MNA Creating New Child Care Centre Spaces for Métis Families

Métis Nation of Alberta Logo

The Otipemisiwak Métis Government, representing the Métis Nation of Alberta announced it’s inaugural Métis Child Care Centre in Edmonton, slated to open in Winter 2024, with current development underway, the space will offer Childcare services, and cultural learnings and creating connections to Métis culture.

Andrea Sandmaier, President of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government speaks with CFWE on the excitement of the construction of the Child Care Centre, with the Métis culturally driven space to be affordable for Métis families.

MNA President Andrea Sandmaier (Photo Credits – Daniel Barker-Tremblay)

Brooke Bramfield, Secretary of Child and Family Services for the Otipemisiwak Métis Government says there is a huge need for childcare within the MNA, gathering data that showed there was a significant gap in accessible and affordable Child Care Services for Métis Peoples in Alberta.

Bramfield says the focus is to create a culturally safe environment with the Métis Culture training implemented with early childcare educators and staff, ensuring that children are introduced to Métis fiddling, jigging and language revitalization with the Michif language.

Bramfield adds that the Child Care Centre facility can accommodate 72 children, with future goals to create more Child Care Facilities across the province.

Sandmaier goes on to say that the key importance with creating the Child Care Facilities is to help preserve the Métis Culture, language and teachings for many generations to come.