Métis Nation of Saskatchewan
Child and Family Services

POLICY

PART I - MISSION STATEMENT
PART II - PREAMBLE
PART III - STATEMENT OF RIGHTS
PART IV - STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
PART V - DISCUSSION OF PRINCIPLES
PART VI - PROGRAMMING

 

PART I
MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan is to ensure that every Métis child is brought up in a secure and healthy environment, including the physical, spiritual, mental, social and emotional elements of human development; to regain recognition of Métis authority for Métis child and family wellness by returning control to the families and communities within the Métis Nation in Saskatchewan; to ensure that every Métis child grows up to understand and appreciate their own heritage, history, culture and language to the extent that they can be preserved for future generations; and to establish a framework upon which we would act upon our authority. 

PART II
PREAMBLE

The Métis Nation is a distinct society within the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada. The Métis are distinct from the Indians and Inuit and are the descendants of the historic Métis who evolved in what is now Western Canada and part of the northern United States, as a people with a common political will, consciousness, language, culture, history and homeland. 

Having experienced physical and political conflict and dispossession in the late 1800's, we are still engaged in a continuing struggle to rebuild our social base and revive our cultural heritage and pride. As such, we are striving for the political, legal and constitutional recognition and guarantees of the rights of our People, including the right to a land and resource base, self-government and self-government institutions. 

Within Saskatchewan, the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan is dedicated to fulfilling these goals with respect to Métis children within the province, through its governance structure and Affiliated Institutions and organizations. 

We believe it is the role, responsibility and duty of every level of authority within the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan governance structure (from the Métis Local / community level to the Regional and Provincial levels, including the Senate, Women and Youth as well as encompassing the mandates of the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan Affiliates and Institutions) to strive to ensure that these rights are recognized in decisions made and actions undertaken which effect Métis children. This comprehensive approach is crucial to the success and sustenance of this important endeavor. 

The Métis Nation - Saskatchewan recognizes that programs already exist across the province within the Métis community; this document is meant to support and guide existing and future programs and services in the area of Métis Child and Family Services.

PART III
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS

Over the years a body of legal instruments have been developed to address basic human rights, including protection of the right of all peoples to self-determination. This right includes the rights of the child, which have been guaranteed through international, national and provincial laws, policies and practices, including the following:

International Law: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966 (Article 1.1)
All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right, they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. They have the right to determine who the individual members of their society are, and how their children are raised. [The Métis Nation has this right based on the customs traditions and practices of Métis people themselves.]

International Law: Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 (Article 30)
In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities or persons of indigenous origin exist, a child belonging to such a minority or who is indigenous shall not be denied the right, in community with other members of his or her group, to enjoy his or her own culture, to profess and practices his or her own religion, or to use his or her own language.

International Law: Declaration of the Rights of the Child, 1959 (Excerpts Principles 1-10)
Amongst other things, every child has the right to: 
Be enabled to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually, and socially; 
Adequate nutrition, housing, recreation and medical services; 
Love and Understanding; 
Wherever possible grow up under the responsibility and care of his parents, and only in exceptional circumstances, be separated from his mother; 
Be given an education which will promote his general culture and enable him to develop his abilities to become a useful member of society;
Be raised with the realization that responsibility lies in the first place with his parents;
Be protected against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation;
Be protected from practices which may foster racial, religious and any other form of discrimination; and
Be brought up in a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship, peace and universal brotherhood and in full consciousness that his energy and talents should be devoted to the service of his fellow men.

National Law: Government of Canada's Policy Approach to Implementation of the Inherent Right and Negotiation of Aboriginal Self-Government. 
The Government of Canada recognizes the inherent right of self-government as an existing right within section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. Recognition of the inherent right is based on the view that the Aboriginal peoples in Canada have the right to govern themselves in relation to matters that are internal to their communities, integral to their unique cultures, identities, traditions, languages and institutions, and with respect to their special relationship to the land and their resources.

Provincial Law: Government of Saskatchewan Aboriginal Policy Framework: Toward a Shared Destiny, 1995.
The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes the inherent right of Indian and Métis peoples to self-government…. The Government has identified five priorities [of which one is] Children and Families.

Provincial Law: Government of Saskatchewan Aboriginal Policy Framework: Framework for Cooperation, 2001
The Government of Saskatchewan….respects Aboriginal peoples' cultures and rights, as recognized in the Constitution Act, 1982.

Provincial Law: Government of Saskatchewan Métis Act Legislation, 2002, and subsequent Memorandum of Understanding Part VI Initiatives (6.3 Capacity Development and 6.4 Governance).
The Parties [Government of Saskatchewan and Métis Nation - Saskatchewan] agree to work towards the devolution of programs and services to Métis communities and Métis institutions. The Parties agree to undertake the necessary preparatory and planning work with respect to the development of a framework for the devolution of programs and services….(VI 6.3) The Parties agree to continue building a Métis capacity for governance of Métis communities and Métis institutions.(VI 6.4)

Provincial Law: Government of Saskatchewan and Métis Nation - Saskatchewan Métis Family & Community Justice Services Memorandum of Understanding, 1998.
MFCJS and Saskatchewan are willing to enter into this Memorandum of Understanding to help chart future relationships between them, and to discuss possibilities for the future delivery of social service programs as they relate to Saskatchewan Métis.

Métis Law: Métis Nation - Saskatchewan Constitution, 1993
Therefore, the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan Constitution is a declaration of self-government, under the Métis Nation Constitution, 1993, and the establishment of the Métis Nation Legislative Assembly which has passed several pieces of legislation to date but none that specifically provides for the creation of Métis Laws as it relates to Métis Child and Family Wellness. 

