Child and Family Services

Métis Child and Family Services Engagement Sessions 2024

The Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) is leading the development of a Métis-distinct child and family services delivery system to ensure the well-being of our children and families. Our Métis model of care will be shaped by our citizens and communities, reflecting Métis culture, values, and traditions. The goal is to create a model of care that supports the care, well-being, and cultural identity of Métis children, youth, and families in Saskatchewan, for our children, for our future.

To ensure this system truly represents our communities, MN–S is hosting a series of engagement sessions over a multi-year process. These sessions offer Métis citizens, partners, and stakeholders the opportunity to share their insights, priorities, and concerns.

 

Ways to Participate

Interested in sharing your thoughts? There are a few different ways that you can participate. Take a look to see what option might work best for you.

Complete our Online Survey 

Strapped for time, but still want to share your thoughts? No problem, you can easily contribute through our online survey. 

This online survey should take 10-15 minutes to complete. 

Click here to get started:  Survey  

Come see us in person 

MN-S’ Child and Family Services engagement team will be visiting community locations and hosting engagement events across Saskatchewan. Come talk to us in-person at one of the following dates and locations: 

The feedback gathered from these sessions will help build a Métis child and family services system that meets the unique needs of the Métis Nation. Elders will be present at the sessions to help guide discussions and preserve Métis culture, values, and priorities.

We invite all Métis people—whether registered citizens or not—to participate in this important initiative.

Please register for an engagement session in your area below:

 

Engagement Schedule:

Date	Location	Time	Meeting Location	Region	Registration Link
November 6	Big River	5pm – 8pm	Métis Hall 208 Main Street	WR2	Register Here
November 9	Prince Albert	2pm – 5pm	Métis Central Western Region II 69 South Industrial Drive	WR2	Register Here
November 19	Pinehouse	6pm – 9pm	Community Hall Lot 1 Block 8, Hilltop Avenue	NR3	Register Here
November 20	Lloydminister	6pm – 9pm	Centennial Civic Centre 5405 49th Avenue	WR1A	Register Here
November 20	Ile-a-la-Crosse	5pm – 8pm	Sakitawak Event Centre Corner of Simpson Street and Ahenakew Blvd	NR3	Register Here
November 21	North Battleford	6pm – 9pm	Battleford’s Indian Métis Friendship Centre 960 103 Street	WR1A	Register Here
November 25	Meadow Lake	6pm – 9pm	Civic Centre 420 3rd Street East	WR1	Register Here
November 26	Chitek Lake	6pm – 9pm	Chitek Métis Hall 201 Pine Street	WR1	Register Here
November 30	Regina	3pm – 6pm	Regional Office 2332 11th Avenue	WR3	Register Here
December 3	Candle Lake	6pm – 9pm	Resort Village of Candle Lake Hall, SK-265	NR1	Register Here
December 4	La Ronge	6pm – 9pm	Kikinahk Friendship Centre 320 Boardman Street, Bedford Drive	NR1	Register Here
December 8	Prince Albert (Youth)	12pm – 3pm	East End Community Club 300 12th Avenue East	WR2	Registration Coming Soon
December 9	La Loche	5pm – 8pm	Friendship Centre Fontaine Avenue	NR2	Register Here
December 10	Buffalo Narrows	6pm – 9pm	Friendship Centre Buffalo Street	NR2	Register Here
December 12	Biggar	6pm – 9pm	New Horizons 117 3rd Avenue West	WR2A	Register Here
December 12	North Battleford (Youth)	6pm – 9pm	Indian Métis Friendship Centre 960 103 Street	WR1A	Register Here
December 13	Saskatoon (Youth)	6pm – 9pm	Ma Faamii 123 Avenue B South	WR2A	Register Here
December 14	Saskatoon	2pm – 5pm	St. Georges Hall 1235 20th Street West	WR2A	Register Here
December 14	Regina (Youth)	TBD	TBD	WR3	Registration Coming Soon
January 7	Yorkton	6pm – 9pm	Gallagher Centre, National C Bank Room 425 Broadway Street West	ER2A	Register Here
January 8	Melville	6pm – 9pm	CN Community Centre, Conference Room 575 2nd Avenue West	ER2A	Register Soon
January 9	Nipawin	6pm – 9pm	Evergreen Centre, Jackpine Room 300 Evergreen Drive	ER2	Register Here
January 10	Melfort	6pm – 9pm	Kerry Vickar Centre, Affinity Credit Union Room 206 Bemister Avenue East	ER2	Register Here
January 11	Estevan	11am -2pm	Estevan Days Inn 1305 9th Street	ER3	Register Here
January 12	Indian Head	11am -2pm	Memorial Hall 423 Grand Avenue	ER3	Register Here
January 14	Cumberland House	6pm – 9pm	Vet’s Hall 1212 Cumberland Street	ER1	Register Here
January 16	Swift Current	6pm – 9pm	Lii Bufloo Metis Local Unit 400 #1 Springs Drive	WR3	Register Here
November 19	Virtual Session (Youth)	6pm – 8pm	Online – Zoom		Register Here
December 2	Virtual Session (General)	6pm – 8pm	Online – Zoom		Register Here
December 6	Virtual Session (Youth)	6pm – 8pm	Online – Zoom		Register Here
December 11	Virtual Session (General)	6pm – 8pm	Online – Zoom		Register Here
January 13	Virtual Session (General)	6pm – 8pm	Online – Zoom		Register Here

 

 

How Did We Get Here?

