The move to First Nation and Metis control of the child welfare and family services system is "years" away but does need to happen, says the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.

A measured transition to aboriginal control of a system with a disproportionate number of children of First Nations and Metis ancestry in care was one of the key recommendations of the governmentcommissioned review of the child welfare system that was released last December.

At the time, Social Services Minister June Draude said she accepted the idea in principle.

FSIN vice-chief Lyle Whitefish said the FSIN is developing a framework with existing First Nations family agencies for further discussion with provincial and federal officials.

"There is quite a bit of work left to ensure that our communities are ready to take on that responsibility . the safety of our children comes first," he said in an interview.

The Saskatchewan Party government is expected to release a report on the review in late June that will outline goals, including the move to aboriginal control, Draude said in a recent interview.

At this point there is little sense of what the model for such a system would look like.

Saskatchewan currently has 18 First Nations child and family service agencies, which are delegated authorities that receive funding from both the federal and provincial governments.