MISA Quick Start for Frontline Staff
Plain-language guidance for support workers, teachers, librarians, nurses, and anyone working directly with people.
What This Is (In Plain Language)
MISA is a guide to help organizations treat Métis people with safety, dignity, and respect. It's designed to stop harmful practices like gossip, identity policing, and lateral violence, and to build better relationships with Métis communities.
Think of MISA as guardrails. It helps you do less harm and more good in your everyday work.
Three Things to Remember About Métis People
- 1
Métis are a distinct Indigenous people with our own history, culture, and rights, not just "mixed" or "part" something
- 2
There is no one way to look Métis. You cannot tell if someone is Métis by their appearance
- 3
It is never your job to judge or gossip about someone's Indigenous identity
If you're unsure, your safest response is curiosity, respect, and "I don't know, let me check our policy and ask my supervisor."
Everyday Do's and Don'ts
Do:
- Listen when Métis people tell you who they are
- Use the words they use for themselves
- Speak up if you see gossip or identity policing at work
- Ask your supervisor where your organization's policies are on Métis identity and safety
Don't:
- Ask someone to "prove" they are Métis unless your role and policy clearly require it and you've been trained
- Comment on whether someone "looks Indigenous"
- Repeat rumours or anonymous complaints about someone's identity
- Use outdated or harmful terms like "half-breed" or "fake Native"
How to Use MISA in Your Role
Pick 1–2 small actions you can take in your job (First 30–90 Days)
If you work at a front desk or intake:
- Learn how your forms ask about Indigenous identity and whether Métis is clearly listed
- Practice neutral, respectful ways of asking those questions (e.g., reading the options exactly as written)
If you are a support worker or case manager:
- Ask clients how they want their identity recorded and who it can be shared with
- Make a note to check in about culture and community supports (e.g., Métis community organizations) as part of your care plan
If you are a teacher, EA, or librarian:
- Include Métis books, authors, and resources in your classroom or collection
- Challenge stereotypes or jokes about Métis people gently but clearly
- Learn who the local Métis organizations are and what they offer
If you are a nurse, social worker, or health worker:
- Make sure you know how to document Métis identity in charts or systems, if the person wants it recorded
- Ask if connecting to Métis community or cultural supports would be helpful
You don't have to do everything in this framework. Start small, stay curious, and build from there.
What to Do If There's a Concern or Conflict
If you see or experience:
- Gossip or rumours about someone's identity
- Someone being challenged or shamed about "really" being Métis
- A complaint or accusation about someone's Indigenous identity
Then:
Pause
Do not join the gossip, react publicly, or promise outcomes
Follow policy
Check your organization's policy on identity verification, privacy, and lateral violence
Escalate safely
Bring it to your supervisor or designated person (e.g., HR, Indigenous advisor) using the processes provided
Protect privacy
Share only what is necessary with the right people. Avoid email chains and group chats
Support the person affected
Ask what they need. Offer to connect them with a Métis support person or community resource if available
You're not expected to investigate, judge, or "solve" identity disputes on your own.
How to Keep Learning
- Ask your organization to provide Métis-specific cultural safety training
- Attend sessions with Métis Elders, Knowledge Keepers, or community organizations when invited
- Read short, accessible materials about Métis history, rights, and contemporary life
- Notice what you don't know and keep a small list of questions to bring to training or supervision
The most important things you can bring to this work are humility, willingness to learn, and care for the safety and dignity of Métis people you work with.