic rights to assembly and expression — was meant to raise awareness of human rights violations against Métis citizens, MN–S staff, and breaches of the Métis Constitution.

During the ceremonies, the MN–S President was recorded saying the demonstrators “don’t want to work with me.” But according to those demonstrating, no efforts have been made by MN–S leadership to even open discussions. One staff member, fired after attending a press conference on her own vacation time, shared that her repeated requests for mediation or dialogue have been ignored at every level. She also revealed a message from her Regional Representative saying HR policy “takes precedence” over her constitutional rights.

It’s worth remembering: just a month ago the President was recorded telling people to *isolate* anyone who speaks up or stands up. That doesn’t sound like an invitation to work together — it sounds like a threat. And it’s a threat that’s been carried out through punitive actions against elected representatives, retaliation against staff, and intimidation of citizens.

On the final day of Batoche, the President allegedly stood in the graveyard where our ancestors are buried and used the moment to shame Métis citizens for demonstrating — claiming it disrespected those who fought for our rights. Many who were there found it inappropriate to weaponize the memory of those ancestors against citizens exercising the very rights they fought to protect. One has to wonder: who would our ancestors really be ashamed of?

Stay tuned for the next in the series: a deeper dive into the firing of Madison Marwood, the government’s response — and what you can do about it.

The struggle for the full realization of Métis rights didn’t die with Riel. We’re here to keep it on record.

07/15/2025

Glen McCallum once said, “Don’t get discouraged… isolate them!” But who is “them”? He wasn’t just encouraging the isolation of two elected representatives—he was encouraging the isolation of every Métis citizen who voted for them.

In Western Region 2, 801 people voted for the elected representative. In Western Region 3, it was 313 people. That’s 1,114 Métis citizens now being dismissed, along with their democratic choices.

Métis people—is this the kind of leadership we deserve?

“ISOLATE THEM!”
Not a cartoon punchline — an actual quote from MN–S President Glen McCallum.

We just… put it in a speech bubble.

Guess some things don’t need exaggerating.

Oh, and by the way — this part mysteriously disappeared from the official video. Funny how that works. (We got you covered in the comment section).

When leadership forgets its roots…the people remember.
WE are the GRASSROOTS.

07/03/2025

Métis Mini-Series: What kind of Nation do we want to leave for the next generation?

Métis governance isn’t just about who sits in office — it’s about how we choose to govern ourselves as a people, and how we hold power accountable to the values and voices of our communities.

In this series, we look at:
♾️ What Indigenous and Métis governance really mean
♾️ What makes Métis governance distinct
♾️ Why it matters — especially now, as we build a government meant to last for generations

We are in the process of constitutional reform and negotiating our own treaty-like agreement. But citizen concerns about transparency and accountability remind us why staying informed and engaged is so important.

👉 Swipe through to learn why Métis governance matters — and why it’s time to keep this conversation on record.

06/29/2025

Prince Albert is located on Treaty 6 territory and within the homeland of the Métis Nation — but what does that really mean beyond land acknowledgments?

It means that we live in a place shaped by multiple systems of governance: municipal, provincial, federal, First Nations, and Métis.

These aren’t symbolic — they’re real structures of representation and power that impact our daily lives: from housing and education to land, rights, and relationships.

Understanding who governs what isn’t just about politics — it’s about understanding each other.

It helps us see how we’re connected, how different communities relate to power, and how we can navigate these systems together with greater awareness, respect, and accountability.

This is the first post in a Métis mini-series looking at current issues affecting Métis citizens in Prince Albert — and how learning about the systems around us can help us better understand each other and this place we all share.

👉 Swipe through for an introduction to the governments that shape life in Prince Albert.

Because accountability starts with knowledge — and that belongs on record.

06/27/2025

Prince Albert is a diverse city — but how well do we really know the people around us?

Nearly half of PA’s population is Indigenous — including people who are Cree, Dene, Métis, Inuit, and more. Many residents are also newcomers from across the globe, bringing with them different worldviews, stories, and ways of life.

We move through the same streets, attend the same schools, wait in the same lines — but often with very different lived realities and histories.

