Navigating Success: Peguis Nation's Path to Jurisdiction Over Children and Family Services

In March, a delegation from Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) visited Peguis First Nation in Manitoba, the province's most populous First Nation with an estimated 12,000 members—approximately 4,000 residing on the reserve and 8,000 living off-reserve. The visit aimed to build lasting relationships and gather insights to support CSFS in advancing jurisdiction for the 11 nations it serves.

Peguis Child and Family Services (PCFS) has spearheaded transformative changes in child welfare by implementing the "Honoring Our Children, Families, and Nation Act" on January 21, 2022. Since the enactment of the act, the number of new child apprehensions decreased from 36 in 2020 to 9 in 2023, representing a 75% reduction. This demonstrates significant improvements in child welfare outcomes.

The visit provided CSFS with an effective blueprint for integrating cultural values into legal and service delivery frameworks. PCFS has successfully melded traditional knowledge with community engagement, creating laws that boost child welfare and support informed decision-making, while emphasizing the importance of robust family and community networks.

Peguis’s holistic strategy encompasses physical, spiritual, and mental health aspects, ensuring all-encompassing services for the community. Moreover, PCFS’s strategic financial management, characterized by thorough preparation and precise data utilization, has fortified their financial stability and enhanced their negotiation capabilities. Initiatives such as Elders Sharing Circles, land-based programs, youth engagement, spiritual guidance, and cultural preservation strengthen the community's cultural foundations.

These strategies have not only revamped PCFS's service approach but also provided CSFS with critical insights on blending cultural heritage into community well-being. As CSFS advances its own Coordination Agreement on behalf of the 11 nations it serves, it draws inspiration from Peguis’s successful integration of traditional practices with modern service delivery requirements.

Read the full report from our visit to Peguis.