Dakota Tiwahe Services Inc.

The Sioux Valley Dakota Oyate Government is determined, pursuant to the Self-Government agreement (s. 20.0) with Canada and Manitoba, to undertaking the jurisdiction through the initiative of creting a Child and Family Service Agency (Dakota Tiwahe Services Inc.) to address the need for protecting Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Children and families. This will ensure the protection of the Dakota Culture by providing services which represents the morals and philosophical, cultural and traditional components of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.

The approach of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation will be integrated and collaborative, involving all the SVDN departments, particularly those of Health, Education, and Social Development to impleent the objectives of creating healthy families and re-uniting families who have been impacted by child apprehensions.

The Sioux Valley Dakota Oyate Government is determined to create a new model to demonstrate that when Dakota culture, values, traditions and kinship are applied, families will be healthier and the numbers of apprehensions should be reduced and ultimately eliminated.

Update: MARCH 25, 2022

Carol McKay-Whitecloud has been hired as the Director of Dakota Tiwahe Services. The ultimate goal is
to move Dakota Tiwahe Services to true Self Government through Bill C-92.
Sioux Valley Chief and Council and Dakota Tiwahe Services have been diligently working through the
process of attaining their own model of a Child and Family Services Agency.
Dakota Tiwahe Services Inc. was established in 2018 to begin this process. A tremendous amount to work
has been completed by community members over the years regarding the development of CFS related
laws through the Self-Government Agreement. As Legislation, both Provincially and Federally has
changed since this process began, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation is working through the following process by
following these steps:
Step 1) Dakota Tiwahe Services has been offering Prevention Services in Sioux Valley since 2018. All Prevention Programming that DOCFS is currently offering to Sioux Valley Dakota Nation children and families will be transferred to DTS as early as April 1/22
Step 2) Dakota Tiwahe Services is working with the Southern Authority (Province), Federal government, and DOCFS to attain their own Provincial Mandate. As a result they will have ability to deliver services to their membership regardless of where they live. This is projected to occur July 1, 2022.
Step 3) Dakota Tiwahe Services is working with the Southern Authority (Province), Federal government, and DOCFS to attain their own Provincial Mandate. As a result they will have ability to deliver services to their membership regardless of where they live. This is projected to occur July 1, 2022.
Step 4) Once Dakota Tiwahe Services has become a Mandated Agency will be able to utilize The Dakota CFS laws they have been developing through the Self-government Agreement – this will be a stepping stone to Bill C-92. As progressing through Step 1 and 2, DTS will further develop the community laws that are been under construction and move into getting their own CFS process through Bill C-92 whereby they can implement their own legislation/laws and processes. Potentially this could be completed by July 2023.

As part of this process, Professional Employment Opportunities will become available
for community members in areas such as Wellness Workers; Prevention & Protection
Workers, Kinship home Workers and Administration.