Our community is diverse — but in daily life, many perspectives remain unspoken.
We share space, but not always understanding.

Reflection:
We live alongside many worldviews, teachings, and truths — but how often do we take the time to hear them, or learn from them?

What we don’t know can create distance.
And that distance can quietly feed division.
But understanding can also build relationships — and open the door to allyship and relational accountability.

🎙️ About This Project
Through This Place on Record, we hope to document and share diverse perspectives from our community — starting with our own.
We are Lisa (Cree/Métis/English) and Alex (Métis/Ukrainian) — two Indigiqueer artists, storytellers, and community workers living here in Prince Albert. Our identities and lived experiences shape how we experience this place. The stories we share reflect that lens.

While some of the stories we tell will challenge power, others will share perspectives, celebrate joy, resilience, and everyday moments of connection. Over time, we hope to make space for other voices too — but this begins with what we know, what we see, and what we feel called to record.

This is our place — and we’re putting it on record.

06/26/2025

Retaliation Against Métis Citizen at Prince Albert Press Conference Raises Deep Concerns About Rights and Democracy at MN–S

At this moment, it’s important to look beyond conflict and picking sides — and focus on the bigger picture.

We are in the process of building our government. We have begun a constitutional reform process. These are historic times for the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan, and the choices we make now will shape the foundation of our governance for generations to come.
If we allow retaliation, silencing, and exclusion to take root — especially against our citizens and staff — we set a dangerous precedent that undermines the very self-governance and democratic rights we have fought so hard to claim.

🔍 What Happened
A Métis staff member working for MN–S was terminated shortly after attending a public press conference on their personal time, while on holidays.
The event was held by two elected representatives who were speaking about being barred from taking their seats, one of whom represents Western Region 2, the region Prince Albert is located in. Regardless of where anyone stands on the broader political conflict or the harassment complaints related to that situation, the issue here is clear: a citizen and employee was punished for simply attending a public event.

They did not speak. They did not align themselves publicly with anyone. They declined media interaction. Their mere presence was treated as grounds for dismissal.
This is not about partisanship. This is about freedom, fairness, and fear — and the dangerous message this sends to all citizens and public servants across our Nation.

☝🏼 Why This Matters: A Violation of Our Constitutional Rights
This is about more than one person — it signals a broader willingness by MN–S leadership to punish observation, silence community members, and control political narrative through fear.
When attending a public gathering becomes a fireable offence, our rights — and our democracy — are no longer protected.
According to the MN–S Constitution:
• Métis citizens are protected from discrimination based on political opinion.
• No one should be subject to coercion that impairs their freedom to hold or adopt a belief of their choice.
• Every Métis person has the right to express opinions and to seek, receive, and share information and ideas — including through media.
• The right of Métis people to assemble and organize at the community level must be recognized.
When attending a public gathering becomes a fireable offence, our rights — and our democracy — are no longer protected.

📣 Call to Action

To Citizens:
This could have been any one of us. If simply witnessing public discourse is cause for punishment, how safe are our voices? How protected are our rights? Ask your leaders:
• What protections are in place for staff who are also citizens?
• What message does this send to young Métis professionals?
• What accountability exists for leadership decisions that silence and isolate instead of listening?

To the Media:
This is a critical moment for transparency and accountability in Indigenous governance. A Métis citizen and staff member has been removed for quietly attending a press conference. This is a story about workers’ rights, fear-based leadership, and suppression of expression.

To Legal Advocates and Allies:
The use of vague conduct policies to punish citizens and public servants for passive political presence is a red flag. These actions warrant serious review under labour standards, constitutional rights, and ethical governance.

🤝 To Community Members:
Regardless of where people find themselves in the broader conflict, this crosses a line. We are building our Nation. We are in a constitutional reform process. These are foundational years — and we must uphold the values we want our Nation to stand on.
This moment demands that we speak up for those being isolated. When our institutions punish quiet presence, and our leaders silence those who bear witness — we must respond with clarity, courage, and community.
Let us not build a nation where fear replaces dialogue, and loyalty is valued more than integrity.
We must stand together — for truth, for accountability, and for each other.