Services

Métis Calgary Family Services helps persons requiring Aboriginal specific service delivery, be it child focused, education, social services,

housing and homelessness, youth supports, parent education and early intervention regardless of status.

Métis Calgary Family Services Society promotes the principle that we, as the Aboriginal community has a right to assume responsibility and ensure culturally appropriate services are being delivered that respects the individual and unique needs of our Urban Aboriginal families, culturally, socially, spiritually, and economically.

We seek to empower individuals, families, and our urban aboriginal community to meet the needs of their children.

Parents and Children flourish through a comprehensive, diverse approach to holistic practices that embrace traditional methods of sharing and caring, secure within our Aboriginal worldview.

As an Aboriginal registered charitable non profit entity , we are proud to support our community in this way.

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Ke Mama Nnanik Family Program – Delivers parent/child development programming to the Calgary community out of the S.E. Sundance, Erin Wood, and Rainbow Lodge facilities. This programming is early child developmental in focus and is a free service for the participants, who self-refer. The primary focus is on parents and children up to 6 years of age. Through this program, children flourish, families connect with resources, and parenting issues are addressed for the families.

Native Network Family Resource Center – is a hub for services in Greater Forest Lawn area in the east part of urban Calgary. Families access a spectrum of services on-site such as Elders and culturally unique activities, including basic needs referrals, job assistance, and advocacy help. The Native Network works closely with existing front-line resources and is early intervention focused. The Erinwoods location is a catalyst for interfacing within our Urban Indigenous community. Families and individuals achieve improved community and natural supports as well as connections with existing resources in the community. Families are able to enroll in Triple P positive parenting courses through the center as well as Positive Indian Parenting workshops.

Native Network Family Wellness Services – Operate in concert with the Native Network Family Resource Center with a broader community focus on four key areas: early child development, parent education, family support services, and information and referrals for parent support and child development programs in the community. Families connect and access parenting-specific materials and information and are better able to cope while children flourish.

Medicine Wheel Early Learning Centre – Situated within the Calgary Board of Education as a recognized (CBE / Alberta Learning) alternative programming model. This is a culturally based preschool and kindergarten environment that engages 60 students in the calendar year. The current site is located in southeast Calgary and employs a total of six full-time people, including transportation (drivers). This early child development programming is synchronized with the Alberta Learning curriculum. Preschool and kindergarten children are enriched in the public school setting with a full spectrum of culturally specific alternative kindergarten activities. Lifelong learning foundations and strong parent engagement are key objectives of Medicine Wheel.

Little Dancing Buffalo – Culturally specific enrichment programming delivered as dance and craft activities within the Calgary Aboriginal community. Free open program registration allows youth and families to embark on cultural experiences and active living with traditional Pow Wow and Métis dance lessons and activities.

Indian Residential School (IRS) Survivor Program – This program works with homeless survivors of Indian Residential Schools in all facets of their needs as it relates to disclosure, compensation, and healing from the effects of residential school experiences. Elders and IRS workers support the process in which individuals address issues and barriers to compensation and healing resources.

We also can help day school survivors with their needs as well, we have created this short video to explain the application process.

Day School application help link

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Aboriginal Student Program (ASP) – Engages community Aboriginal youth in the areas of school-based and social-based issues. The ASP operates as a youth activity group, supporting youth to remain in school, and dealing with issues that affect success in the area of education and cultural connections. Tutoring, youth groups, and one-on-one services are delivered via this program. This project works closely with the education systems and uses a mentoring, role-modelling concept within a positive peer environment. The program services 30 to 40 youth in a calendar year with three youth workers and a program supervisor. This program is enriched with a cultural Elder/Youth component. Youth stay in school and realize and achieve their potential with positive peer and mentoring processes. The Elder/Youth program operates across the city of Calgary and engages youth and Elders in a variety of activities designed to enhance and meet the culturally specific needs of the youth. This project is coordinated within the Aboriginal Student Program and engages Elders in a volunteer capacity in various forums. The Elders often interact with students in post-secondary and community-based forums. The project is based on a three Elders capacity within the MCFS services spectrum. In fact, there is a great deal of resource sharing between the cultural components of this project and the other MCFS projects, broadening the scope of impact for the Elder/Youth program. Youth become aware of and connected to the cultural strengths in their community and heritage.

In Home Family Support (IHS) – Provides mandated services through the Children and Family Service Authority in Calgary Area, under contract. The IHS program employs three full-time workers and supports an additional Aboriginal resource person within the Native Network community area. Elders and cultural activities are a key aspect of this contracted service with Region #3 Children’s Services Authority. This project works closely with, and with referral from, Child Protection / Family Enhancement workers in the area. The Native Network–based worker supports family enhancement and non-child welfare status referrals as well. It uses the Sundance location as a primary base of operation (administrative), with a presence in the Native Network Center as well, which is achieved within a culturally specific context.

Rainbow Lodge Supportive Housing Program – helps urban Aboriginal homeless families with permanent homes. The 32-family community provides a nurtured living environment, giving the families an opportunity to deal with at-risk issues and move toward independence in a vibrant and healthier community of affordable housing. Rainbow Lodge engages families in an enriched cultural community of supports. Children are safe and families flourish. A broad spectrum of resources and supports assists the foundation of Rainbow Lodge experience

Little Sundance Early Child Centre – Provides affordable, accredited, quality child care and early child development programming in south Calgary. The program is licensed for up to 70 children ages 19 months to 12 years of age. The operation is enriched with Parent Link Activities as well. The Centre is located in the 352 Sunvale location and part of the Early Learning Child Care $25/day network.

Little Metis Early Learning Centre - Provides affordable, accredited, quality child care and early child development programming for North Calgary. The program operates out of the Hunting Hills area of North Calgary with excellent access to Centre Street and Deerfoot Tr. It is located at 500 Huntridge Hill N.E. and is part of the ELCC $25/day network.

Community Voice Mail (CVM)- provides free voice mail number for anyone needing such a service during homelessness, employment search, school/teachers, medical appointments, housing searches. Community voice mail provides a community contact and messaging system for marginalized clients seeking housing, employment, or services, without the stigma associated with poverty or race, it can be accessed for free through the Native Network center or any of the CVM partner agencies.

About us..

Métis Calgary Family Services (MCFS) is an Aboriginal non-profit, registered charity, that serves urban Aboriginal children, youth, and families. MCFS promotes the principle that the community has the right to assume authority and responsibility for the design, development, and implementation of Child, Family, and Youth Services to the urban community and that community involvement and participation is essential to the process. Following this principle, the goal is to develop services that are responsive, community-based, oriented, and accountable, that reinforce traditional patterns of caring, sharing, and co-operation within families and the community.

Culturally authentic and relevance is the hallmark of the Métis Calgary Family Services spectrum of engagement.

MCFS ensures a code of ethics and the highest standards and policies guides our work. MCFS is involved in collaborative and consultative activities with various levels of government, funders, and service providers, as well as community. MCFS has successfully delivered a balanced spectrum of services in Calgary since 1991, evolving capacity in the community that reflects our urban aboriginal community needs.

MCFS specializes in early child development, parenting, and family development and supports. Metis Calgary Family Services Society is licensed,certified and accredited in the work we do.