YORKTON, Sask. — Gratitude for years of work, reflection on past struggles and hope for the future filled a standing-room-only gathering Sept. 4 as Métis Nation–Saskatchewan officially opened its Ma Faamii support centre in Yorkton.
Throughout the ceremony, speakers thanked those who helped bring the project to fruition while recognizing the generations of Métis people who advocated for greater representation, resources and support in the community.
Darcy Lepowick, Métis Nation–Saskatchewan minister for Eastern Region 2A, said the turnout itself demonstrated the need for a facility like Ma Faamii in Yorkton.
"To see that many people show up, it shows that a space like this truly is wanted and needed in the community," Lepowick said.
Ma faamii, a Michif phrase meaning my family, is designed to connect Métis citizens with a wide range of services and supports in a welcoming, culturally safe environment.
Métis Nation–Saskatchewan vice-president Michelle LeClair said the centre will serve as a hub where citizens can access help navigating programs, services and challenges they may be facing.
"This is the place where you will find navigators that will help people through whatever issue it is," LeClair said.
The Yorkton office will help citizens access programs ranging from housing and medical travel assistance to documentation support, information referrals and help navigating government and community services.
Métis Nation–Saskatchewan launched the Ma Faamii model in 2023 as a way to strengthen access to services across the province. Staff work closely with citizens to assess needs, connect people with available programs and provide ongoing support throughout the application process.
Loretta King, Métis Nation–Saskatchewan's minister of child and family services, said the centre represents more than a place to access services.
"As a grandmother myself, I think about what it means to have a place where our families can walk through the door and feel welcomed, where someone will listen, where they'll help and say, 'You don't have to do this alone,'" King said.
"That's what Ma Faamii is. It's family. It's belonging."
Chief Isabel O'Soup of the Yorkton Tribal Council said the centre's message extends beyond organizational titles and affiliations.
"It doesn't matter who you are, we're all family, and that's what this represents to me," O'Soup said. "The most important parts are our children and our grandchildren, and that we all come together to support that."
Several speakers noted the significance of establishing a permanent Métis-led facility in Yorkton, pointing to the progress that has been made in expanding access to services and cultural programming in the region.
Yorkton Indigenous Friendship Centre executive director Mary Musqua-Culbertson said the new centre will help residents more easily access Métis-specific supports.
"Now we have somewhere to send people when they come looking for Métis services," Musqua-Culbertson said.
Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle called the centre an important addition to the community, saying it will help foster inclusion while providing supports for those who need them most.
"The energy in this room is really special," Kienle said. "This is one of those spaces that's going to accomplish that, to find more supports and services for people who need them the most."
The new centre is expected to serve citizens throughout east-central Saskatchewan, providing a local point of contact for Métis Nation–Saskatchewan programs as well as connections to federal, municipal and community supports.
The ceremony concluded with guests touring the facility, which many described as an important step forward in ensuring Métis citizens have greater access to culturally relevant services and resources in the Yorkton area.
