Maamawibiway - Our Gathering Place

December 22, 2023

Capital Projects - Maamawibiway

Location: 2 miles East of Hodgson, MB on Hwy #325

Date of Possession: July 30, 2023

As part of the Honouring our Children, Families and Nation Act, the Agency negotiated Capital Projects as part of this agreement to provide child and family services to membership to prevent children from coming into care.

Maamawibiway (Our Gathering Place) was seen as an opportunity for the Agency to secure an asset that would provide adequate space for development and programming. Programming that will be taking place on property:

· Traditional Independent Living Program

· Family Reunification Program

· Reclaiming Our Ways Program

· Prevention Services

· Debinan Youth Services (Debinan Building, 10,000sq/ft)

Recreation developments planned: hockey rink, skatepark, concert stage and more.

A total of 166 acres for a cost of $704,000.00 was purchased. Land purchase included a 3 bedroom house, large machinery garage, smaller garage, and various equipment/machines/tools.

Events hosted at Site:

Community Feast: Held on July 31, 2023 for Peguis membership to eat, visit the property, ask questions and meet staff. Around 300 members attended.

2nd Annual Women’s Gathering 2023: Held on August 16 & 17, 2023, with 380 Peguis members in attendance. Activities included the United Rainbow Singers, 7 Sacred Ways of Healing, Cedar Bath’s, 7 Red Road Teachings, Healthy Relationships through Pipe Ceremony, beading, soap stone carving, hair braiding, painting, round dance and The Deadly Aunties.

2nd Annual Men’s Gathering 2023: Held on September 22 & 23, 2023, with 200 Peguis members in attendance. Activities included Lighting of the Sacred Fire and Fire Teachings, Water Drum Teachings, Tipi Teachings in break out sessions, Stand Up Comedy Show, Sweat Lodge Ceremony, Four Sacred Hearts, Traditional Teachings by Floyd and Faylene and Laughing Lion Wellness Therapy.

Debinan Youth Program has been taking place since August 2023 with over 6,000 member participations. Activities including baseball, movie nights, gaming nights, skidoo rides, cooking classes, sewing, fire making, Bannock on a stick, etc.

Reclaiming Our Ways Program with 3,000 members accessing services provided such as Mother’s Day event, Father’s Day event, Women’s Gathering and Treaty Day Gathering, cooking, sewing, crafts, parental programming (Raising Children in Troubled Times) and Anang Miikana.

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Annual General Meeting

September 16, 2025

Schedule is subject to change.

Staff Pension Plan Settlement

September 15, 2025

MEDIA RELEASE SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg, MB – Today, Peguis Child and Family Services (the “Agency”) wishes to announce a significant court victory achieved through settlement with Canada via the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (“OSFI”). The Agency had attempted to register its Staff Pension Plan for its employees with OSFI under the authority of the federal Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985. OSFI, as regulator of federal pension plans refused to register the Plan and recommended registration of the Plan provincially. The Agency, operating under the inherent rights of Peguis First Nation and the Honouring our Children, Families and Nation Act (“HOCFNA”), filed a judicial review application challenging the decision of OSFI not to register the Plan. There were many factors supporting the challenge initiated by the Agency, including but not limited to the fact that the HOCFNA scope was national, and it carried the weight of federal law; the inherent rights of Peguis First Nation to actionize jurisdiction of child and family services; the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling (the Quebec Reference 2024 SCC 5) confirming the constitutionality of An act respecting First Nations, Inuit, Metis children, youth and families; and that section 91(24) of the Constitution Act, 1867 and section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 were engaged drawing in reconciliatory justice. These factors, among others, were persuasive and compelling but not decided by the Court because the parties reached a settlement. As a result of settlement, the following will occur: a) The Agency discontinues the application against Canada; b) Canada registers the pension plan through OSFI; c) Canada pays costs in the amount of $10,000 to the Agency; and d) There is no confidentiality associated with settlement. The Agency has established another legal precedent along its journey of transforming Indigenous child welfare for the benefit of First Nations nationally. CONTACT Kirk Mann Communication Director Peguis Child and Family Services (204) 645-2049 -30-