Cassidy Caron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cassidy Caron
|
|
|---|---|
| President, Métis National Council | |
| Assumed office 30 September 2021 |
|
| Preceded by | Clément Chartier |
| Chairperson of the Métis Youth British Columbia, Métis Nation British Columbia | |
| In office September 2016 – September 2020 |
|
| Succeeded by | Shaughn Davoren |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 July 1992 Rossland, British Columbia |
| Nationality | Métis, Canadian |
| Spouse | Paul Robitaille |
Cassidy Caron (born on July 14, 1992) is an important Métis leader. She was chosen as the president of the Métis National Council on September 30, 2021. Before that, she was the leader of the Métis Youth British Columbia. She also served as the Minister of Youth for the Métis Nation British Columbia from September 2016 to September 2020.
Contents
Cassidy Caron's Work Journey
After finishing university, Cassidy Caron joined a special program for Indigenous youth. She worked with the Ministry of Environment, helping with important plans. She also spent time with a group called Reciprocal Consulting. This group helps Indigenous communities across Canada with research and checking how programs are working. Cassidy worked there for four years.
In October 2018, Cassidy started working on her own. She focused on research that helped Indigenous communities. Her work helped Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups work better together. She helped with many topics like safety for women, education, health, and youth programs.
Leading Métis Youth in British Columbia
In September 2016, Cassidy Caron was chosen to lead the Métis Youth British Columbia. She also became the Minister for Youth for the Métis Nation British Columbia. In this role, she spoke to government committees about important issues. She helped organize a special meeting for young Métis leaders in 2018. She also attended big meetings like the Summit of the Americas.
Becoming President of the Métis National Council
On September 30, 2021, Cassidy Caron was elected as the president of the Métis National Council. She is the first woman to be elected to this important role. Another woman, Audrey Poitras, had been an interim president for a short time before. Cassidy took over from Clément Chartier, who had been president for 18 years.
On May 23, 2024, Cassidy Caron shared that she would not run for president again when her term ends.
Working Through Challenges
Before Cassidy Caron was elected, there were some disagreements within the Métis National Council. One of the groups, the Manitoba Métis Federation, decided to leave the Council. This happened after a period of discussion and different ideas about how the Council should be run.
Cassidy Caron was elected president during this time. After her election, she said that the Manitoba Métis Federation would always be welcome back. She wanted to have respectful conversations and move forward. Her goal was to speak up for the four Métis governments that were still part of the Métis National Council.
Later, the Métis National Council started a legal process to address some of these past disagreements. They were seeking to resolve issues related to how things were managed before Cassidy Caron became president. The other groups involved also shared their side of the story. These were serious disagreements, and the issues were being discussed.
Working Towards Healing and Understanding
Meeting with the Pope
In March 2022, Cassidy Caron traveled to the Vatican as president of the Métis National Council. She went with a group of Métis people who had attended residential schools. They met with Pope Francis. This meeting was part of a bigger effort for reconciliation.
Cassidy Caron gave a message to Pope Francis. She invited him to Canada and explained how they could work towards truth, healing, and justice. At the end of the visit, Pope Francis said he was sorry for the actions of some members of the Catholic Church in the residential school system. He agreed to visit Canada to continue the journey of reconciliation.
Meeting with Royalty
Cassidy Caron also wanted to ask Prince Charles (now King Charles III) and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (now Queen Camilla) for an apology. She wanted Queen Elizabeth to apologize to residential school survivors. Queen Elizabeth was the leader of the Anglican Church and Canada's head of state. The Prince and Duchess were visiting Canada to focus on reconciliation with Indigenous people.
Cassidy Caron's Life
Education and Learning
Cassidy Caron finished high school in Rossland in 2010. She then went to Vancouver Island University, where she studied First Nations. In 2022, she earned a master's degree in community development from the University of Victoria.
Family Roots
Cassidy Caron's family comes from historic Métis communities in Saskatchewan. These places are called Batoche and St. Louis. Her grandmother, Marie Odile Boucher, was from one of the first Métis families in St. Louis. Her grandfather, Jean-Baptist Caron, was born in Batoche. His parents' house was destroyed during the Battle of Batoche. The house was rebuilt later and is now a special place at the Batoche National Historic Site.
Cassidy grew up in British Columbia with her mother, Anna Caron, and her sister, Tessa. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Paul Robitaille. They have a child.
