History of Nechapanuk Centre
Child & Family Services Inc.
Nechapanuk Centre Child & Family Services Inc., originally named as “Nicapanak Centre Child & Family Services Inc.”, was first formed by four communities, which were Cumberland House, Red Earth, James Smith, and Shoal Lake. Nicapanak Centre was registered through the non-profit corporation branch in October 1998. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed October 1998 to guide the interpretation and jurisdictional positions when it registered through Saskatchewan Justice. It started its operational planning with assistance from Prince Albert Grand Council. Nicapanak Centre signed a Bilateral Agreement to provide child welfare services on October 16, 2000. In 2000, James Smith removed itself from Nicapanak Centre.
In March 2002, a building was renovated in Shoal Lake to serve as the temporary main office and it housed the first seven full time employees of Nicapanak Centre.
In May 2002, operational planning of Nicapanak Centre Child & Family Services became officially operational.
In 2004, The Board of Directors purchased its first office for Red Earth which was a log sided cabin and renovations converted it into an office building. The temporary main office continued to be at Shoal Lake and the Board of Directors continued with plans to have a sub-office in each community.
In 2006, Cumberland House sub office was built.
In 2007, Shoal Lake sub office was built
In 2010, Another significant change was the change of the spelling of Nicapanak Centre to Nechapanuk Centre Child & Family Services Inc. and a new logo was also designed. The Red Earth Office was completed and is now the main office for all management staff and Red Earth field staff and prevention workers of Nechapanuk Centre Child & Family Services.
In 2012, three new buildings were constructed in each community to facilitate prevention services, meetings and any other Agency activities. The buildings were named “Nechapanuk Family Centre” with future considerations to incorporate a Cree word for “family”.
In March 2021, the agency purchased an RTM to be used as temporary office space for the finance department.
As of May 2022, the Nechapanuk Centre has 43 full-time employees as follows: 10 staff at the Cumberland House Sub Office, 24 staff at the Red Earth Main Office, 9 staff at the Shoal Lake Sub Office. In addition, the Centre has 7 casual staff working among the communities.
Guiding Principles
To protect children and families to ensure the care and well-being of children and families are maintained in First Nations structure.
To provide services that are caring and compassionate based on trust and teamwork.
To support and promote the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social aspects of children, youth, and parents.
To seek and facilitate individual and community healing of children, youth, and parents.
Our Vision
“Working together to Care for our Children, Strengthen our Families, and Build our Communities.”
“Kita māmawī atoskĕyāk kawēsk kit pamiyăkok kicawāsimisinānak
kita maskwahigāpawīyāgok kā itasicik ēgwa kita osītāyāk kitītāynināna”
Our Mission
“To ensure our children and parents grow together as families through exceptional service, strong partnerships and cultural teachings”
“Kita kēcināwototamāk kicawāsimisinănak ēgwa onīgihīkowāwa
kita wīciopikīmācik kă itasicik
kita săpopaspīstākik kawēsk
sokikāpawi wiciyăwkanīmitowina
Ēgwa nēhinawē kiskinawāmāgēwina”