Island Metis Child Care Centre

Island Metis Family & Community Services Society hosts the Island Métis Child Care Centre on  Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt), Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ territory in Victoria.  

We see all of our children as gifts, and our program is committed to providing high quality childcare and nutrition programs for Métis, First Nations and Inuit children and their families. We are an inclusive wellness program with wrap around supports and Elder participation. Our families are mostly Métis and enjoy learning about our culture and language. Spending time with our Elders. Our families are part of our program and participate in the centre to help our children learn and grow. 

We have language and tea lessons with Koohkom Marlee Paterson. Southern Michif uses French nouns and Cree verbs.  

We give thanks in Michif for our food, we spend time learning about the land, we meet the children and families where they’re at, and we grow together through music, dance, song, playing the spoons and beading. We love to eat traditional foods like bison and bannock.  

We are very fortunate to have four Elders that participate in our program weekly, supporting culture and language. Elders support our program by being advocates in our community and setting the tone to support us in decolonizing childcare. Elders teach us to be who we are and support us to find our voices and be proud to be Indigenous.   

We are the first AHS in Victoria and the only Métis specific program in Victoria. We call our educators Aunties and Uncles. This supports us in our practice and also supports families to feel a deeper connection to our community, as many of our families’ roots are in the prairies. 

Our playground is built out of natural wood by Metis artist Pat Calihou. Most of our Educators have their Inclusive Care Specialty in Early Childhood education.   

Our Parents Steering Committee are steering our canoe! They meet on the first Friday of every month to support our centre in the planning and implementation of curriculum and events. We also have a volunteer committee and a kindergarten planning committee.