So you’re probably wondering how this whole MNO thing actually works. When most of us first got elected, we also had no idea. The policy documents can be pretty confusing, and nobody really explains it in plain language.

Here’s the thing, MNO works from the ground up, not the top down, this means that your community is where the real power starts.

The structure of the MNO has four levels that support each other:

• Community Level – This is where everything begins. Your Community Council knows what’s actually happening in people’s livesand what needs to change.
• Regional Level – Ontario is huge, so we organize into nine regions. Regional representatives role is to carry communityvoices forward and bringresourcesback.
• Provincial Level – The Provisional Council coordinates and supports what communities are doing across Ontario helping make community initiativeshappen.
• Advisory Level – Special groups for Youth, Women, Veterans, 2-Spirit, and Elders who make sure their important perspectives are included in everything we do.

The whole point is that change starts with you and your community. If something needs to happen, your Community Council pushes it forward. The regional and provincial levels exist to support that work, coordinate between communities, and provide resources.

It’s not about people at the “top” telling communities what to do. It’s about communities telling the system what they need.

Graphic: The Métis Nation & You

Take a look at this graphic from The Advocacy Toolkit explaining the structure of the Métis Nation as a whole:

Source: https://remote-rights.github.io/people-places/in-my-metis-nation