An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit, Métis Children, Youth, and Families (the Act), commonly referred to as Bill C-92, came into force on January 1, 2020. The Act affirms Indigenous peoples’ inherent right to self-determination and allows Indigenous Governing Bodies (IGBs) to create their own laws, policies, and practices for child and family services.

The Act also sets national standards that prioritize:

• Best interests of the Indigenous child
• Cultural continuity
• Substantive equality

It emphasizes shifting child and family services from apprehension to prevention, focusing on support that strengthens families.

For Métis people in Saskatchewan, the Act provides a framework to create our own child and family services laws and solutions. Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S), as the designated IGB for Métis citizens in Saskatchewan, is working to exercise this jurisdiction to protect our children, strengthen families, and foster resilience within our communities.

 

Where Are We Now?

Métis Nation-Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Child and Family Services is starting Phase 2: Developing our Model of Carecommunity engagements to begin building a distinctions-based child and family services Model of Care for Metis children, youth and families in Saskatchewan.

Over the next five years, MN-S will continuously engage with Métis citizens, communities, community-based organizations, partners and other stakeholders to create our Métis child and family service models and laws.

Upon completing this work, the MN-S will enter into coordination agreement negotiations with the Government of Canada to establish our laws and secure the necessary resources needed to bring our Métis child and family service delivery systems to life.

What Comes Next?

From October 2024 to January 2025, MN-S invites Métis citizens, community partners, and stakeholders to help shape a future Métis Model of Care. There are multiple ways to participate, so choose the option that works best for you!

Your insights and feedback gathered through this engagement will help guide us in designing a distinction-based Model of Care that reflects our unique Métis culture, language, values, and community priorities, supporting our path toward jurisdiction over child and family services.

We’re committed to building a community-driven plan together and will continue collaborating with you as we move forward. Let’s create a stronger, more vibrant future for Métis families together. We look forward to hearing from you!

What are we trying to achieve?

Over the next five years, MN-S will continuously engage with Métis citizens, communities, community-based organizations, partners and other stakeholders to create our own Métis child and family service models and laws that will allow us to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services and bring our children and youth home.

 

Who are we asking to get involved?

All MN-S citizens are invited to participate. We want to hear from the many perspectives our citizens have to offer. MN-S will also be engaging with community partners and stakeholders.

 

Why this engagement process?

MN-S is committed to developing a child and family services model that truly reflects our Métis culture, language, and values, while addressing the evolving needs of Métis children, youth, and families across Saskatchewan. This engagement process is an important opportunity for us to come together as a community, listen, and gather insights that will shape a Métis distinction-based Model of Care. This model will shape the future Métis Child and Family Service System and inform the development of our laws.

 

When will this happen?

Our next round of community engagements on Child and Family Services will start in October 2024 and will end in January 2025.

 

What are we asking of you?

We want to hear from you on what a future Métis child and family service delivery Model of Care should look like, which includes thinking through the following questions:

1. How do we ensure our future Métis Model of Care truly reflects Métis culture, values and priorities?
2. What programs or services do you think will best prevent or reduce child welfare involvement and improve the wellbeing of Métis children, youth, and families in your community?
3. What programs or services do you think will best support Métis children, youth and families involved in child welfare systems and help with reunification in your community?

 

What will we do with your input and feedback?

All feedback and insights gathered during this engagement process will be carefully collected, compiled, and reviewed by MN-S CFS staff. Your insights will directly inform the development of a Métis distinction-based child and family services model.

 

What are we expecting from you?

We want to hear from you! How much time and input you provide is entirely up to you. We’ve designed several ways for you to get involved, so you can choose what works best for you. Whether you have a few minutes or more time to share your thoughts, visit our project webpage to explore the opportunities available and find the one that suits you best.

 

How can you get involved?

We know everyone likes to share their insights in different ways, so pick the option that suits you best. Visit our event page to find a session that works for you.

 

How will you keep me informed throughout the project?

At the end of the engagement process, MN-S will release a report summarizing the feedback we received from Métis citizens, community partners, and stakeholders. We’ll keep you updated on how your insights are shaping the future of Métis child and family services.

 

More Information

• What is C-92?
• What do we mean by a “Model of Care”?
• MNS CFS Community Report