Child and Family Services to be renamed Miyuuhpichinaausuwin Apatisiiwi
Statement | January 12, 2023
While its mandate, mission and vision will remain the same, the Cree Nation Government’s
department of Child and Family Services will be renamed Miyuuhpichinaausuwin Apatisiiwin
(ᒥᔫᐦᐱᒋᓈᐅᓱᐧᐃᓐ ᐋᐱᑎᓰᐧᐃᓐ – Soutien aux services à la petite enfance) beginning on January 1st,
2023. The previous name, Child and Family Services, has always been confusing for the general
public as it was often mixed up for child welfare agencies, child and youth services, child protective
services or as it is called in Quebec, youth protection services. For this reason, there was
a need to change the department’s name to avoid the confusion and better reflect our mandate
to provide technical and administrative support to Cree childcare centres in Eeyou Istchee.
The name change will also reflect the Cree language, similar to how the Cree Human Resources
Department changed their name to Apatisiiwin Skills Development. Miyuuhpichinaausuwin
Apatisiiwin in Cree translates to “quality early childhood development services” and the French
“Soutien aux services à la petite enfance” translates to “early childhood development support
services”.
Please note that Miyuuhpichinaausuwin Apatisiiwin will continue to offer the same support to
childcare centres across Eeyou Istchee based on its mandate, mission and vision:
Our Mandate — Miyuuhpichinaausuwin Apatisiiwin is mandated through several agreements
to provide technical and administrative support to all early childhood programs for children in
Eeyou Istchee.
Our Mission — We support and empower all early childhood programs in Eeyou/Eenou Istchee.
Our Vision — Ensuring a strong early childhood foundation to foster a stronger future in
Eeyou/Eenou Istchee