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Hats off to our four accomplished graduates from Willow Lake Métis Nation's Indigenous Class 3 Commercial Driver’s License Training Program! These individuals demonstrated exceptional diligence and commitment throughout their program, acquiring a wealth of essential knowledge and skills for securing their Class 3 driver's license. This achievement lays the groundwork for meaningful employment prospects. We take pride in announcing that each graduate has not only obtained a valid Class 3 AB drivers license, but they completed the program with honors. We eagerly anticipate witnessing the positive outcomes that this new training will bring to each student. Excitingly, we are gearing up to forge new partnerships, aiming to extend similar valuable opportunities well into 2024! Pictured above, from left to right: Thomis Jonnason, Trisha Lolacher, Sterling Janvier, and Jean-Paul Surette.

At this year’s Métis Fest, two outstanding individuals have been recognized for their remarkable contributions to their community. The Métis Citizen of the Year award aims to recognize the contributions of Citizens to the Nation and the communities they live, work, and play in. Rose Pratt and Bethanie Lavallee, the winners of the award in 2023, embody the spirit of selflessness, community engagement, and cultural preservation. Rose Pratt - Adult Winner Hailing from the historic Métis family, the McKenzie's, Rose's selfless nature shines through her numerous contributions to the community. A culinary artist, Rose is known for her skills in making Bannock and intricate beadwork, reflecting her commitment to preserving Métis cultural practices. Active in various community organizations, Rose has been a driving force behind essential initiatives. She played a pivotal role in advocating for the construction of a school and daycare in Anzac. Her extensive involvement as a board member in organizations like FCSS, Willow Lake Community Association, and Camp Yogi showcases her dedication to the overall well-being of her community. Rose also actively engages with the youth through programs like the summer student initiative. By providing opportunities for youth to contribute to the community, Rose becomes a positive role model, steering them toward a path of personal and community development. Family-oriented and deeply connected to her roots, Rose Pratt's involvement in community events like Winterfest, Anzac Daze, and the Alberta Winter Games reflects her commitment to the betterment of Anzac. Whether it's sharing her secret apple pie recipe or partaking in family picnics, Rose's influence resonates throughout the community. Bethanie Lavallee - Youth Winner Bethanie was born and raised in Anzac and stems from the two historical Métis lines. Her involvement in various community events, from Anzac Daze to Christmas in Anzac and the Halloween Boo Bash, showcases her commitment to making a positive impact. Her participation in figure skating, Irish dancing, pageants, and volleyball not only highlights her diverse talents but also embodies the cultural vibrancy of Anzac. A regular participant in the Willow Lake Métis Nation's Youth Summer Program for the past three years, Bethanie actively invests her time in preserving and promoting Métis traditions. Beyond community engagements, her hobbies include cooking, snowboarding, and spending quality time with her family, showcasing a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle. Bethanie’s kind heart and willingness to help others does not go unnoticed. She’s a proud sister and aunty to her loved ones. Her dedication, commitment, willingness to step out of her comfort zone and try and her best are why she has been selected for this award. In celebrating the achievements of Rose Pratt and Bethanie Lavallee, the Métis Citizen of the Year award recognizes not only their individual contributions but also the collective strength of the Willow Lake Métis Nation. Through their diverse efforts, Rose and Bethanie exemplify the spirit of unity, cultural preservation, and community engagement that defines the essence of the Nation.

Citizen Access to Wifi & Wills Support

We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the support of CNOOC at this year's Métis Fest. It is thanks to wonderful sponsors like CNOOC that we are able to host exceptional events for our Citizens and members of the community. "At CNOOC, how we work is as important as the results we deliver. We’re committed to partnering with community members and other stakeholders in the areas where we operate. We build long-term trust by sharing information, consulting with stakeholders about business decisions and working collaboratively to understand their needs and expectations. Anticipating and managing the impacts our operations can have on our neighbouring communities and the broader society is at the heart of our approach to social responsibility. Our ultimate goal is to generate a net benefit for society as we pursue our vision: to deliver sustainable energy for all." To learn more about Métis Fest 2023, check out the event details.

