A message from President David Chartrand on UPIP funding decision

March 31, 2026

March 31, 2026

As you can see in the news today, the Red River Métis are being excluded from funding for healthcare, mental health and trauma, assisted living services in rural and remote communities and emergency management assistance. It ignores that we too have people living in isolated communities that are vulnerable to wildfires and need access to health services and digital health tools. It ignores that we too need culturally relevant, distinctions-based programming to ensure our Youth have the confidence and strength of identity needed to be successful and stay on the right path.

This is pouring salt on the already open wound of being excluded from Urban Programing for Indigenous Peoples (UPIP) funding, which supported between 3,000 and 4,000 Citizens and their families a year with specialized supports that opened doors that would otherwise be shut. For example, nearly 2,500 Youth have had their sports, dance, and music programs subsidized every year.

The Red River Métis are tired of paying taxes and seeing no returns. Canada is going the wrong way, full stop. If Canada insists on going down this road, they will find the Red River Métis standing in their way, and will learn what many have learned before - there are few who are more formidable as opponents. We will not allow our Youth and families to be left on the wayside, forgotten once again.

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