These spring wildfires come as no surprise after a winter with little snow. Canadians have watched wildfire season grow more intense each year. A significant number of Métis communities are in regions vulnerable to climate-induced emergencies. There are currently multiple wildfires burning out of control across the Prairie provinces, yet peak season is still ahead. As of June 11, there were 83 active out-of-control wildfires across Canada, and there have been 1,900 wildfires this year.

But as people flee their homes and firefighters battle blazes around the clock, promised funding for emergency management has not found its way to Métis communities. The previous Liberal government pledged to advance Indigenous climate solutions by investing in the Métis Nation Climate Leadership Agenda.

The agenda—co-developed by Métis governments across the Homeland and the Government of Canada—calls for sustainable long-term climate funding. It would support Métis-led nature stewardship, sustainable energy and infrastructure, emergency management and climate resilience, health and well-being, and economic development and prosperity. The Government of Canada has consistently denied the Métis Nation fair access to climate funding, leaving us with just two per cent of all available federal climate resources.

Being left out of emergency management funding has created serious challenges for Métis governments, communities, and families. In past wildfire seasons, Métis evacuees were denied transportation, supplies, and support offered to our First Nations relatives. Let’s make 2025 the year that we end these inexcusable policies that divide communities at their most vulnerable moments, and leave Métis communities behind. We have done the work, we have the plan, let’s implement it together.

The agenda was scheduled to go to cabinet for approval in the fall of 2024; however, an election, tariffs, and geopolitical strife put this on pause. As wildfires rage and communities flee, we need this funding now.

The Liberal Party’s 2025 platform states that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government “will draw on the wisdom of Indigenous traditions, the power of modern technology, and the strength of a united Canada.” We support this and are calling on the government to follow through on past Liberal commitments to provide this funding to Métis governments so they can support, protect, and assist their citizens.

Despite having a clear path forward, Métis governments continue to receive minimal and inconsistent funding to reduce wildfire risks, prepare for emergencies, respond to crises in our communities, and support displaced citizens with essentials. Advancing Métis-led climate action is not only a matter of rights, but also a solution that will benefit all Canadians and support our most vulnerable.

Métis knowledge systems are rooted in our traditional ways of life and the deep respect our ancestors held for the land. Our culture is built on resilience, adaptability, and a reciprocal relationship with the lands, waters, and skies we call home. As wildfires increasingly impact the Métis Homeland, drawing on the wisdom of our ancestors offers sustainable, culturally grounded solutions for the future.

The smoke blanketing Ottawa is only a glimpse of this crisis. The real impact is being felt in the communities on the front lines. My heart is with all those affected by the wildfires. As president of the Métis National Council, guided by the spirit of Wahkohtowin, I remain deeply committed to advancing Métis climate leadership and strengthening our resilience to climate-induced emergencies. We will not stop advocating for the resources our governments need to protect their citizens, communities, and Homeland.

Victoria Pruden is the president of the Métis National Council.

The Hill Times