May 17, 2024 — Whitecap Dakota Nation — Employment and Social Development Canada

Every child deserves the best start in life. But for young families, including Millennial and Gen Z parents, the costs of child care can add up to a second rent or mortgage payment. This makes it harder to start and support a family. As a result, parents—especially moms—often face impossible choices between their careers and childcare fees.

Fairness for every generation means ensuring parents and caregivers—especially moms—do not have to choose between a career and starting a family. The Government is taking action to make life more affordable for young families and to build a Canada where every generation can get ahead.

Further, Indigenous children benefit greatly from early learning opportunities rooted in their culture and language. In the spirit of reconciliation, the Government of Canada is promoting and investing in Indigenous-led early learning and child care to ensure First Nations, Inuit and Métis children have the head start they need to succeed.

Today, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Gary Anandasangaree, joined Chief Darcy Bear of the Whitecap Dakota Nation, to announce that the Government of Canada will invest an additional $35,000 in Whitecap Dakota Nation’s Early Learning Centre to develop and promote best practices and innovative models in Indigenous early learning and child care programs. This funding comes from the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Quality Improvement Projects. 

The Whitecap Early Learning Centre is a provincially licensed childcare facility that can support up to 56 children, aged 6 weeks to 12 years. The centre is managed by Whitecap Dakota Nation and is open to both Band members and non-member families. The centre believes in educating the whole child; intellectually, emotionally, physically and spiritually, with a strong emphasis on Dakota culture. 

This project will advance the vision and goals of the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework by creating new tools, curriculum, or training to support Indigenous early learning and child care staff working with children with special needs. The project will also create space, resources, staff expertise, and project evaluation for children who experience neurodivergence.

Today’s announcement will help improve Indigenous early learning and childcare systems as we work together to give every child the best possible start in life.

In Saskatchewan, families are already benefitting from $10-a-day regulated child care, saving parents up to $6,900 per year per child. To make sure all families can benefit from these savings, the Government of Canada recently announced an additional investment of $27.7 million over four years to build more child care spaces across the province.