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The agencies are funded by
The result of this mix is a lack of accountability and information, Harpauer told CBC News.
Her department does not know how many First Nations children are in the care of these agencies, or even what services are being provided, she said.
That these questions cannot be answered is "appalling and unacceptable," she said.
The review will bring together First Nations, the federal government and the children's advocate to figure out what has gone wrong, she said.
The review comes on the heels of the province's recent decision to temporarily close a girls' group home run by the Keeseekoose First Nation because of concerns for the safety of the three teenage residents.
Children's advocate Marvin Bernstein welcomes the review, saying the system is badly in need of a fix.
"I think we are seeing so many areas where the system is just breaking down and there needs to be some kind of independent oversight," he said.
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations favours greater accountability for the agencies but vice-chief Guy Lonechild said that will also require more financial support.
"If the province wants to make calls on the standards of group homes on reserve then the province should put their money where their mouth is and that includes increasing capital," Lonechild said.