AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH BEARDY'S-OKEMASIS FIRST NATION

Released on May 15, 1997

Social Services Minister Lorne Calvert and Chief Edgar Thomas of the

Beardy's-Okemasis First Nation today signed an agreement which provides

authority to the First Nation's Child and Family Service Agency to take

direct operational responsibility for the delivery of child and family

services to band members on First Nations' land.



"This is a significant achievement for the department and the

Beardy's-Okemasis First Nation," Calvert said. "For too long, child

and family services have been provided to First Nations people by a

department that is distant and disconnected from them. I am very

pleased that we have been able to work together to develop an agreement

that enables agencies and individuals who know and understand the

issues facing families in crisis, to deliver services to them."



"The Beardys and Okemasis First Nation is pleased to sign this historic

agreement," Chief Thomas said. "This begins the process of

self-determination and self control of a program which affects our

membership as a whole. We believe this agreement will begin a holistic

healing initiative which will be a positive influence."



The Beardy's-Okemasis Child and Family Service Agency will be developed

over the next few months.



The Saskatchewan government and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian

Nations began working on a joint approach to developing First Nations'

child welfare services in November 1991.



Since then agreements have been signed with the Touchwood Agency, the

Battlefords Tribal Council, the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, the Lac La

Ronge Band, the Qu'Appelle Agency, the Kanaweyimik Agency, the Onion

Lake Band, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, Saskatoon Tribal Council, File

Hills Agency, Yorkton Tribal Council, Ahtahkakoop, Sturgeon Lake -

Wahpeton, Montreal Lake and Agency Chiefs.



Child and family services provided by these agencies include: child

protection, foster care, prevention services, healing/wellness services

and community development.



"We know our First Nation will benefit from the implementation of our

own Child and Family Services agency," Chief Thomas said. "The Beardys

and Okemasis First Nation has put a lot of time and effort into

creating this agency. The programs that are developed will follow a

positive and traditional content. I would like to thank all involved

in getting this agreement developed and signed."



"I want to commend everyone involved in the development of this

agreement for their commitment and hard work, and I look forward to the

opening of the Beardy's Okemasis Child and Family Service Agency,"

Calvert said.



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For more information, contact:



Virginia Wilkinson Warren Seeseequasis

Social Services Beardys and Okemasis First Nation

Regina Phone: (306) 467-4402

Phone: (306) 787-0916 (306) 467-4523