Métis leader Gerald Morin honoured with inaugural Presidential Medal

Distinguished Métis leader Gerald Morin, who previously held positions as a lawyer, President of the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) and the Métis National Council (MNC) has been pivotal in shaping Métis governance and politics to what it is today.

And this didn’t occur by happenstance. The seeds of Morin’s career were there from his earliest memories.

“When I was in kindergarten, I would sit at my grandparents place in Green Lake for hours and listen to Elders talk about politics, philosophy, social issues, oppression,” said Morin.

“It was at those kitchen tables where I developed a strong sense of indignation in what was happening to our people. I wanted to go out there and make a real difference. I wanted to make those Elders proud.”

The young Morin kept this internal fire burning throughout his childhood. In Grade 7, a school teacher singled Morin out after he was one of the few students that took his ‘future plans’ essay seriously. The teacher shared with the class Morin’s intention to become a lawyer, go into politics, and help the Métis people.

By the time he was in high school, Elders in Green Lake were calling Morin ‘lawyer’, despite the community having produced no individuals in the profession at that time.

“I’m so thankful I had the benefit of that experience. I never had an identity problem of knowing where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do,” he said.

Even though Morin went on to fulfill those Elders’ visions, it didn’t come easy for him. During his first years in post-secondary at the University of Saskatchewan, Morin felt out of place and wanted to give up on his dreams.

“Going to school in Saskatoon, I might as well have been shipped off to Mars,” he said.

“I said forget it. I’m going home. That decision felt good for about two seconds. Then I thought of all those people who called me ‘lawyer’, who believed in me. How can I go back and look them in the eye? That’s what kept me going. The rest is history.”

That storied history – through law school, into provincial and national Métis politics, decades of fighting for the rights and recognition of his people – has recently resulted in a Presidential Medal from the MN-S.

The inaugural medals, presented to Morin and Elder Joanna Potiyondi at this year’s Back to Batoche festival in July, are a new honour recognizing exceptional service, leadership, and commitment to Métis citizens.

“To me, this medal honours that struggle, as well as the many wonderful, beautiful people I’ve been associated with over the years,” said Morin.

“It’s about carrying on the legacy of our ancestors and making sure the things they worked for and sacrificed their lives for are realized.”