By Aaron Walker
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Windspeaker.com
A new socio-economic impact assessment shows Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) has turned federal investments into significantly wider economic activity over the past seven years, generating hundreds of millions of dollars provincewide and supporting thousands of jobs.
The independent report, MN–S invests in Métis citizens, provincial economy benefits two-fold, was released Nov. 22 by national accounting firm MNP and presented at the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly in Saskatoon last month. The report marks the first socio-economic impact assessment of the Nation since 2017.
It concludes that investments into Métis citizens are “contributing to real economic growth and social outcomes that benefit everyone in Saskatchewan” while addressing long-standing gaps in health, housing, and education.
MN–S chief operating officer Matthew Vermette said the analysis reinforces years of internal data.
“When the federal government invests in MN–S, it’s not just dollar for dollar. When $1 is put into MN–S, it actually generates $2 in economic output,” he said.
The assessment reviewed seven years of program and financial data, along with citizen experiences and regional research, to measure how those investments translated into outcomes. It found that $486 million in spending since 2017 generated $740 million in economic activity across Saskatchewan. Dollars supported 15,178 jobs and created an estimated $26.5 million in tax revenue.
Housing programs were a major driver of that activity. MN–S completed 818 urgent home repairs and supported 729 first-time home buyers, generating $20.6 million in local consumer spending and creating 197 jobs.
Early learning and cultural initiatives reached more than 10,000 Métis children, and health programs assisted roughly 14,000 citizens through medical travel and related supports, Vermette said.
Public services also expanded, growing from 164 employees in 2022 to 374 in 2025. The workforce is now largely Indigenous and women-led and reflects ongoing efforts to close gaps in health, income, and access to services.
“Many of our citizens are (currently) making tough decisions … ‘Do I buy groceries or do I buy prescriptions?’” he noted.
He said the medical travel program has been especially important for citizens in rural and northern areas.
“Through our medical travel assistance program … we were able to take the worry about those additional costs (out) … because they’re actually seeing those specialists and they’re getting diagnosed early.”
The progress outlined in the report comes as MN–S continues negotiations with the Government of Canada on a self-government treaty. Formal recognition between 2017 and 2019 affirmed MN–S as the political representative for Métis citizens in Saskatchewan and led to the framework now guiding those talks. Vermette said that agreement changed the Nation’s trajectory.
“The whole self-governance framework agreement really has been a game changer for MN–S … a lot of that was driven by the fact that the previous Liberal government recognized that MN–S was the Métis collective in Saskatchewan that represented Métis citizens, and that we have an inherent right to govern ourselves.”
Vermette said meaningful self-government will require more than just recognition, however.
“Success will involve engagement … and the support of the community at all levels, (paired) with resources and capacity from the federal government … We can create all the self-governance frameworks that we want, but if we don’t have the support and capacity to actually implement those, it becomes a challenge.”
The Nation is also positioning itself for involvement in major infrastructure projects, including potential pipeline and resource developments that cross Métis territory. Vermette was clear on MN–S’ stance regarding equity stakes.
“Any large-scale project that occurs on Métis Nation territory should have equity participation as an option by the Nation.” He noted that equity involvement flows directly from inherent Métis rights and the principles of economic reconciliation.
“We can’t have economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples if they’re not part of the equation and if they’re not involved in projects at all levels.”
Access to capital remains the main barrier to that kind of participation.
“We don’t have a billion dollars in our back pocket, but if we want to be a real player in major projects, it requires capital at levels that we previously haven’t had access to,” Vermette said. He pointed to the Saskatchewan Indigenous Investment Finance Corporation and the National Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program as important steps, though additional tools are still needed to ensure Métis governments can fully participate, he said.
MN–S is also meeting with citizens about assuming jurisdiction over Child and Family Services, a shift Vermette described as having long-term impact.
“We can’t think about the future without thinking about our kids,” Vermette said.
The momentum reflected in the MNP assessment comes from several years of stable funding, growing internal capacity and programs shaped directly by Métis citizens, evidence of what community-driven governance can achieve, said Vermette.
“We’re really proud of the work that our government has done … we’re going to continue to grow on that success and build on the lessons we learned.”
For more information about the report visit https://metisnationsk.com/. MN–S invests in Métis citizens, provincial economy benefits two-fold can be found in the digital library.