Matthew comes to the Nation with a wealth of experience in consultation, project development, community relations and we look forward to his contribution to our growing team. In addition to his regulatory and Government relations role, Matthew is excited to serve on several of the projects teams dedicated to enhancing sustainability and promoting the culture here at Willow Lake. Many members of the Nation will remember Matthew from his time in the region and work on previous projects. We are very happy to have Matthew on our team as he takes on this important role with our Nation.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the brand-new Willow Lake Métis Group website . Willow Lake Métis Group, renowned for their exceptional commitment to community development and fostering partnerships, has taken a significant step forward with their online presence. The new website will connect the community, showcase their critical work, and build valuable collaborations. One of the primary goals of the new website is to facilitate partnership building, as Willow Lake Métis Group recognizes the immense value of collaboration. The Group is known for its dedication to critical work in community development, education, and cultural preservation. Furthermore, the website will also serve as a resource for the community, providing relevant news and information about the Group’s growth and activities. In March, Andy Harnett was appointed as CEO of Willow Lake Métis Group. Harnett's role at the Group has been vital in establishing strong partnerships with industry and enhancing the Group's service delivery. With Harnett as CEO and Michael Robert's recent appointment as CFO , the Group is well-prepared for growth. Harnett brings 25+ years of diverse experience in oil and gas, specializing in mechanical services, project management, and safety systems. He holds top certifications in gas and steam fitting from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. Willow Lake Métis Group also recently announced their Board of Directors , including Catherine Koch, Dan Forigo, Mike Daley, Saad Rahali, and Conor Chell. This esteemed team has a wealth of experience in a variety of industries that will serve the Group well. We invite you to visit willowlakemetisgroup.ca and experience the new website for yourself. Explore the insightful content, discover the remarkable achievements, and learn more about the Willow Lake Métis Group's ongoing commitment to making a difference in the Nation.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Métis of the Year award, a heartfelt initiative aimed at celebrating and honoring the exceptional individuals who have made extraordinary impacts on our Nation. The Métis of the Year award seeks to highlight the incredible achievements, dedication, and resilience of WLMN citizenswho have gone above and beyond to make a lasting difference. We believe that their Métis history and the profound impact they have had on our community should be acknowledged and celebrated. This award is open for nominations, and we encourage you to participate in this opportunity to recognize someone who has demonstrated outstanding commitment and contributed significantly to the betterment of our community. Whether it's through their tireless advocacy, transformative projects, leadership, or fostering community cohesion, we want to honor those who have contributed meaningfully to our Nation. To nominate an individual for the Métis of the Year award, simply download the nomination form here . The form provides a comprehensive overview of the nomination process and the criteria to consider when selecting a deserving candidate. We encourage you to include details about their Métis history and how their efforts have positively impacted the community. Please submit your nomination by August 1, 2023.

