Minister open to having discussions with MMF

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This article was published 28/01/2021 (1711 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When the government released its COVID-19 vaccine prioritization list Wednesday, Manitoba Métis were notably absent.

“Both Dr. Reimer and (Health) Minister (Heather) Stefanson again did not say Métis or set aside vaccines for Métis. Even though there’s a shortfall that’s occurring, it should not prohibit them from saying the Métis will be in the second phase, when all the abundance of vaccines will be coming,” said David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF).

The Brandon Sun asked Stefanson Wednesday if Métis would soon be enjoying a similar relationship with the government as First Nations have — regarding data sharing and the opportunity for a meaningful planning voice in the vaccine rollout to its vulnerable populations.

“I did have the opportunity, actually, last week, to meet with (Health) Minister (Frances) Chartrand. I think we had a very productive discussion, and I know that our officials are having discussions behind the scenes to see where we can work together in a collaborative approach. That’s very important to me. It was very important to us at that meeting. We’re certainly committed to working with the Manitoba Metis Federation on this,” Stefanson said.

In a letter from Stefanson to Frances, received Tuesday, Stefanson outlines the two First Nation tables: the tripartate prioritization table and the logistics table, along with the Indigenous vaccine communication working group.

“While I recognize that currently two of these tables are specifically related to First Nations, I wanted to provide the information to you for consideration of future planning or tables, should MMF wish to engage with us further,” Stefanson stated in the letter.

She concluded the letter stating, “Should the Manitoba Metis Federation wish to identify representatives to participate with the province on tables, or even have further introductory discussions at officials’ levels, please do not hesitate to let me know.”

While Chartrand said it’s a first step, he also said there has been no data collection specific to Métis since the pandemic began, unlike First Nations who have a handle on their data, via the province and their agreement with it.

The new development is “very, very late,” he said.

“It took how many ministers and, finally, this minister is willing to explore or invite us to participate on something we should have been invited to in April? The challenge they face now, given that we’re invited in such a late stage, are they going to use that they don’t have the data that they should have been collecting since April, as an excuse to say, well, we can’t even determine how many Métis should get vaccines because we don’t have data on them?”

Chartrand said the federation will ask the question: Why hasn’t a data agreement been signed?

» mletourneau@brandonsun.com

» Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism.