‘A little bit of Batoche here’: New Ma Faamii centre brings Métis culture and support to North Battleford

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Ma Faamii, Michif for “my family,” is a central access point at 1071 103rd St. that helps Métis citizens apply for and connect with MN–S programs and outside community resources.

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'kinship'

'A little bit of Batoche here': New Ma Faamii centre brings Métis culture and support to North Battleford

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“It’s so beautiful to see Métis representation within architecture and buildings and programs and everything like that come to North Battleford,” Woodrow said.

“This kind of feels like we’re bringing a little bit of Batoche here and it just feels beautiful … it just warms my heart.”

(Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

(Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

(Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

That representation was deliberately incorporated throughout the centre by Métis architect Jason Surkan.

Surkan centred the building around a fireplace and hearth, drawing on historic Métis homes where families gathered around the heat source. Gabled entrance canopies and patterned siding reference traditional Métis homes and Red River or Hudson Bay frame construction, while the carpet pattern recalls a Métis sash.

Wood doors, window trim and other natural elements were used to bring warmth into what is otherwise a commercial building.

“This feels modern, but it feels warm and inviting. You want people to feel welcome,” Surkan said.

The kitchen and common area bring people together around the hearth, allowing the centre’s office and service functions to meet in a shared space. Asked to describe the design in one word, Surkan chose “kinship.”

That welcoming environment surrounds a practical purpose.

“They come here to access services through Ma Faamii. … So I really wanted people to feel welcome and not intimidated,” Surkan said.

Ma Faamii citizen support workers operate throughout Saskatchewan and help people navigate programs across different levels of government.

MN–S vice-president Michelle LeClair said citizens may arrive looking for assistance related to health, housing, employment, education, economic development or social services.

(Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

(Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

Workers can help with Métis citizenship applications, including retrieving records and conducting genealogical research, and connect citizens with supports covering housing, homelessness prevention, medical care, education and child care.

Some programs provide direct financial assistance. Eligible registered Métis citizens buying their first home may receive up to $15,000 toward a down payment and another $2,500 for legal fees and closing costs. A homelessness prevention program offers a one-time grant of up to $2,500 to eligible citizens at immediate risk of losing their housing because of rental or utility arrears.

Other programs provide medical travel assistance and support for children and families, including child-care and school-break costs, extracurricular registration and equipment, books, cultural learning packages and school supplies.

Eligibility differs among the programs, with many requiring MN–S citizenship, income limits, age requirements or other conditions. Ma Faamii workers can help citizens determine what assistance may be available and complete the necessary applications.

Michelle LeClair, vice-president of Métis Nation–Saskatchewan, speaks during the grand opening of the Ma Faamii citizen support centre in North Battleford on Aug. 26, 2026. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

North Battleford Mayor Kelli Hawtin chats with attendees, including Métis elders, during the grand opening of the Ma Faamii citizen support centre on Aug. 26, 2026. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

Loretta King, MN–S minister of child and family services, said the first Ma Faamii centre opened in Saskatoon in 2023 and provided the model for other locations.

She said the centres are strategically located and designed to be recognizable while reflecting Métis culture.

The North Battleford project broke ground in November 2024. Mayor Kelli Hawtin said its completion gives Métis citizens in the city and surrounding region a place to call home.

“This building here was three vacant lots in our downtown,” Hawtin said.

“When we see facilities like this built in our community, it’s not just a building. This is about partnerships and this is about the future for all of our community members and all of our families.”

The centre is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. After-hours assistance is available by calling 1-877-638-4775.

For Woodrow, the centre’s significance extends beyond Métis citizens.

“It’s important to acknowledge that First Nations and Métis people have been discriminated against and oppressed for many, many years,” she said. “To have a building like this in town is a step forward.”

“If you are non-Indigenous, non-Métis or non-First Nations, I think this is still something that everybody should be proud of because it’s a move forward with reconciliation.”

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com