Métis women’s leadership program helps participants develop skills to excel

LFMO hopes to encourage young Métis women to strive for success, develop leadership skills in their chosen careers and celebrate their Métis culture.

“Of course, Métis people for a long time were forced much like First Nations to keep their culture under wraps, so we find that a lot of our students that apply have not had the opportunity to grow up within their culture,” Belcourt said. “We want to help them develop that pride in being Métis, and sort of light the fire so they have more motivation to learn more, and possibly become better connected within their home Métis community.”

The program is accessible to all Métis women across Canada, as 99 per cent of it is run virtually. There is also a one-week culture week for everyone in Edmonton, with costs also covered through the program.

“They do some hands-on Métis cultural activities through that week because a lot of the women we find weren’t raised with their culture,” Belcourt said. “This gives them a good opportunity to meet in person, so it’s easier to connect online after that.”

“Reach for the Sky” runs for 18 weeks, providing “on-the-land cultural teachings,” online academic instruction, and a leadership job-shadow mentorship for the last four weeks.

“Throughout the program we ask the students to provide us with organization or business names they think would like to do their job shadow at,” Belcourt said. “We do the reaching out. We also do some cold-calling [to various organizations] as well in their home community.”

The program is described as a “first-of-its-kind,” serving as a “model of Métis self-determination,” for Métis young women in employment and leadership.

“We at LFMO see a future where there is better employment security and more educational opportunities for Métis youth,” the organization said.

Belcourt noted at least two women from the Battlefords participated in the program in recent years, so she encourages others from the area to take part also.

“We would definitely like a lot more,” she said. “We want to give our young Métis women more opportunity to have skills so that they can gain those leadership positions in any organization.”

Belcourt added that in the spring or summer the “Reach for the Sky” team plans to visit various communities to promote the program more.

The academic courses in the program are delivered online with specific instructors from each of the participating institutions – University of Alberta in Edmonton and Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatoon – that participants can reach out to if they have any questions.

LFMO also has twice weekly Zoom meetings with the participants to make sure they are staying on track.

“They are all assigned to one of our Leadership Mentors to help guide them through the program,” Belcourt said.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @battlefordsnow

by Angela Brown

Métis women’s leadership program helps participants develop skills to excel

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