On December 3-4, 2024, the Saskatchewan First Nations Family and Community Institute (SFNFCI) hosted its Q3 Meeting at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon. The meeting began with an opening prayer by Elder Wally Awasis, followed by a warm welcome from Kayla Rosteski-Merasty, who provided an overview of the agenda and upcoming events.
Key Topics Covered
1. Training & Meetings:
Upcoming training sessions, such as Motivational Interviewing, were confirmed. Dates for the quarterly meetings in the 2025-2026 fiscal year were shared. A Training Needs Survey remains open until January 1, 2025, to guide future initiatives.
2. IA Advisory Committee Updates:
Updates on SFNFCI’s Reform Project were shared, including progress on the competency dictionary and training needs analysis.
3. Policy Updates & Reporting:
Jason Yew from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) highlighted key changes to funding, reporting requirements, and policies, including new disability support initiatives. He emphasized the importance of timely reporting to prevent funding interruptions and encouraged collaboration between IA and PES for reporting.
4. Assisted Living Program:
Kelly Quewezance shared updates on the Assisted Living Program, including eligibility criteria and types of care, while addressing attendees’ questions.
5. FSIN Initiatives:
Isadore Wichihin from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) presented updates on their work in disabilities, income assistance, and homelessness portfolios.
The first day concluded with the start of a roundtable discussion, which continued the second day. Following this, Taylor Baier from Oaks Mental Health delivered an insightful presentation on Cultivating Wellness.
Key topics included:
- Recognizing signs of wellness or distress in the workplace
- Managing workplace stress effectively
- Strategies to achieve work-life balance
- Self-care fundamentals
- How and when to seek help
- Workplace mental health resources
A PowerPoint presentation was included with the meeting notes sent to all attendees. The event wrapped up with a closing prayer and song by Elder Wally Awasis.
