NationTalk: The Otipemisiwak Métis Government, representing the Métis Nation within Alberta, is thrilled to unveil its inaugural Métis Child Care Centre in Edmonton, slated to open its doors in the winter of 2024. Currently in development, this facility will offer premium childcare spaces, ensuring exceptional quality for children.
“The opening of a Métis-specific Child Care Centre is a monumental achievement for our community,” says President Andrea Sandmaier. This centre will not only offer vital childcare services but also function as a focal point for cultural learnings, fostering a sense of connection, pride, and community. It will empower our children to embrace their Métis heritage from a young age, strengthening our cultural continuity and fostering a sense of belonging and identity within the community.”
The Child Care Centre will be located on the first floor of a larger development in the Griesbach neighbourhood in Edmonton and will accommodate up to 72 children.
The childcare programming will be rooted in Métis culture, values, and community, drawing from the rich tapestry of Métis history and identity. It will integrate land-based learning and provide opportunities to explore and appreciate traditional foods.
“This initiative offers our children a vital chance to immerse themselves in their language, traditions, and history from an early age, nurturing a deep-rooted sense of identity and pride within them. It marks a pivotal moment in safeguarding our heritage and cultivating the future leaders of the Métis community,” says Brooke Bramfield, Secretary of Child and Family Services.
This initiative offers our children a vital opportunity to immerse themselves in their language, traditions, and history from an early age, nurturing a deep-rooted sense of identity and pride within them. It marks a pivotal moment in safeguarding our heritage and cultivating the future leaders of the Métis Nation,” says Brooke Bramfield, Secretary of Child and Family Services.
Media contact:
Kenny Trenton
Press Secretary
Ktrenton@metis.org