A New Partnership for Métis National Council and Statistics Canada

Ottawa (March 30, 2009) - The Métis National Council and Statistics Canada have entered into a new partnership to develop better and more helpful datasets about Métis Nation citizens living in the Homeland. Statistic Canada will also be helping the MNC become better able to analyze statistics and utilize them for a variety of research projects.

The partnership will focus on the 2006 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) and the Aboriginal Children’s Survey (ACS). Both were conducted by Statistics Canada just after that year’s national census. Developed with the help of the National Aboriginal Organizations -- including the MNC, the surveys were completed by several thousand off-reserve First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, living in urban, rural, and northern locations across Canada.

The first task to be tackled as part of the partnership will involve Statistics Canada assisting the MNC effectively analyze and tabulate the APS and ACS data. Statistics Canada will offer expert advice to ensure the MNC can make the most of the APS and ACS statistics and the corresponding analysis, in the hopes it will provide a clear and quantitative picture of the lifestyles and living conditions of Métis Nation citizens.

The second part of the partnership will have the MNC giving Statistics Canada a better idea on what additional data and analysis is needed, and will suggest what Métis topics should be covered in further Statistics Canada research articles. This process will help Statistics Canada ‘fill-the-gap’ in information available on Métis Nation socio-economic conditions.

As part of this work, Statistics Canada will be holding a series of workshops with participating provincial Governing Members. The workshops will be asking what specific information on Métis needs to be collected, and what new studies and analysis from existing statistical data would be beneficial and most useful for Métis governments.

The partnership will also bring better access to the Statistics Canada information on Métis Nation citizens over the internet. APS, ACS and a host of other tabulated statistics concerning Métis will be posted on the MNC website, available to all Métis, anytime.

This statistical information will prove invaluable to the MNC and the provincial Governing Members relationship with the Federal and Provincial governments, as well as other external organizations. With concrete, quantitative data, and comprehensive analysis, the MNC and its provincial Governing Members will be in a better position to negotiate and receive equal service on par with other Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in Canada.

If you would like more information on the Statistics Canada workshops, the Aboriginal Peoples and Aboriginal Children’s Survey’s, please contact the Métis National Council at info@metisnation.ca..