Roxanne Shank

President

Hello, my name is Roxanne Shank.

My ancestral link is to the Red River Valley Metis, and the Goulet and Venne clans. History notes that my great grandfather, Roger Goulet, slaughtered a cow for the Rebellion forces, and a good time was had by all in the Métis way, the evening before the Rebellion forces soundly trounced the Dominion of Canada troops at the Battle of Fish Creek.

Like most of us, my life is a tapestry coloured with involvement with the Métis Nation and with First Nations concerns. When I was in law school, I spent my entire last semester working with Thompson Rogers on what became the Residential Schools settlement; for approximately 7 years I had the honour and pleasure of serving on the Georgian Bay Métis Council. I am humbled and honoured to serve as President of the Barrie South Simcoe Métis Council.

Previous careers in academia [I taught at Brock, McMaster and Ryerson] and insurance [at one point I was the Risk Manager for the LCBO] preceded a law career. I currently have a Family Law practice in Alliston, and I pursue my artistic endeavours by designing and making quilts.

What an exciting time to be Métis! Louis Riel predicted that  “My people will sleep for 100 years”, and here we are, on the path to Self Governance and our own Constitution! I am resolved to serve in any way that I can, to promote the interests of Métis citizens, and to promote a strong, growing, lively and vibrant, Métis community in Barrie and environs.

Louis Riel said: “We must cherish our inheritance. We must preserve our nationality for the use of our future.“

This is a sacred trust; I reach out my hands to each of you, to work together in preserving and strengthening the Métis nation, for our children, and our children's children.