The mandate of the First Peoples and Saskatchewan Museums Committee is to develop a framework for cultivating mutual respect between the Saskatchewan museum community and the First Nations and Métis communities. The Committee has a number of goals, but has given the highest priority to strategies that will provide access by First Nations and Métis people into the Saskatchewan museum community.

In January 2001, the First Peoples and Saskatchewan Museums Committee approved the 20 new standards for the care of First Nations and Métis collections in Saskatchewan museums. Approval was granted after two years of consultation with both the museum community and the First Nations/Métis communities.

In 2000, the Committee also introduced a new financial assistance program called the First Nations/Métis Collections Care Grant. The grant is designed to provide financial assistance to museums to help them access resources within the First Nations and Métis communities, and to establish working relationships. The purpose of the grant is to support museums in implementing the new First Nations and Métis standards. There are two deadlines per year - September and January - and in its first year the program received two applications. The Committee was pleased to award $1,500.00 to the Kinistino and District Pioneer Museum to develop an exhibit with the local Métis group and document their Métis collection.

The goals of the Committee are as follows;

1. to educate the Saskatchewan museum community about First Nations and Métis concerns and aspirations.
2. to communicate with the First Nations and Métis communities about the role of the MAS, the museum community and the museum profession.
3. to work collaboratively wherever possible.
4. to recommend policy to the MAS Board of Directors.
5. to suggest actions and strategies for the MAS to undertake.
6. to develop guidelines and processes for building relationships between the Saskatchewan museum community and the First Nations and Métis communities.
7. to develop strategies to provide access and involvement by First Nations and Métis people into the Saskatchewan museum community; specifically in the areas of training, management and interpretation.