Updates from our community

Canada Pledged $6B for Trades. Manitoba Can’t Fill the Seats.

Canada just pledged $6B for 100,000 trades workers. Manitoba’s colleges say they can’t fill existing seats — and youth aging out of care are first to lose out.

May 9, 20266 min

First Nations Are Taking Back Child Welfare. One Gap Remains.

Fifteen First Nations now run their own child welfare. Manitoba's Peguis experience reveals what happens when authority transfers but oversight doesn't.

May 7, 20266 min

Manitoba's First-Ever First Nations Language Degrees Are Now in Session

Seventeen students started learning Anishinaabemowin 15 hours a week in January. Meanwhile, mother-tongue speakers are declining for the first time since 1991.

May 5, 20266 min

Manitoba's Red Dress Alert Was Due This Spring. Where Is It?

Manitoba promised Canada's first Red Dress Alert by spring 2026. After 43 community sessions and $1.3M invested, federal funding was cut a month before launch.

May 2, 20266 min

First Nations, Métis, or Inuit Youth Walked 700km — Then Spoke at the UN

Four Treaty 9 youth are at the United Nations, holding Canada accountable for legislation threatening First Nations and Métis lands. They got there by walking 700km.

April 30, 20266 min

Six Youth Deaths Were Preventable. Manitoba Has the Same System.

A Labrador inquiry found six Innu youth deaths were 'systemic, predictable and preventable.' Manitoba, with 9,172 kids in care, shares the same pattern.

April 29, 20266 min

Ontario Got $8.5B for Child Welfare. Manitoba Is Still at the Table.

The largest First Nations and Métis child welfare agreement in Canadian history just landed in Ontario. Manitoba’s 17 First Nations are next — but Peguis shows the stakes.

April 11, 20266 min

Over 100 First Nations, Métis, or Inuit Youth Housing Units Opening Across Canada

From Thunder Bay to Prince George, First Nations and Métis organizations are building the transitional housing the system never did — and the models are working.

April 4, 20266 min

Jordan’s Principle Got $1.55B. The Program Spent $1.64B Last Year.

Ottawa renewed Jordan’s Principle with $1.55 billion. Internal records show the program spent $90 million more than that last year alone.

April 2, 20266 min

Manitoba Cut Housing Funding the Same Year Homelessness Doubled

Budget 2026 commits to just 215 new affordable units — a 68% drop — while Winnipeg's street census hit its highest count in a decade.

March 31, 20267 min

'Surviving, Not Living': What Youth Say About Aging Out

A youth-led report just told Manitoba exactly what's failing about aging out of care. The findings are hard to ignore.

March 28, 20266 min

480 Families Kept Together: Inside Manitoba’s Prevention Push

A quiet CFS prevention program has kept 480 Manitoba families together since 2021. But with children in care climbing to 9,172, is it enough?

March 26, 20266 min

Treaty One Is Building 260 Homes on Land It Fought to Reclaim

A $91M Indigenous-led housing project just broke ground on Winnipeg’s former Kapyong Barracks — and the story behind the land matters as much as what’s going up.

March 24, 20266 min

Rights of Youth in Care in Manitoba: A Complete Guide

A comprehensive, youth-friendly guide to your legal rights in Manitoba's child welfare system — what they are, how to exercise them, and who can help when they're not being met.

March 19, 20267 min

Transitional Housing Models That Work for First Nations, Métis, or Inuit Youth in Manitoba

Indigenous-led transitional housing programs in Winnipeg are proving that culturally grounded, phased support helps youth aging out of care build stable, independent lives. Here’s what’s working in Manitoba right now.

March 17, 20265 min

Extensions of Care in Manitoba: What Youth Need to Know Before the 2026 Deadline

Manitoba's interim CFS agreement standards expire October 1, 2026. Here's what extensions of care mean for youth aging out, what supports you're entitled to, and how to advocate for yourself before the rules change.

March 17, 20265 min

Community

The Role of Elder Guidance in Youth Programs: Why Intergenerational Connection Matters

Research shows Elder guidance strengthens mental health, cultural pride, and housing stability for First Nations, Métis, or Inuit youth. Here’s what the evidence says — and how intergenerational connection works in practice at New Steps ILP.

March 17, 20265 min

Finding Housing After Aging Out of Care in Winnipeg

Every year, hundreds of young people in Manitoba age out of child welfare with nowhere to go. Here are the housing programs, supports, and steps that can make the transition to independence possible.

March 17, 20266 min

Program Update

New Steps Welcomes First Participants to Our Learning Centre

We're thrilled to share that our Learning Centre is now open and welcoming youth. Here's what the space offers and why it matters for our program.

February 20, 20264 min

Aging Out of Care: What It Means for First Nations, Métis, or Inuit Youth in Manitoba

Every year, hundreds of young people in Manitoba age out of the child welfare system with little support. Here's what that looks like — and what programs like New Steps are doing about it.

February 10, 20265 min

Program Update

Building Life Skills: How Cooking, Budgeting & Daily Routines Build Confidence

Life skills aren't just about learning to do laundry. For youth transitioning out of care, mastering everyday tasks is a powerful step toward independence and self-belief.

January 28, 20264 min

Community

The Role of Culture in Healing and Growth for First Nations, Métis, or Inuit Youth

Reconnecting with First Nations and Métis culture isn't just a nice addition to youth programming — it's central to healing. Here's why cultural identity matters so much for youth leaving care.

January 15, 20265 min

Understanding Child & Family Services in Manitoba: A Guide for Community Members

The child welfare system can be confusing and overwhelming. Here's a plain-language overview of how CFS works in Manitoba and what it means for First Nations and Métis families and youth.

December 20, 20255 min