Canada and Saskatoon Tribal Council Sign Child Services Agreement
Indigenous Services Canada and the Saskatoon Tribal Council signed a regional agreement providing millions in funding for First Nations to reclaim jurisdiction over child and family services.
Minister of Indigenous Services Mandy Gull-Masty and Tribal Chief Mark Arcand signed a regional agreement on October 7, 2026, to reform the First Nations Child and Family Services Program. The agreement, titled Māmowōhkamātowin, is the first of its kind in Canada outside of Ontario and the first in Saskatchewan.
The deal provides funding over seven years to seven member First Nations of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, allowing them to reclaim jurisdiction over the care of their children. While reports on the total value vary between $269 million and $296 million, the funding supports a full continuum of care, including prevention services, housing supports, capital funding for facilities, and post-majority supports for youth transitioning to adulthood.
The initiative follows a decade-long struggle for control over child welfare, including a period from 2016 to 2019 when the province took over Saskatoon Tribal Council programs. The agreement aims to shift decision-making authority back to First Nations to ensure services are grounded in community priorities and culture, ultimately reducing the number of children entering the care system.
