Clear Waters Métis Council

About Us

Council Address: Unit 1 – 435 York Boulevard, Hamilton, ON, L8R 3K3

The Métis are one of only three Aboriginal peoples recognized under the Canadian Constitution; First Nations and Inuit being the other two. 

Section 35 of the constitution, which frames Canada’s relationship with the peoples who lived on these lands prior to confederation, guarantees Métis rights. 

In Ontario, those rights are safeguarded by the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO), the only Métis government in Ontario recognized by both the Canadian and Ontario governments. Clear Waters Métis Council is one of 30+ community councils that operate under the umbrella of the MNO, representing Métis citizens at the local level

Today, Métis can be found across Canada. While some still reside in historic Métis communities like the Red River, Sault Ste. Marie and  Penetanguishene, many more of us are part of the great Métis diaspora and live far removed from the historic Métis homeland.

Clear Waters Métis are part of that diaspora. 

Clear Waters sprawls across 5,600 square kilometres of southern Ontario, and it is home to about 1,100 MNO citizens. Clear Waters stretches from the Hamilton-Niagara boundary in the east, west to Woodstock and from Lake Erie in the south to Milton in the north. Clear Waters includes communities such as Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford, Port Dover, Simcoe and Hagersville. 

Clear Waters is where we live and work today, but it is not our ancestral home. These are not Métis lands. It’s important to always be mindful that these are the traditional lands of First Nations. Métis within Clear Waters make no resource or harvesting claims on these lands. 

Clear Waters Metis Council, which represents MNO citizens in the area, is comprised of 11 elected representatives. These are all volunteer positions. 

As is typical of Métis everywhere, members of Clear Waters Council hail from across Canada – Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. But each of us traces our lineage to a historic Métis community, communities that existed prior to the creation of Canada. We are, each of us, connected by that shared history and  interwoven lineage.

If you’d like to learn more about Clear Waters, or get involved with our council, please contact us. 

Our offices are located at 435 York Boulevard, Hamilton, Ontario, L8R 3K3. 

Our email address is cwmc@metisnation.org.

You can also mail us at 133 King Street West, P.O. Box 65593. Dundas, Ontario, L9H 6Y6

Governance & Documents

• Clear Waters Métis Council’s Community Charter can be found here.
• Clear Waters Métis Council’s Electoral Code can be found here.
• Clear Waters Métis Council Bylaws can be found here.

Opportunities to Join In

Clear Waters Métis Council has many opportunities to join in! 

Active Committees:

• Executive Committee
• Events Committee
• Communications Committee
• Community Engagement Committee
• Fund Development Committee