The Otipemisiwak Métis Government knew their aging buildings needed an upgrade—not just for energy efficiency, but for the well-being of their Citizens. As the oldest continuous Métis government in Canada, they have represented Métis Albertans since 1928 and now serve over 73,000 Citizens across the province. They own a portfolio of facilities and service centres, heavily centred in the Edmonton area, also called the North Saskatchewan River Territory.
“Everything our government does is to support the Métis in Alberta. All the programs we develop are grounded in community,” says Mary Pupo, Energy and Sustainability Manager, Otipemisiwak Métis Government. “Stewardship of the land is inherent to Métis culture, and the reason why we prioritize energy and sustainability programs.”
The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is is upgrading equipment at their Youth Centre in Edmonton
Through SEMI, the government conducted a Facility Readiness Assessment to understand their energy usage at a few key facilities. From there, they targeted three buildings: the Youth Centre in Edmonton, the Region 2 office in Bonnyville, and the Kingsway Professional Centre in Edmonton, which will house their provincial offices.
Through SEMI’s Capital Retrofits offering, they plan to access funding to replace windows and doors, upgrade to high-efficiency LED lighting, upgrade an HVAC system, and enhance roof insulation.
“These are more than just buildings and facilities; they’re places where we connect with our Citizens and serve the community,” says Saurav Rathore, Sustainability Officer, Otipemisiwak Métis Government. “We’re integrating sustainability into each of these spaces so our community can see how we prioritize energy efficiency, and it isn’t just a technical goal but an expression of care and our long-term environmental responsibility.”
Beyond capital retrofits, six team members in the Environment and Climate Change and Facilities and Building Operations departments are participating in Strategic Energy Management (SEM) training, as well as other SEMI activities like Energy Management Information Systems, Energy Assessments and Audits. Their goal is to share their lessons learned with maintenance and support staff and build stronger sustainability practices for the whole organization.
“Capacity building through the SEMI program is very important to our government. People think energy efficiency is technical, but in fact, our work with SEMI is answering community needs with cultural sensitivity,” says Mary. “We work from a Métis worldview, so projects like this focus on all aspects of climate. There isn’t one solution, which is why we’re taking advantage of all that SEMI has to offer.”
Quick Facts
ERA’s SEMI program provides industrial and manufacturing facilities with funding support, expertise, and training in energy management.
SEMI is a $50 million program, with funding provided by the Government of Alberta and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). It is designed to help the province’s industrial and manufacturing sectors increase competitiveness, improve energy efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In 1928, Alberta Métis began organizing to advance Métis self-determination and self-government in the province, leading to the creation of the Métis Nation of Alberta. The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is recognized through two self-government agreements with the Government of Canada. It is the official representative voice of over 73,000 Métis Citizens, with a constitutional duty to convey their needs and priorities.
