Audrey Poitras
President, Métis Nation of Alberta

The first female president of the Métis Nation of Alberta, Audrey Poitras has made significant social and economic advances for her organization in her nine years at the helm. The Elk Point native helped negotiate and sign a historic agreement with the Canadian government in June that will set the framework for negotiating aboriginal rights for Métis in the province. In May, she struck a deal with the Alberta government that enshrined Métis hunting and fishing rights in the province. The successful businesswoman forged a partnership in October with three private oilfield contractors to form the Aboriginal Energy Services Group, a joint venture that will provide employment opportunities for Alberta's 67,000 Métis while alleviating worker shortages. Poitras also negotiated the purchase of a profitable drilling rig in a partnership between EnCana Corp., Lakota Drilling and her 73-year-old organization. Poitras spearheaded the development of a historic site at Métis s Crossing near Smoky Lake. Scheduled to open in August, the cultural interpretive centre has drawn national attention as a tourist destination. She has shown the same skill in lobbying government, signing a $52-million agreement with Ottawa to provide 17 employment service centres for Métis across the province. -WG

How will the current generation of Métis capitalize on the economic opportunities available in the oil and gas industry?
There are many ways. One of the things that the current generation of young Métis needs to realize is they need to get educated and trained because there are many opportunities for them in the oil and gas industry, through the rig owned by the Métis Nation as well as many more opportunities through other industry groups. There are lots of companies that the Métis Nation has built solid relationships with who are willing to provide opportunities to young Métis as long as they are educated and trained.

Who do you think is the greatest Albertan ever?
I believe the greatest Albertan is the late Lois Hole, our former lieutenant-governor. She was a very respected public figure. Prior to that, she was an educator. She was very much a businesswoman. She believed very much in the rights of children. She was also a friend to the Métis Nation of Alberta.

In 100 years, will you warrant your own chapter in the history books, a footnote to great events or a single Google hit?
I have a hard time answering this question. It's not about what I want at the end of the day, it is what I can do. During my time over the past nine years, I along with my board have done a lot of things to move the Métis Nation forward. In all of those things, I would probably say a chapter in a history book somewhere.