The Métis Nation of Saskatchewan will receive almost $3 million under the Early Learning and Child Care Innovation programme for its Miyo Kiskinahamatowin ashi Sitokatowin: Awasisak Program Teaching and Supporting our Children initiative.
This initiative aims to increase parents’ knowledge, language, and Métis and First Nation cultural awareness in order to promote their children’s early development and school preparation in the Pinehouse Lake community.
On Friday, the news was made at the Guiding Our Children—Elders Sharing Their Voice early learning child care conference in Saskatoon.
“It is our Métis government’s job to provide the greatest care for our children, to build a firm foundation in our Métis identity, culture, values, and language,” stated Glen McCallum, president of the Métis Nation—Saskatchewan.
“Our collaborative efforts contribute to this.”
Métis Nation—Saskatchewan also earned about $337,000 as part of their Who I Am initiative as part of the Indigenous early learning and child care quality enhancement programmes. The recently finished initiative created culturally relevant early learning and childcare materials to aid in the development of a strong sense of Métis identity throughout Saskatchewan’s 12 Métis Nation territories.
“The work the Métis Nation is doing here today is to be able to share that knowledge with our children, to be able to bring that information into our education systems and teach our children to be proud of who they are,” McCallum said.