Peguis Child and Family Services is set to hold its 2026 Annual General Meeting on July 4 in St. Clement’s, Manitoba, and is reaching out for traditional Pipe Carriers from Peguis, Selkirk, and Winnipeg to lead a land blessing ceremony that morning. The agency posted the call-out on its website, asking interested community members to step forward before the June 30 deadline to contact Christine Peters.
The AGM runs from 11:00am to 3:30pm at Lot 0 and 1 Old Stone Church Rd. in St. Clement’s. The land blessing will set a tone of cultural respect for the gathering, and the agency says Pipe Carriers play an important role in its operations, particularly with newer office locations in Selkirk and St. Clement’s, which sit on Peguis traditional territory.
Anyone interested in serving as a Pipe Carrier can reach Christine Peters at [email protected] or by calling (204) 619-8468. The agency notes that Pipe Carriers are also needed for future events and gatherings beyond this meeting.
Peguis Child and Family Services has operated under a 2023 coordination agreement that made Peguis First Nation the first Indigenous community in Manitoba to take control of child welfare under federal legislation. The agreement came with a three-year, $319-million commitment from the federal government. Since the community began implementing its own child welfare law, new child apprehensions dropped by 75 percent, from 36 in 2020 to just nine in 2023.
Challenges have surfaced around the agreement, however. Current Peguis Chief Stan Bird has called for the agreement to be ended and reconstituted with independent oversight, citing a lack of accountability and transparency. A $558,616 board travel and honoraria line item drew pointed questions at last year’s AGM. Even so, the agency continues its community work, most recently hosting about 400 Elders at an annual gathering in June.
The July 4 meeting is open to all community members, and details are available on the Peguis Child and Family Services website.
