About Métis locals

Saskatoon Métis Local 126 is one of four Métis locals in Saskatoon and one of approximately 130 Métis locals that are part of the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan.  The other three locals in Saskatoon are:

• • Gabriel Dumont Local 11

  • Victoria Racette Local 11a

  • Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI) Local 165

Local 126 is a local in Western Region IIa of the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan and part of the regional council of locals. Rural locals in Western Region IIa are:

• Biggar Local 53

• Cando/Baljennie Local 55

• Fiske/D'Aarcy Local 55

• Ruthilda Local 105

• Allan Local

Locals are the basic unit of the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan, and they operate at the community level similar to ridings in the provincial and federal election system while also directly providing programs and services to support their members and the larger Métis community. Each local is required to have an elected leadership, including executive. If a local is incorporated, they are also required to have a board of directors. Each local can also establish other governance structures to suit the needs of their community and membership. Locals are called locals because many early Métis organizers were labour union organizers and modelled the structures on the labour movement. The idea was for locals to be a collective representative bodies for their members to assert their rights. 

Locals provide programs and services for their members and the larger Métis community. These can include cultural programs, financial assistance, research, and other programs and services identified by the membership. Locals can also engage in economic development projects.

A Métis citizen can belong to only one local at a time, and they must ordinarily reside in the area of the local for a minimum of six months before they are allowed to join a local (exceptions can be made for educational or medical purposes, or where a local does not exist in a community).