Representatives from Willow Lake Métis Nation travelled to Ottawa to describe the impacts of the tailings pond leaks on the Nation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. New VP and Indigenous Guardian, Jason McKenzie, and Sustainability Manager, Destiny Martin, delivered an account of these effects and recommendations to the committee on how Government and industry should proceed. See Destiny's full speech to the Standing Committee below: Willow Lake Métis Nation Background Willow Lake Métis Nation represents the Section 35 rights of approximately 90 Citizens. The Nation’s administrative centre is located at Anzac, Alberta, just south of Fort McMurray. The Nation emerged during the fur trade era between the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers (in what is now Alberta) and Lac La Loche (in Saskatchewan). Historically, Willow Lake was connected through kinship and economic ties to Fort Chipewyan and Lake Athabasca to the north, and to Lac La Biche to the south—and these connections continue today. Willow Lake Métis Nation Citizens hunt, fish, trap, and collect berries and medicines on lands used by their ancestors. These lands include traplines like Vice President McKenzie’s, which has been in his family for several generations. Harvested resources are shared to provide for families and the community, and most Citizens continue to consume traditional foods and use traditional medicines. Willow Lake Métis Nation, like other Nations in the oil sands region, have experienced and continue to experience extensive impacts of oil and gas, forestry, and other developments. Toxic Leak of Tailings Ponds Willow Lake Metis Nation was first notified regarding the tailings ponds leaks at the Imperial Oil, Kearl Lake site by email from the Alberta Energy Regulator on February 7, 2023. We then met with AER staff on March 8, 2023, to receive an update. Imperial Oil also contacted us by email on March 8, 2023, with a link to the company’s updates on the Environmental Protection Order. Willow Lake Métis Nation provided a response letter to Imperial Oil on March 17, 2023, outlining the Nation’s concerns and information requests. As of April 13, we have not received a response from Imperial Oil. This does not align with statements on Imperial’s website that indicate the company is engaging with affected Indigenous communities. Willow Lake Métis Nation Citizens harvest in areas upstream and downstream of the Kearl site and are very concerned about impacts of the leaks on water and other aquatic resources, plants, and wildlife. Willow Lake Métis Nation continues to be connected to the other Nations, in this region, and engage in shared harvesting activities and the sharing of traditional foods and medicines. Certainty regarding the safety of traditionally harvested foods is critical to support land use, the sharing of harvested resources, and the continuation of rights and culture. Ongoing clarification and updates regarding the impacts of these spills on the environment and harvested plant and animal resources is required to support future land use. The leaks and the delayed notifications are deeply concerning to Willow Lake Métis Nation. Willow Lake Métis Nation is in a vulnerable position right now as we are waiting for recognition of the Nation’s Section 35 rights through Alberta’s credible assertion process, and experiences inconsistent consultation from government and industry. The leaks highlight the risk for any Indigenous Nation that incidents such as these can go unreported, but this risk is especially high for Nations in Willow Lake’s position. It is apparent that Imperial Oil and the AER shared the responsibility for communicating these incidents much sooner. While we appreciate that the AER contacted the Nation, met with us in March, and continue to update us, this incident has affected the Nation’s ability to trust both industry and the AER. Willow Lake Métis Nation is interested in meaningful solutions that will re-establish that trust through co-operation, co-management and most importantly co-reclamation to ensure truly sustainable oil sands operations. Willow Lake Métis Nation desires to find ways to address the gaps highlighted by these incidents. Immediate solutions include discussions with Imperial to ensure Nation involvement in incident response and monitoring, as well as further discussions with the AER to ensure Willow Lake receives timely notification regarding incidents within the Nation’s territory. Willow Lake also recommends a human health assessment to ensure there is no risk from the leaks to traditionally harvested resources including water, plants, and animals. More broadly, these incidents have emphasized cumulative impacts to Indigenous rights in the oil sands region. Deeper understanding of those impacts needs to be achieved through a regional assessment of the oil sands, including cumulative impacts, and impacts to Section 35 rights. On behalf of Willow Lake Métis Nation and its Citizens, I would like to thank you for your time and consideration of our concerns. We sincerely appreciate the invitation to present to the Standing Committee today.

Jason McKenzie is Willow Lake Métis Nation's new Vice President. Having previously sat on Willow Lake’s board as VP, he is familiar with the responsibilities for this role and will serve the Nation well. Jason was born and raised in Anzac and his roots stem from one of the two historical Métis families of Willow Lake. He is a proud father, grandfather and partner. Jason currently works for Syncrude as a Process Operator and is also an entrepreneur, owning his own tire company. Jason is a proud Métis Citizen of Willow Lake Métis Nation. He is a traditional lan d user and has also been selected as WLMN’s Indigenous Guardian doing environmental monitoring and ensuring the preservation of the lands.  Jason’s knowledge both in the industry and on the land make him an excellent candidate for Vice President. We are confident that his abilities will help continue to guide our Nation to future growth, development, and success.