Registry office helps local Métis with card applications

Métis people in the Meadow Lake region are now able to apply for and renew their cards, which is a positive step forward, according to leaders. 

A registry office opened in November 2017, and an intake worker is available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help local people with any questions or assistance they have in applying for their Métis cards, which identify a person’s heritage and give them a right to vote in elections, among other things.

Loretta King, Regional Director for Western Region 1 for the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, said the availability of this registry office in the community is welcome news.

“It was down for a few years, so people will be looking forward to it,” she said. “Meadow Lake is a large based community, and is also very central in our region.”

She said there are plans to open another office in the near future for meetings and a place where people can go to access resources.

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“We don’t have that in Meadow Lake [yet] for Métis-specific culture, so I’d like to do that,” she said. “Some people still don’t know what Métis people are, and I find that very unfortunate, so one of my goals is that we’re still continuing to educate at every level. I’m learning myself on a regular basis.”

Mabel Iron is the intake worker at Meadow Lake’s local office, and said she enjoys being able to assist Métis citizens of the region.

“I help renewals and applications, and do have resources for genealogy if people need to go back and do the history of their Métis lineage and family trees,” she said.

Iron said since opening, a number of clients have visited the office. She said busiest day has seen up to 35 people stop by for walk-ins.

“We’ve had waves of people come in,” she said. “It’s nice to see people are interested. People who have been told they’re Métis but are unsure, so they’re wondering how they apply. People can call and book appointments as well, if they want me to spend some time with them to teach them how to do the research or if they need help going through the applications.”

She said this replaces a former process where a provincial representative used to travel to pick up applications on an occasional basis.

“Now people have a place to go, and actual person to see,” Iron said. “It’s nice to have one intake worker too that eventually learns and knows the history of the families in our area. The Métis people in the Meadow Lake area are wonderful people who are great to communicate with.”

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath