1. Maamuu Uhpichinaausuutaau Regional committee
Cree Regional Committee to oversee the Cree program for Avenirs d’enfants

2. Overview Portrait of the Cree population Background on partnership
Funding availability from Avenir d’enfants
Creation of Maamuu Uhpichinaausuutaau Regional committee
Reaching an Agreement btwn Avenir d`enfants & CNG
Strategic Regional Plan on Early Childhood in Eeyou Istchee

3. Portrait of the Cree Population; Our Cree Reality
Our Cree population is young and growing rapidly compared to rest of Quebec
We have more births than rest of Quebec
Proportion of single families is growing significantly
2 in 5 couples have 3 children or more
Single parents have less income than the average 2 headed family
We have 3 times more low income families than the rest of Quebec
Cost of a nutritious food basket is $104 higher than rest of Quebec
We also have a lot more people per household – extended or growing families
(Based on Cree Statistics 2011)

4. Background on partnership
Met with partners to take an in-depth look at all services available to children 0 to 5 years old in Eeyou Istchee
Cree Nation Government: Childcare services, Head Start program;
Cree Health Board: Awash services, Youth Protection, Nishiyuu Department
Cree School Board (Pre-K/K)
Cree Nation Youth Council
Cree Women of Eeyou Istchee Association
Issues/challenges identified by partners (CNG, CHB, CSB)
Decided to take on a collaborative approach (all partners working together for the benefit of our children)

5. Avenir d’enfants
Meeting with Avenir d’enfants - a non-profit organization in Quebec which was created through a partnership between the Government of Québec and the Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon.
They believe in utilizing the collaborative approach by funding local and regional community initiatives for children and families
Avenir d’enfants’ core strategies include an emphasis on collaborative and sustainable actions, beginning with conception (pre-natal)and continuing throughout the early childhood period, with a special focus on children and parents living in poverty.

6. Creation of Maamuu Uhpichinaausuutaau Regional Committee
Vision of the Maamuu Uhpichinaausuutaau Regional Committee
“All Cree families blossom with happy and healthy children based on the teachings of our ancestors accordingly to the natural order as directed by our creator”
Committee membership:
Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay (Public Health-Nishiiyuu-Youth Protection)
Cree Nation Government (Child & Family Services Department, Childcare Centres, Head Start Program)
Cree School Board
Cree Women of Eeyou Istchee Association
Cree Nation Youth Council
Creation of Maamuu Uhpichinaausuutaau Regional Committee

7. Agreement with Avenir d’enfants
An agreement between CNG and Avenir d’enfants was officially signed in January 2017 up to March 2020
Securing funding for local community based projects developed in partnership by a local committee of early childhood representatives
Funding is also provided to hire personnel to support this initiative:
Two (2) Project Advisors: Nathalie Iserhoff and Joanne Moar (based under the CFS-CNG) to support local communities in developing their action plans

8. Agreement with Avenir d’enfants (cont.)
Funding provides the opportunity to:
Hire Project Advisors to work with all local committees in our communities in Eeyou Istchee(1 Inland and 1 Coastal)
Provide start-up funds for community based local action plans
Realize communication and evaluation plans.

9. Realizations up to date
8 communities have completed the start-up process and have received their funds
Next step is to receive their community action plans so we can begin to fund their local initiatives/community projects

10. Strategic Regional Action Plan
Main objective is to ensure early childhood is prioritized within Eeyou Istchee Our children will become the leaders if they are given a good start and solid foundation and education. It is also important that they keep the Cree culture and language strong.