Métis Nation BC is now a Certified Living Wage Employer!

Today is the 10^th year anniversary for Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Reconciliation Day and we wanted to recognize one of our Indigenous Living Wage Employers, Métis Nation BC.

Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Reconciliation Day calls out settlers (Non-Indigenous Canadians) to reflect and learn about the devastating and ongoing impacts of colonization and the Residential School System. The first step of reconciliation is understanding the history and truth of understanding the experiences and systemic constructs placed on Indigenous people that actively impact Indigenous communities. As the impacts of the Residential School System and Sixties Scoop is still ongoing, many indigenous people’s experience with intergenerational trauma highly impacts them through food and housing insecurity and unemployment.

Métis Nation British Columbia is the government for Métis people and represent 39 Métis Chartered Communities in BC and advocates for over 98,000 self-identified Métis in British Columbia. While engaging and developing opportunities for Métis communities, they implement cultural, social, and economic programs and services for their citizens. 

"We have joined over 370 certified Living Wage Employers across British Columbia to ensure our employees earn a wage that creates a positive impact on our community, staff, and the people we serve, while also achieving our value of Kaa-Wiichihitoyaahk (we take of each other). As a responsible employer, we believe that our employees need to earn a wage that meets the needs of daily living and provides discretionary income. We recognize that paying a living wage constitutes a critical investment in our dedicated, skilled, and purpose-driven staff "says Colette Trudeau, CEO of MNBC.

We spoke with Colette Trudeau, the Chief Executive Officer of Métis Nation BC, who shared why it’s important for them to be a Living Wage Employer. Their motto “We Take Care of Each Other” is the catalyst as to why they joined as with rising costs and inflation, it’s important to MNBC support their own staff and take care of each other in these tough times where people are struggling to make ends meet.

"We're delighted that Métis Nation BC have become a Living Wage Employer. However, we recognize that First Nations people are 2.1 times more likely to be in working poverty than non-Indigenous people and that these inequities and those experienced by Inuit and Métis populations directly result from colonial policies and practices. With these truths, we acknowledge our responsibility to address the inequities we have played a part in creating, and commit to working with Indigenous partners, communities, and allies to reconcile our relations with Indigenous Peoples. We encourage all organizations (especially those led by non-Indigenous Canadians) to pay their workers a Living Wage” – Anastasia French, Provincial Manager, Living Wage for Families BC

As the cost of living has increased across BC, the importance of paying a living wage has never been more important. The living wage is the hourly amount someone needs to earn to pay for basic essentials like food and rent, it doesn’t include paying off debt or saving for retirement. The Living Wage for Metro-Vancouver is $24.08 an hour.

Find out more about Métis Nation BC on their website MNBC