(image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

HISTORIC AGREEMENT

New agreement will see Metis adults able to access culturally safe supports

Jul 29, 2025 | 4:34 PM

KAMLOOPS — Metis adults in the Kamloops region, living with developmental and intellectual disabilities will soon have access to more supports thanks to a first in the province agreement between Community Living BC (CLBC) and Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family and Community Services (LMO).

With a stroke of the pen, a first of it’s kind agreement between Lii Michif Otipemisiwak and Community Living BC became a reality, set to allow Metis individuals to receive care within their own communities.

“This isn’t work for us, this is about healing our own people, healing our community, restoring what we have always had when we took care of one in other,” said Colleen Lucier, LMO Executive Director. “So I think that is what people will experience that’s different, is that they are homing home and they are going to be supported by their people.”

LMO will now begin work to expand the services they offer, which are currently based around community and inclusion.

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“As Metis people we have often been invisible or we have been forgotten and there has been many years where it wasn’t safe to identify as Metis for many different reasons,” said Lucier. “So many of us haven’t had the opportunity to grow up connected to our cultural identity, to even know our history and to be part of that sense of community.”

CLBC is the backer, helping put LMO in a position to succeed.

“What we wanted to communicate is that they are the best people to take care of their people,” said Ross Chilton, CLBC CEO. “So our funding is to allow them to support people in the Metis community and Metis culture because we know its important to know who you are and where you’re from. And this organization is just such a fantastic leader.”

The two organizations have worked together in the past, when they opened a supportive housing building for Metis youth, and the new agreement strengthens that relationship and trust.

“We trust them and we are trying to get their trust,” said Chilton. “We know that they do good work and we know that they are highly accountable for the work that they do. This is our chance to say, you know what your people need, how can we be there to support you financially so you can give them what they need, when they need it.”

As a first for Metis people, the dream is that this framework can be used across borders to help best support their people where ever they are.

“That is our best hope, everything we do at LMO is an opportunity to transform systems,” said Lucier. “And if there is anything we have done or learnt along the way that can help other Metis nations we are more than happy to share.”