For the first time ever Statistics Canada has counted children in foster care as part of its census.
The numbers were released today and there are some surprises.
Nationally, there are almost 30,000 children in foster care.
In Saskatchewan the the vast majority are aboriginal.
Social services minister June Draude says 85% of them are First Nation or Metis.
She says her department has been working with aboriginal groups to keep these children with extended family.
“Well one of our goals when we work with First Nations and we talk about child transformation is to ensure we can keep children with their extended families if possible, rather than putting them into a foster home.”
She adds money put forward in the past couple of years has given them more opportunities to work with First Nations agencies who are carrying out “family finder” programs on reserve.