Audrey Poitras facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Audrey Poitras
Born	Audrey Mae Dumont 1950
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	Politician
Known for	longest-serving President of the Métis Nation of Alberta

Audrey Mae Poitras (born Audrey Mae Dumont in 1950) is a Canadian leader who worked as the president of the Métis Nation of Alberta from 1996 to 2023. She was the first woman to hold this important position. She also served as a vice-president on the national Métis National Council.

Audrey Poitras grew up on a farm near Elk Point, Alberta, which is about 150 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. Her parents were Jean Baptiste Dumont and Mabel Kinchshe. She is related to the famous Métis leader Gabriel Dumont. She also has family connections to the Fishing Lake Métis Settlement. Today, she lives in Edmonton, Alberta.

Leading the Métis Nation

As the President of the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA), Audrey Poitras became one of the most well-known Métis women in Canada. She worked hard to protect and advance Métis rights. She was first elected in 1996 and became the longest-serving President of the MNA.

Fighting for Métis Rights

Audrey Poitras has always been a strong supporter of Métis rights. She continued to push for these rights, especially after the important Daniels Supreme Court decision in 2016. This decision helped clarify that Métis people are Aboriginal people with rights protected by the Canadian Constitution.

Helping Métis Education

Poitras successfully worked with colleges and universities to create Métis Endowment funds. These funds, totaling $22 million, help support Métis students and education. She also helped create the MNA's Rupertsland Institute. This institute works with the University of Alberta to promote education, training, and research for Métis people.

Historic Court Victory

In September 2003, Audrey Poitras was the Interim President of the Métis National Council. She announced a huge victory when the Supreme Court of Canada made a historic ruling in the R v Powley case. This was a very important case that confirmed Métis people are Aboriginal people with rights protected by the Constitution.

A year later, in 2004, Poitras finished talks and signed the Interim Métis Harvesting Agreement with Alberta. This was the first agreement in Canada to give harvesting rights to Métis people. This meant Métis people could legally hunt and fish in certain areas.

Working with the Canadian Government

In April 2004, Poitras represented the Métis Nation at a big meeting called the Canada Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable. The Prime Minister, many federal cabinet ministers, and 70 Aboriginal leaders attended. Poitras confirmed the Métis Nation's commitment to a Canada-Métis Nation Framework Agreement. She was there when this important agreement was signed on May 31, 2005, in Ottawa.

Special Recognition

In 2005, Audrey Poitras was named among "The Alberta 100" by CBC. She was also called "one of Alberta's 50 most influential people" by Alberta Venture magazine. In 2017, she received the Indigenous Leader of the Year award from the Alberta Chamber of Resources. She has also received many other awards throughout her career, including a National Aboriginal Achievement Award.

Creating Métis Crossing

One of Poitras's biggest achievements was helping to create Métis Crossing. This is a multimillion-dollar cultural interpretive site located along the North Saskatchewan River. It is near Smoky Lake, Alberta. Métis Crossing helps people learn about Métis culture and history.

Awards and Achievements

Audrey Poitras has received many awards for her hard work and dedication:

• Appreciation Award, University of Alberta School of Native Studies 1998
• Region 2 Recognition Award, Metis National Council, 1999
• Esquao Lifetime Achievement Award, Institution For Advancement of Aboriginal Women 2002
• Louis Dorion Award for Outstanding Commitment, Batoche 2002
• Politics Award, Aboriginal Role Models of Alberta 2002
• Order of the Métis Shawl, Métis Elder's Council 2003
• Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal 2003
• Hon. Degree in Management, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology 2005
• CBC's The Alberta 100 Recognition 2005
• "one of Alberta's most influential people", Alberta Venture Magazine 2005
• Circle of Honour, Institute For Advancement of Aboriginal Women 2007
• National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Women in Politics 2011
• Alberta Chamber of Resources Indigenous Leader of the Year Award 2016
• Region 3 Recognition Award 2018