The Manitoba Métis Federation and the Northwest Métis Council held a well-attended grand opening of the Michif Children’s Place in Dauphin Tuesday.
President of the Manitoba Métis Federation, David Chartrand was happy with the turn out.
Chartrand says giving children the best possible start in life is critical to the long-term health of families, communities and the nation.
“One of the things that our government really professes hard to push is education. For example, I grew up in Duck Bay very poor, my mom never went to school in her life, and we spoke Saulteaux at home. She knew education, although she didn’t have any, she had culture education, she had Metis education. She knew, even though she didn’t speak English well, she knew education was going to be fundamental.”
Chartrand says they’re not only offering a safe space for children to grow and learn, but also supporting the transfer of critical cultural information between generations through a formal daycare setting.
The child care centre offers spaces for 8 infants, 42 toddlers and preschoolers, and 15 school-age children.
The centre is located across the street from the new Northwest Métis Council office on Main Street, which is nearly done being built.