PART IV
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES

Any model of implementation on Métis Child and Family Services will maintain the following principles. The implementation model will be proactive in that it will be:

1. Be Rights-based;

2. Be Métis-specific;

3. Be Designed and Implemented Province-wide; 

4. Be Healing-Focused;

5. Be Holistic; 

6. Be Intergenerational;

7. Be Based Upon an Ethic of Caring and Mutual Respect; and will

8. Respect Diversity within the Métis Nation in Saskatchewan.

PART V
DISCUSSION OF PRINCIPLES

1. Any model of implementation will be Rights-Based.
By this we mean that the model we adopt will: 

Respect the rights and authorities of Métis people and within this context also respect the rights of the child;
Recognize that accountability shall be back to the Métis Community in the first place, through the processes set out in the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan Constitution; 
Seek recognition and pursue equitable access of the Métis to government programs and services; 
Recognize the need for advocacy on behalf of Métis children, parents and the extended family; and 
Recognize that the Métis community shall take responsibility for its children as part of this accountability and ensure an open and transparent system of accountability.

2. Any model of implementation will be Métis-Specific.
By this we mean that the model we adopt will:

Seek to promote Métis-specific program services and delivery mechanisms to end further marginalization of Métis people through pan-Aboriginal programming;
Build upon existing capacity and governance structures within the Métis Nation, as set out in the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan Constitution;
Provide for community consultation, input and implementation;
Promote Métis culture in all aspects of implementation and delivery of services; 
Be culturally sensitive; 
Be built upon transfer payments from Federal and Provincial Governments, including but not limited to the devolution of programs and services; and 
Respect the role of Métis Elders.

3. Any model of implementation will be designed and implemented province-wide.
By this we mean that the model we adopt will:

Develop under the authority of Métis Family and Community Justice Services Inc, as the designate of the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan;
Promote partnerships with the Government of Canada, the Government of Saskatchewan, Indian Governments and Other Agencies, where mutually beneficial to do so;
Ensure adequate administrative resources and required capacities are made available to provide at minimum equitable services with non-Métis delivery structures; 
Engage in inclusive processes that are respectful of diversity within the Métis Nation with provision for a fair and comprehensive appeal process; and
Seek to build individual, family, and community capacity to promote safe and healthy families and communities.

4. Any model of implementation will be Healing-Focused.
By this we mean that the model we adopt will:

Engage all members of the family or of the community depending on the situation, in a holistic and non-judgmental way seeking resolution as opposed to punitive interventions; 
Focus on repairing and restoring the health and well-being of children as part of a healthy family; and
Recognize that the goal is to develop healthy lifestyles amongst our Métis people and that all Métis people need to be supported to this end.

5. Any model of implementation will be Holistic.
By this we mean that the model we adopt will:

Provide for holistic service delivery encompassing all elements of human development including physical, spiritual, emotional, social, mental and cultural considerations; 
Ensure integrated and coordinated services, including but not limited to housing, education, health, justice, sport, recreation, cultural programming, and child and family services, by involving other Métis Nation Affiliates; 
Promote intersectoral projects which bring together services;
Engage whole families, including extended families to deal with matters related to children and youth; and
Where possible, engage whole communities to deal with matters related to children and youth.

6. Any model of implementation will be Intergenerational.
By this we mean that the model we adopt will:

Listen to Métis Elders, adults, youth and children;
Engage and respect the contribution of all ages of life in understanding and achieving Métis child and family wellness programming, including Métis Elders, adults, youth and children;
Address the stereotyping of Elders and youth in terms of closing the circle of life by bringing both to healthy relations; and
Promote programs that bring different generations together to address child and family wellness issues.

7. Any model of implementation will be Based Upon an Ethic of Caring and Mutual Respect.
By this we mean that the model we adopt will:

Engage all Métis Nation - Saskatchewan Institutions, Communities, Families, Individuals, including teaching our children, in caring for one another and promoting an ethic of caring for people in general and especially for those in need;
Recognize that proactive programming is part of a caring ethic;
Value the individual within the Métis community for the contribution that can and is made by individuals to the wellness of the Métis Nation;
Include as its basic understanding the need to encourage our children and youth and the parents of our children and youth to care for themselves and others.

8. Any model of implementation will Respect Diversity within the Métis Nation in Saskatchewan.
By this we mean that the model we adopt will:

Respect that the Métis in Saskatchewan live in diverse environments, including rural, northern and urban;
Acknowledge that there are unique needs within each of these diverse environments, and that implementation plans must respect and reflect these diverse realities; 
Allow for flexibility in program and service design and delivery to allow for creative solutions to addressing barriers and the subsequent paths to wellness within Métis communities; and
Respect that Métis children and youth have unique personalities and characteristics and that they shall be encouraged to explore and develop their uniqueness and their potential as an individual within the Métis community. 

PART VI
PROGRAMMING

Programming under any model of implementation will include a full compliment of Métis people trained and employed to carry out the responsibilities of a full range of programming. These training and employment opportunities will include professional training as Social Workers, Child Care Workers, Early Childhood Specialists, Counselors, and Special Needs Professions able to address Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects situations, among other situations of care, including but not limited to the provision of services in the following areas:

Province-wide Intake Services and Emergency Care;
Alternate Programs for Children and Families At Risk including Counseling and Welfare;
Voluntary Service to Parents including Foster Care;
Statutory Protection Services;
Abuse Investigations and Services;
Services to Children in Care;
Assistance in dealing with the Legal System / Courts;
Adoptions;
Repatriation of Adopted Children and Adults Adopted as Children; 
Communications; 
Support Services;
Prevention Services; 
Advocacy; and
On-going Professional Development for Métis Staff, Boards and Community Capacity Building.

February 28, 2003
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan