HOSTS

Garden River Child Care Centre: Abinoojiinyag Onji

The purpose of the Garden River Child Care Centre is to provide quality care and educational experiences for young children, infancy through school age, in an extended family style setting.

The Garden River Child Care Centre has been in operation since June 28, 1993.
We are licensed by the Ministry of Education for the following four programs:

Infant Program (6 months - 18 months) - 10 spaces
Toddler Program (18 months - 30 months) - 30 spaces
Preschool Program (31 months - 5 years) - 24 spaces
Before and After School Program (school-aged - 12 years) - 15 spaces

We provide two nutritious snacks and a hot lunch daily to promote children's growth and development. Our curriculum has been developed for indoor and outdoor play to support their emotional, social, creative, cognitive and physical growth and development in an environment that fosters active learning, respect, interdependence and a sense of self. This curriculum was developed by our staff who are Registered Early Childhood Educators with the College of ECE. The Child Care Centre's full-time staff are Garden River First Nation members. We believe child care staff have chosen this field of work because of a sincere belief in the importance of the task and suitability of their skills and education, and a strong commitment to the development of our children.

The language and culture of our First Nation is implemented daily into our curriculum which provides our children with a sense of pride in who we are.

As our children leave our care to continue their journey we celebrate this milestone with our End of the Summer Celebration Pow Wow. This event is attended by community members, elders, families and our leadership.

Batchewana First Nation: Rankin Daycare, EarlyON centres (Rankin, Goulais and Obadjiwan)

Batchewana First Nation is a unique First Nation as it is made up of four (4) different communities that are located in many different areas. The four (4) different communities are Rankin (near Sault Ste. Marie), Whitefish Island (near the Soo Locks), Goulais (northwest of Sault Ste. Marie) and Obadjiwan (north of Sault Ste. Marie). With this unique layout Batchewana First Nation introduced the new EarlyON programs in 2019 that are located in each of the three (3) communities (Rankin, Goulais and Obadjiwan).

Rankin Daycare is a licensed childcare center located near Sault Ste. Marie. This childcare center is licensed for:

Infant Program (3 months to 18 months) – 6 spaces
Toddler Program (18 months to 30 months) – 15 spaces
Preschool Program (31 months to 5 years) – 24 spaces
Before and After School JK/SK Program (4 years to 5 years) – 20 spaces
Before and After School School-Aged Program (6 years to 13 years) – 15 spaces

The Rankin Daycare is a culturally based program that offers cultural teachings to the children from our Cultural Teacher. She provides stories, songs, cultural games and learning experiences that help foster the children with a sense of belonging and purpose.

The EarlyON program is a culturally based program that provides an environment that helps families and children feel safe and comfortable outside of their homes. We strive to help parents with day-to-day routines and activities that help nourish a health way of life. We help build up parents and children to reach their full potential, and our programming is geared towards the children, families and caregivers in all communities. Our EarlyON program will help build and strengthen our community as a whole.

Serpent River: Serpent River First Nation Day Care Centre

Serpent River First Nation Day Care Centre is a Licensed First Nation Early Learning program which aims to provide stimulating experiences for your child within the context of a safe, relaxing, healthy and positive child care setting. In addition to fostering independence, self-esteem, curiosity and cultural awareness, we strive to provide a strong foundation for academic learning. Families are welcomed and participate in their child’s learning and will help staff see more of the potential which their child can accomplish. The staff at the centre are educators who will inspire the children and allow the learning to take place at the child’s pace.

Serpent River First Nation Day Care was built on the vision of a small group of working parents and has a long history of providing quality, holistic and culturally relevant child care dating back to 1992. Since the doors opened on April 22, 1993, the Day Care facility and programming has expanded to support children and families and build partnerships with relevant support service providers (on and off reserve) to ensure no child or family is without needed specialized services where necessary and appropriate. The Serpent River First Nation Day Care was developed to assist community members who are seeking a quality program for their children ages 6 months to 6 years.

The program is designed to provide an early learning program for the working parents or guardians, those who are in school or taking training courses, as well as provide relief for parents who are unemployed or not enrolled any training or school courses. It is intended to help those families overcome barriers for training and employment, while encouraging social development and well-being among our early learners.

Children come from families from all walks of life and circumstances. Serpent River First Nation Day Care staff members believe in an approach to well-being which begins with quality services and programming that nurtures and encourages life-long learning, prevention education, active living, socialization, positive attitudes, independence, self-esteem, healthy choices, as well as a consistent connection to the Anishnawbek culture, language and teachings.

A licenced day care is highly recognized by funders and the SRFN Day Care ensures the criteria set out in the licensed review are followed and best practices continue to improve. Policy and Procedures are essential to the process. Quality day care program is regulated by Provincial and Federal standards and provides a safe and healthy place for children and staff in which they can flourish.

Waabinong Head Start Family Resource Centre: Shkiyaak Niigaansiwag

Shkiyaak Niigaansiwag is a licensed childcare centre located in the city of Sault Ste. Marie that is geared towards Urban Aboriginal children who are 2 years of age and up.

“Waabinong” means “Eastern Doorway – Where Life Begins” and “Shkiyaak Niigaansiwag” means “Our Future Leaders”.

We are located at 169 Spring Street in the downtown area of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Waabinong Head Start Family Resource Centre is funded under the Public Health Agency of Canada. This is a split program accommodating 24 children in the morning and 24 in the afternoon. There is a fully funded program.

Waabinong Head Start Family Resource Centre opened its doors in 1997, is a Non-Profit Charitable Organization and is governed by a Board of Directors.

Waabinong Head Start Family Resource Centre has a staff of eight:

Executive Director who is a Registered Early Childhood Educator and also serves as the Classroom Supervisor
Program Services Coordinator
Two Child Development Specialists who are Registered Early Childhood Educators
Nutrition Specialist (Cook)
Maintenance/Replacement
Two Van Drivers (East and West)

We provide childcare and services to at-risk children and families within the City of Sault Ste. Marie.

It is our mandate to provide a holistic and integrative learning experience for children and their families.

Shkiyaak Niigaansiwag teachers are qualified Early Childhood Educators and trusted community members providing appropriate, culturally sensitive childcare and opportunities to participate in activities that celebrate and strengthen the culture and spiritual traditions of our communities.

Classes are held from Monday to Thursday during September to June.

We believe that children will develop feelings of self-worth, self-esteem, and self-confidence by reinforcing honesty, respect, kindness, sharing, positive role modeling, love, concern and supportive feedback.

We believe that we strengthen the cultural identity of your child by coordinating caregivers, elders and teachers to work collectively through all aspects of programming and components. It is vital that our student views culture as part of him/herself rather than a separate program. At Waabinong Head Start it is imperative that children learn their traditional language, custom and beliefs.

Our program is unique in the City of Sault Ste. Marie area because:

We can relate to the fact that the activity of daily living of our families are different
We respect and support our families as a whole. We recognize that children, siblings, grandparents, aunts & uncles and extended family members play an important role within family structures and our program
Our Centre offers “fully funded” childcare services to the urban community
We offer two half-day programs per day from Monday to Thursday
We provide a safe clean learning environment
Practical lessons in every day skill that children need to live a healthy and practical life is practiced on a daily basis
There are qualified Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECE) on staff at all times
We focus on our Culture and Traditions, attend area cultural celebrations and host seasonal feasts
We offer Traditional Services to our children, families and community members
Parents take an active role in the extra-curricular activities that are provided to your child
We provide Free Transportation to and from the Centre Monday to Thursday
Specialized services are offered on-site

We serve hearty nutritional breakfasts, lunch and snack daily. The Canada and Aboriginal Food Guides are taken into consideration when preparing meals

Sagamok: Shki Waase Aaaban Binoojiinh Gamik (DayCare)

Sagamok First Nation is located on the north shore of Lake Huron. It is a beautiful community whose name means 'two points joining'. Sagamok's culture and language is Anishinabek and is made up of the Ojibwe, Odawa and Pottawatomi tribes. Also known as the Three Fires Peoples, the community members of Sagamok number well over 2000. A little over 50% of the membership lives on reserve, with the remainder living in urban locations. Sagamok is a place of rich stories, legends and history that derive from time immemorial. Once the summer camps of the original peoples who came down from Biscotasing, it is now the permanent home to many of those descendents. Sagamok is an ancestor-based village that is known for its diversity, prosperity and growth. Make sure that you visit all that it has to offer in wonderful teachings and sacred worldview!
-Dr. Pamela Rose Toulouse, Member of Sagamok Anishnawbek

Built on the foundation of Mino-Biimaadiziwn (Living a Good Life), enriched by our culture, and empowered by the voices of past, present and future generations, Sagamok Anishnawbek will be at the forefront of leadership and self-sufficiency among First Nations.

The root of services provided to the members of Sagamok Anishnawbek stem from the Community Story and the Comprehensive Community Plan. These two documents help each department address the needs for members of Sagamok Anishnawbek through the annual work plans submitted to Chief and Council for review and approval.

Shki Waase-Aaban Binoojiinh Gamik is licensed under the Child Care Early Years Act through Ministry of Education, as well as, Ontario government regulations. Our centre offers a learning program that is consistent with Ministry of Education policies, pedagogy and curriculum. Some of the Ministry documents we reference in our curriculum planning include the following:

How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years
Think, Feel, Act: Lessons from Research About Young Children
Early Learning for Every Child Today

Each of the documents are resource guides about learning through relationships for those working with children. They are intended to support pedagogy (how learning takes place) and curriculum development in child care setting.

We operate year round to meet the needs of our families’ child care needs. Our program assists 39 children with our Toddler Room having 15 spaces (18 months to 30 months) and Preschool Room having 24 spaces (31 months to 6 years).

Our goal is to have our children leave the centre with the experiences of a loving, fun-filled, and healthy environment by:

Helping them make friends & work together through teaching them to respect one another, show kindness and compassion
Helping them buid self-confidence & independence through nurturing and praising their efforts

Preparing them with “readiness” skills through routines and setting the tone for academic growth.

Mississauga: Binojee Nagdawenjigamik Daycare

We are pleased to welcome you and your child(ren) to the Mississauga Day Care. The Mississauga First Nation Day Care is a non-profit organization and it is licensed under the Child Care and Early Years Act by the Ministry of Education.

Child Care Spaces

Infants (6 - 18 months)
Toddlers (18-30 months)
Pre-school (30 - 5 years)
Total Child Care Spaces - 32 spaces

Quality of Staff

We believe that our staff is one of the most important aspects in achieving quality programming. Staff are responsible for creating the atmosphere, nurturing and respecting the child and seeing that he/she grows in the best way that he/she possibly can. All qualified staff are registered with the College of Early Childhood Educators on a yearly basis.

The Mississauga Day Care Centre strives to provide the following:

An environment for children that is positive, safe, secure and stimulating
A warm atmosphere that encourages the development of children's self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth
Activities in a setting that meets the developmental needs of all children, including their physical, intellectual, creative, emotional, social and cultural needs.
To enhance School Readiness skills to ensure student success.
To encourage and provide employment opportunities for students enrolled in Early Childhood Education Programs
To provide parenting skills and role models to those parents and student volunteers requiring training in development, behaviour management and cultural growth.
To provide the children with Native Culture such as: Singing, Dancing, Drumming and Smudging
To have the cultural resources available