Government of Canada announces $50 million investment in child & family services, $6.2 million investment in health transformation with Saskatoon Tribal Council

September 11, 2018 Treaty Six Territory, Saskatoon, SK Indigenous Services Canada

The Government of Canada is working in partnership with the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) to support First Nations-led health transformation and a community-led shift to prevention efforts in child and family services.

Today, the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced two significant federal investments totalling $56.2 million, with the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) to benefit First Nation communities in Saskatchewan:

• $50 million over the next five years to STC through the Community Well-Being and Jurisdictional Initiative, which will help STC’s Child and Family Services Agency focus their efforts towards implementing activities to help families at risk, while developing and employing prevention services and programs based on community needs and priorities, ensuring children and families can stay together in their communities.

• $6.2 million over the next three years to support STC in developing a Mature Health Services Transformation Pilot, a First Nation-led transformation of health services delivery by the Tribal Council and its member First Nations.

The Community Well-being and Jurisdiction Initiative is a new funding stream from Indigenous Services Canada. This new funding stream is intended to allow communities to focus on prevention activities to help families stay together in their communities whenever possible, and ensure that First Nation communities have jurisdiction over child and family services to First Nation communities. All investments through the Community Well-being and Jurisdiction Initiative will continue to support First Nation community-led, culturally-appropriate services as a core element of funded initiatives.

The Mature Health Services Transformation Pilot will help transform the health services of STC and its member First Nations by informing leadership and health staff about the impacts of programming on overall community health status through measuring health outcomes against objectives. The results of this pilot will also allow First Nations communities to enhance and expand programs and service delivery that align with priorities of STC member First Nations.

This First Nation Tribal Council led initiative will contribute to:
• integration with the provincial system in a seamless manner across the continuum of care and multiple jurisdictions;
• improved quality of life of First Nations through mutually beneficial partnerships with community organizations and industry;
• the strengthening of our publicly-funded universal health care system and ensuring that it adapts to new challenges.

Quotes

“Today’s funding announcements with the Saskatoon Tribal Council reflect the commitment by the federal government to support First Nations-led transformation in areas like health and community well-being. These investments are aimed at improving health outcomes, access to health services, and placing a greater focus on prevention activities to help families at risk stay together in their communities. I am eager to follow the progress of the Saskatoon Tribal Council in these endeavours, and to see the many benefits this will bring to many First Nation Communities in Saskatchewan.“

The Honourable Jane Philpott, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Indigenous Services

“This is a critical moment for First Nations communities who continue to suffer the emotional and physical effects of residential schools, the 60’s scoop and harmful child welfare policies. The need is real, and these agreements will allow us to initiate more focused, robust programming and much-needed prevention services to begin rebuilding communities and healing families. These agreements also signal federal recognition of the Treaty rights of First Nations to negotiate independent of the Province on issues relating to the health and welfare of our communities. The seven Chiefs of the Saskatoon Tribal Council are resolute in their commitment to fight for equitable health funding for First Nations communities, and to enhance services to increase the potential of our people.

We believe in a future with vibrant, strong First Nations children, youth and families, supported in their communities, with a strong sense of identity and culture and look forward to working with the Government of Canada to make this a reality.”

Tribal Chief Mark Arcand
Saskatoon Tribal Council

Quick facts

As part of the $68 million recently announced for First Nations-led health transformation, Saskatoon Tribal Council will receive $6.2 million over the next three years for their Mature Health Services Transformation Pilot.
Budget 2018 allocated $1.4 billion to address funding pressures facing child and family service agencies, while also increasing community based prevention services. Through this, the new Community Well-being and Jurisdiction Initiative funding stream was created, and this stream will provide Saskatoon Tribal Council with $50 million over the next five years.
Saskatoon Tribal Council member nations include Kinistin Saulteaux Nation, Mistawasis First Nation, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Muskoday First Nation, One Arrow First Nation, Whitecap Dakota First Nation and Yellow Quill First Nation.

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