Who We Are
The Michel Callihoo Nation Society (MCNS) exists for one purpose: to support the rebuilding and federal recognition of the historic Michel Callihoo Nation on behalf of descendants of the former Michel Band.
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The Michel Band was a Treaty 6 community in what is now Alberta, led by Chief Michel Callihoo with recognized reserve lands and status under the Indian Act. In 1958, the Michel Band became the first and only Indian Band in Canadian history to be involuntarily enfranchised by Canada through a federally imposed vote process under the Indian Act, resulting in the loss of federal recognition and reserve lands.
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Despite the loss of legal recognition, descendants of the Michel Band continued to maintain family, cultural, and historical connections across generations and today live throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and across Canada.
How MCNS Was Created
For many years, descendants of the historic Michel Band worked through separate organizations and informal networks to pursue recognition, preserve history, advocate for descendants’ rights, and maintain community connections.
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While these efforts were driven by a shared purpose, leadership across the descendant community recognized that meaningful progress toward federal recognition would ultimately require a unified approach and a single representative organization capable of engaging with Canada on behalf of all descendants.​
That unity process formally began in 2022 through the Michel Callihoo Nation Advisory Group (MCNAG) Operational Protocol, which brought together five descendant organizations that agreed to work collectively in pursuit of Nation rebuilding and federal Band recognition.
The Protocol specifically outlined the party’s shared intention to establish a single representative legal entity to advocate for, and facilitate, the creation of the Michel Callihoo Nation as a recognized Indian Band under the Indian Act.
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To carry that mandate forward, the Michel Callihoo Nation Society (MCNS) was formally incorporated in 2022 as the unified administrative and representative body established through the MCNAG process.
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Since incorporation, MCNS has continued to carry forward the responsibilities envisioned under the Protocol, including:
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Advancing the Band Creation and recognition process with Canada;
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Coordinating descendant engagement and communications;
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Developing governance structures and administrative readiness;
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Collecting Statements of Intent from descendants;
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Supporting the creation of a future Nation governed by descendants themselves.
Advancing Recognition and Nation Rebuilding
Today, Canada continues to work directly with MCNS as the sole representative organization advancing the process on behalf of descendants.
At the same time, MCNS continues to support broader federal initiatives that address the historic impacts of discriminatory provisions within the Indian Act. One of the most significant is Bill S-2, which proposes changes to address longstanding inequities in the Indian Act registration system, including those resulting from historic enfranchisement.
Indigenous Services Canada has indicated that approximately 3,500 individuals could become newly eligible for Indian status if the legislation is passed, with Michel descendants representing the largest affected group.
While Bill S-2 remains before Parliament, its potential passage represents an important step toward addressing historic injustice. MCNS supports timely passage of the legislation while continuing to advance the separate, but complementary, Band Creation and Nation rebuilding process. Together, these efforts will help restore recognition, strengthen community continuity, and create a foundation for future generations.
Statement of Intent
A key part of the process has been the Statement of Intent (SOI), through which descendants voluntarily indicate their intention to participate in the rebuilding of the Nation and remain connected to the recognition process. To date, more than 1,600 Statements of Intent have been gathered from descendants across different families, communities, and regions.
The Statement of Intent process has helped:
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Identify descendants connected to the historic Michel Band;
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Build a descendant registry for engagement and communication;
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Demonstrate continuity and community support;
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Support discussions with Canada regarding recognition and Band Creation.
Completion of a Statement of Intent indicates that a descendant wishes to be considered as part of the future Nation-building and Band Creation process, while ensuring descendants remain informed and engaged as the process moves forward.
Our Long-Term Mission
MCNS remains focused on maintaining organizational stability and responsible stewardship of a process that carries deep historical, cultural, and generational significance for descendants and their families.
The mission is to help descendants reach the point where they can once again determine their Nation’s future together - through their own voices, decisions, and leadership.
That work continues today.
