Audrey Poitras

Who is she?

Audrey Poitras has family ties to the Fishing Lake Métis Settlement. She grew up on a farm near Elk Point, Alberta, 150 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. She was elected to be the first female President of the Metis Nation of Alberta (MNA) She has become the longest serving President Of the MNA. Under this position, Poitras has been able to eliminate the organization’s financial debt, balanced the budgets, and began raising the profile of the MNA.

Her Career

Audrey Poitras is one of the highest profile Métis women in Canada. Audrey has been a strong advocate for Métis rights. She has successfully negotiated partnerships with colleges and universities, for Métis Endowment funds and much more.

Audrey is recognized as a leader who is committed to helping build a better economic future for the Métis Nation. She has helped in developing business relationships, preservation of culture, and she promotes education, training and research.

  • In September 2003, Audrey Poitras helped affirm Métis as Aboriginal people with rights protected by the Constitution.

  • in 2004, President Poitras completed negotiations and signed the historic Interim Métis Harvesting Agreement with Alberta, which is the first agreement in the country to deliver harvesting rights to Métis.

  • April 2004, Audrey represented the Métis Nation at the historic Canada Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable attended by more than 20 federal cabinet ministers and 70 Aboriginal leaders from across the country. Audrey affirmed the Métis Nation's commitment towards a Canada-Métis Nation Framework Agreement.

  • In 2005, Audrey was named in CBC's The Alberta 100, and Alberta's 50 most influential people by Alberta Venture magazine.

  • Audrey put great effort to preserve Metis culture, history and language. One of the ways she did this was by creating the Metis Crossing. The Metis Crossing is a multi-million interpretive site located near Smoky Lake, Alberta.

For more information about the Metis Crossing check out this website - https://metiscrossing.com/heritage/




Awards

President Poitras has also received numerous awards and achievement milestones throughout her leadership including;

  • Appreciation Award, University of Alberta. School of Native Studies 1998

  • Region 2 Recognition Award MNA 1999

  • Esquao Lifetime Achievement Award, Institution For Advancement of Aboriginal Women 2002

  • Louis Dorion Award for Outstanding Commitment, Batoche 2002

  • Politics Award, Aboriginal Role Models of Alberta 2002

  • Order of the Métis Shawl, Métis Elder's Council 2003

  • Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal 2003

  • Hon. Degree in Management, NAIT 2005

  • CBC's The Alberta 100 Recognition 2005

  • Named one of Alberta's most influential people, Alberta Venture Magazine 2005

  • Circle of Honour, Institute For Advancement of Aboriginal Women 2007 (Highest honour given for work to improve lives of Aboriginal people)

  • Recognition Award, Aboriginal Veterans Society of Alberta 2009

  • National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Women in Politics 2011

  • Alberta Chamber of Resources Indigenous Leader of the Year Award 2016

  • Region 3 Recognition Award 2018


Why is her work important?

Ms. Poitras has been a driving force for positive change for the Metis community In Alberta. A said above she has been to conferences, set up agreements and was involved in making a site to preserve Metis Culture. Her efforts keep the Metis people involved in government decision making and much more. From the agreements she made allow Metis people today to harvest and have security for their rights.

Amanjot Sran