Promoting & Increasing Cultural Safety (PICS)

MNO representatives were honoured to attend a recent Promoting & Increasing Cultural Safety (PICS) engagement gathering hosted by the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Consultation Department

The PICS program was created to better understand and support the cultural safety of Métis women, youth, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ community members, and to learn directly from Citizens about how to strengthen cultural safety across Métis communities.

Broadly, cultural safety refers to the ability of a person to safely engage in Métis cultural activities — to participate, learn, and connect without barriers or exclusion.

Since August 2024, the Consultation Department has travelled across the p hosting group and one-on-one engagement sessions. These conversations explored how communities engage in cultural activities today, as well as the barriers individuals may face in participating fully and safely.

Representing the Métis Nation of Ontario were:

• Mitch Case, Provincial Secretary of Education & MNC Board of Governors Representative

• Cole Netherton, MNO Youth Council Member

• Jennifer Pauzé, Manager of Events & Strategic Initiatives

Cole Netherton Region 4 Youth Representative, Jennifer Pauzé Manager of Events & Strategic Initiatives, Mitch Case Provincial Secretary of Education & MNC Board of Governors Representative

The final PICS report has now been released by the Otipemisiwak Métis Government and provides important guidance on how to make our Métis governments more inclusive and culturally safe. Its findings and recommendations offer valuable insight for strengthening participation, removing barriers, and ensuring that all Métis citizens feel safe engaging in culture and community life. All Métis governments can benefit from reading the report and taking its recommendations seriously.

As Cole shared:

“It was an honour to be invited to the Promoting & Increasing Cultural Safety Summit hosted by the Otipemsiwak Métis Government at Métis Crossing, and to celebrate the milestone of their comprehensive ‘What We Heard’ report. Reports like this matter because cultural safety isn’t just a concept or a checkbox — it’s lived, felt, and carried in our communities all across the homeland. Honouring our diversity, celebrating our culture, and engaging in meaningful community consultation are what create lasting impact.”

Participation in this work reflects the MNO’s ongoing commitment to listening, learning, and supporting initiatives that strengthen cultural safety, inclusion, and belonging for all Métis citizens.

Together, we continue building communities where Métis people can safely live their culture, share their knowledge, and celebrate who they are.