Families in Garden Hill, St. Theresa Point, and across the Island Lake area can now access a wider range of children’s and youth programs, after Island Lake First Nations Family Services released a new schedule covering June 2026 through March 2027. The slate includes everything from a Well-being Workshop for Children at the end of June to a job readiness program launching in January 2027, all aimed at building skills, cultural connections, and family support in the four fly-in Anisininew communities of Garden Hill, St. Theresa Point, Wasagamack, and Red Sucker.
Executive Director Maria McDougall said the expanded programming was designed in response to concerns about young people growing up without strong family or cultural ties. The initiative was created in response to concerns about young people aging out of care without strong family or cultural connections, McDougall said, noting the agency’s broader mission to keep families together and preserve Anisininew identity.
The first event on the calendar is a Well-being Workshop for Children running June 27 and 28. It will be followed by Neechi Camp for children from July 2 to 6, then July sessions of the Nobody’s Perfect Parenting Program. In September, a Money Literacy Workshop for youth is planned for September 21 to 24, with a Physical Literacy workshop for children set for October. The Kitchi-nabeh meena Kitchi-ekwe Job Readiness Training, which translates to “Big Man and Big Woman,” begins in January 2027 and continues beyond March. Ongoing programs like the LEAP program and a Beading Circle are also listed on the agency’s events page.
The release of a single, publicly viewable schedule marks a step toward clearer communication for families in the remote northeastern Manitoba region, where communities are reachable only by air, boat, or winter road. Island Lake First Nations Family Services has served the four Anisininew Nations since 1997, operating under the First Nations of Northern Manitoba Child and Family Services Authority.
Residents can find full details and any updates on the agency’s website. McDougall emphasized that all programs are rooted in Anisininew culture and language, and are meant to be accessible to families right in their home communities.
