Métis National Council president Victoria Pruden, left, Canadian poet Gregory Scofield, centre, and Audain Indigenous Curatorial scholar-in-residence Sherry Farrell Racette unveil a model Métis 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

By The Canadian Press

Métis National Council signs agreement with Northwest Territory Métis Nation

Mar 12, 2026 | 9:33 AM

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

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

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

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

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

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Northwest Territory Métis 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.

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press